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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 02-15 HCM MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION FEBRUARY 15, 2005 COUNCIL COMMISSION ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Thorbus at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Judy Thorbus, Commissioners David Johnson, Stan Leino, Jean Schuster and Mark Yelich. Also present were Council Liaison Mary O'Connor and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioners Kris Lawrence-Anderson and Mary Barrus were absent and excused. APPROVAL OFAGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Yelich and seconded by Commissioner Schuster to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES JANUARY 18, 2005 There was a motion by Commissioner Yelich and seconded by Commissioner Schuster to approve the minutes of the January 18, 2005 Housing Commission meeting. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Commissioner Thorbus reported on the Opportunity Site Task Force meeting highlights noting that she addressed the issue of pedestrian safety for persons crossing to the Opportunity Site area across Highway 100 and also the safety issues relative to the proposed senior housing project along 57�' Avenue North. She reported that some of the other issues addressed at the task force meeting included mixed use development and the need for a mix of incomes to support retail, the acknowledgement that each phase of the development must succeed on its own and the issues of the need for accessibility to the area for all residents. Councilmember O'Connor arrived at 7:05 p.m. Chairperson Thorbus noted that she would have a conflict with an upcoming task force meeting and appointed Commissioner Yelich to be her representative on the task force in her absence. She also appointed Commissioner Yelich as Vice Chair of the Commission for 2005. 2-15-OS -1- COUNCIL LIAISONREPORT Councilmember O'Connor reported that at Monday's Council meeting the Volunteers of America will ask Hennepin County if they will get involved in the building of the proposed senior building. Councilmember O'Connor noted that at the EDA work session, the owners of the Hmong American Shopping Center presented a plan to redevelop the center with assistance from the city. The proposed development includes condo's and townhomes. She noted the condo's are in the $150,000 to $240,000 range with the townhomes priced higher. Commissioner Leino arrived at 7:15 p.m. The Commission briefly discussed the condemnation process with regard to the EDA's acquisition of the Hmong American Shopping Center site. Councilmember O'Connor also pointed out that the plan presented by the owners included a small retail component in the project. DISCUSSION WITH TIM WILLSON, PLANNING COMMISSION CHAIR Chairperson Thorbus introduced Tim Willson who is the Chair of the City's Planning Commission and also the Chair of the Opportunity Site Task Force. Mr. Willson explained to Commission members that the Planning Commission as a body uses the City's Comprehensive Plan as its main guiding document. He pointed out that development proposals and ordinances are weighed against the requirements of the City's Comprehensive Plan. He added that most items before the Planning Commission are redevelopment projects. Additionally he pointed out that the Planning Commission also addresses other plans and cited the example of the Brooklyn Boulevard Study. Commissioner Yelich inquired as to how often the Comprehensive Plan is updated and how can the Housing Commission have input in the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Willson replied that the current plan covers the time period through 2020. Mr. Willson then discussed how the Comprehensive Plan is used to evaluate development proposals and noted that the best way for the Housing Commission to give feedback to the Planning Coinmission is to go through the City Council. The Community Development Specialist noted that at the time of the preparation of the City's current Comprehensive Plan, the Housing Commission reviewed and provided input on the housing element of the current Comprehensive Plan. Chairperson Thorbus inquired as to whether it is a state or local decision that dictates parking spaces in retail centers. Mr. Willson explained that parking requirements are based on local ordinances and he briefly discussed the city's parking formula. He noted the Planning Commission must follow the Zoning Ordinance in evaluating Planning Commission Applications. He did point out, however, that part of the Planning Commission's authority is based on Minnesota Statute. Commissioner Yelich asked the Planning Commission Chair what thoughts he had on redevelopment going up as opposed to out since the City does have limited space to develop. Mr. Willson 2-15-OS -2- commented that it may often be more economical to build up a project 2 to 3 stories but he added that typically the Planning Commission does not see projects with multi stories. Mr. Willson continued to review the Planning Commission's role and pointed out that there is a common complaint with residents that there is nothing residents can do to influence development. He pointed out that this sentiment may come from the fact that the Planning Commission cannot do things such as spot zoning and must comply with the overall ordinance otherwise zoning issues can wind up in the court system. Commission members next discussed the current planning project addressing the Opportunity Site. Mr. Willson explained it is his understanding that the actual development of the Opportunity Site would be done in phases with Phase 1 addressing the southern portion of the site. Commissioner Johnson expressed a concern over the "lukewaxm" nature of retail in our area and also cited the competition from the retail in Maple Grove. He inquired as to the plan for redevelopment of the Opportunity Site area. Mr. Willson replied that one of the options would be upscale housing with townhomes and condominiums with the possibility of additional senior housing. He added that there would likely be some retail amenities and green space integrated into the plan. Discussion continued among the Commission members regarding the Opportunity Site and what focus development would take in this area. Commissioner Leino brought up the issue of paved driveways in the city. Mr. Willson replied that the Planning Commission does not get involved in these types of issues unless it is part of a particular site plan review. He noted that as part of the city's street improvement program, paving of driveways is encouraged and people do often pave their driveways at the time the street project is done. Commissioner Johnson brought the discussion back to retail and noted that he does not see current retail space in the city being filled. He expressed the concern that the city is dead last in household income and number one in crime. He inquired as to what the City is going to do to change its image and what do we as a city do when retailers pull out when demographics don't support the retail. Mr. Willson discussed the possible influence of the Opportunity Site redevelopment on the surrounding area and also discussed Tax Increment Financing as a tool for redevelopment and noted how the City can influence redevelopment through the use of various tools including Tax Increment Financing and certain design elements that would be addressed in the Opportunity Site redevelopment. Commissioner Yelich inquired as to how the Planning Commission Chair thought the TIF requirement for 15 percent low income housing would affect the Opportunity Site redevelopment. The Commission Members discussed the TIF requirement for 15 percent affordable housing and the Commumty Development Specialist pointed out that the requirements for affordable housing relative 2-15-OS -3- to TIF districts include both rental and owner occupied income limits and that affordable owner occupied housing could be sold to households with incomes of 115 percent of inedian income. �I Mr. Willson concluded his remarks by stating that he thinks the Opportunity Site has great redevelopment potential for this City. He pointed out that his visit this evening with the Housing Commission was the first Commission other than the city's Park and Recreation Commissions he has attended. He thanked Commission members for inviting him to this evening's meeting. DISCUSSION OF HOUSING DATA The Community Development Specialist explained he had surveyed other cities with regard to the number of single family rental properties along with assembling other information on the number of sales of single family homes in each of the cities. He noted that the number of single family rental properties in Brooklyn Center do not appear to be out of line with those in neighboring cities and also that the housing turnover in Brooklyn Center does not appear to be out of line with that found in neighboring cities as indicated by the following data: NUMBER OF RENTAL UNITS BY TYPE AND CITY CITY SINGLE FAMILY* TWO FAMILY MULTI FAMILY Brooklyn Center 280 71 3,357 Brooklyn Park 417 454 5,287 Crystal *360 112 1,878 (*80 of these are Relative Homestead] New Hope 202 Richfield 333 124 4,852 Robbinsdale 163 510 1,215 Minneapolis 7,000-8,000** 6,000-7,000** *Includes Townhomes and Condos Minneapolis staff estimates. No number was available for multi-family units but Minneapolis licenses 17,000 buildings as rental properties which includes single and two family buildings. 2004 RESIDENTIAL SALES [SALES FROM 10/2003- 9/2004]* CITY NUMBER OF SALES PERCENT BrooklynCenter 423 5.92 Brooklyn Park 798 5.18 Crystal 322 4.46 New Hope 206 4.54 Richfield 454 4.67 Robbinsdale 254 6.09 St. Louis Park 610 5.33 Represents single family home sales. Percent column represents percentage of total single family homes in city. Chairperson Thorbus inquired of Commission Members what they would like to do with the data. 2-15-OS -4- I Commissioner Yelich commented that the number of single family rental properties could be a problem that is common to a number of suburbs. Chairperson Thorbus noted that Commissioner Yelich had attended the City's recent birthday party and he had an opportunity to speak with Karen Youngberg, a realtor living in Brooklyn Center. Commissioner Yelich commented that he asked Ms. Yooungberg as to whether the number of single family homes becoming rental is a concern and he indicated that she responded that it is a concern to her and that she would be open to coming to an upcoming Housing Commission meeting. Chairperson Thorbus stated that she would like to have Ms. Youngberg at the next Housing Commission meeting and also to begin reviewing city ordinances relative to housing. Commissioner Johnson brought up the issue of on street parking and stated that he believes there is a lot more that could be done to enforce the city's on street parking restrictions. OTHER BUSINESS Chairperson Thorbus noted there will be an upcoming seminar on the theme of seniors remaining in their homes. She noted that County Commissioner Gail Dorfinann is one of the keynote speakers. She passed around the seminar information sheet for Housing Commission Members to review. There was no other business addressed by the Commission. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Yelich to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Ch 'rmah 2-15-OS -5-