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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 09-21 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 SEPTEMBER 21, 2004 COUNCIL COMMISSION ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Yelich at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Mark Yelich, Commissioners Kris Lawrence-Anderson, David Johnson, Jean Schuster and Judy Thorbus. Also present were Council Liaison Diane Niesen, Community Development Director Brad Hoffman and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioners Stan Leino and Mary Barrus were absent and excused from the meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Thorbus and seconded by Commissioner Schuster to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A UGUST 17, 2004 Commissioner Thorbus pointed out a correction to be made on Page 4 of the minutes under Other Business. She pointed out that in the �rst paragraph, the second sentence should be revised to state that "Commissioner Thorbus commented that she wanted to encourage the business community to become involved in any Commission recognition activities that were developed by the City. There was a motion by Commissioner Johnson nd seconded by Commissioner Lawrence- Anderson to approve the minutes of the August 17, 2004 Housing Commission meeting as amended. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Chairperson Yelich stated that he would dispense with the Chair's report and the Council Liaison report since the Council Liaison was not in attendance and move to Item No. 7 on the agenda, which was a discussion with the Community Development Director. DISCUSSION WITH COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR The Community Development Director explained that the City Council recently gave direction to staff to consider redevelopment of an area along the County Road 10 corridor for a potential senior housing site. He explained staff is currently negotiating for a senior housing project within the County Road 10 corridor, which is also in TIF District No. 3. He explained the special legislation connected to TIF 3 requires that 15 percent of all TIF proceeds in that district must be spent on -1- affordable housing. He pointed out the site currently under consideration for senior housing is on the south side of County Road 10 directly across from the Hmong America Shopping Center. With regard to the potential design for the senior housing project, the Community Development Director showed Commission members an elevation of a proposed senior building. He explained a similar building has been constructed in Shakopee just south of the Minnesota River crossing. He explained that the project would be available to persons 55 and over. Commissioner Thorbus inquired how many units the project would entail and the Community Development Director explained that at this point a 60 unit project is being discussed. Councilmember Niesen arrived at 7:10 p.m. Commissioner Lawrence Anderson inquired as to the number of bedrooms in the proposed senior project and the Community Development Director explained that the project would likely consist of one and two bedroom units with dens and would include gas fireplaces. He explained the typical resident in such a project would be a single female, 72 years or older coming from a three mile radius of the project with current or past connections to the City of Brooklyn Center. Commissioner Lawrence Anderson requested the Community Development Director to expand on the amenities to be included in the project. The Community Development Director explained the proj ect would probably involve a common meeting room, a guest room, large kitchen facility, game room, woodworking area and underground parking. Chairperson Yelich inquired as to who would own the project. The Community Development Director explained that the likely owner and manager of the project would be the Volunteers of America. Chairperson Yelich noted the elevations of the proposed building shows three stories. He inquired how the number of stories affects the required type of construction. The Community Development Director explained the building will be a frame or stick construction. He noted that with the addition of a fourth story masonry construction would be required. The Community Development Director next reviewed the Hmong America Shopping Center site pointing out that the current owners may be redeveloping the site, but if they are not able to do so, the EDA could acquire and develop it. Commissioner Thorbus inquired as to whether the staff was aware of any contamination on the site. The Community Development Specialist explained the City has been working with the current owner and Hennepin County to conduct Phase I and II environmental investigations on the site. He noted that the Phase II had detected chemical associated with the former dry cleaner operation on the site. He explained that these chemicals would have to be addressed in the redevelopment of the site and also a determination made as to whether or not any of the chemicals associated with the dry cleaning operation had migrated off site. -2- Councilmember Niesen commented that she believes any clean up activities should include the dry cleaner responsible for contaminating the site and that public tax dollars not be used exclusively to clean up the site. Commissioner Johnson inquired whether redevelopment at the site would be primarily retail. The Community Development Director replied that the site could support 70,000 sq. ft. of retail, but the general area is over retailed already and that 20,000 sq. ft. of retail with the remainder of the site in other uses would be a mare likely scenario. I The Community Development Director next reviewed the city's Opportunity Site Area and noted that the Opportunity Site Area, initially reviewed by Calthorpe Associates, is over 90 acres in size and the general location is the area bounded by County Road 10 on the south, Shingle Creek Parkway on the west, Summit Drive on the north and Highway 100 on the east. He noted the Calthorpe product initially developed for the site produced general recommendations for design and development of the area but did not contain specific development and design criteria. He explained he will continue to discuss with the City Council, a Request for Qualifications for an Urban Design Plan for the Opportunity Site Area that would include such elements as parking, lighting, landscaping, building design, civic areas, streets and a comprehensive review of how the site could be developed through the use of design standards. He explained the Council has reviewed the Request for Qualifications and that the Council wants to use a task force approach in selecting a firm to do the planning work. He added that it would be likely that Commission Chairs would participate in the task force but the exact makeup of the group has not been established. He explained the goal would be to have the plan in place by late Spring of 2005, a developer in hand by late Summer of 2005 and proceed with the start of development of the Opportunity Site in 2006. Councilmember Niesen inquired if housing would part of the overall redevelopment. The Community Development Director indicated that housing would be a major part of any redevelopment in the Opportunity Site Area. Chairperson Yelich inquired whether it would make sense to incorporate senior housing on Northbrook site and put another type of development on the south side of 57 Avenue North, particularly since 57 is not a pedestrian friendly street. The Community Development Director stated staff did look at the Northbrook site but the proposed senior housing would be an active senior proj ect and that seniors would be driving and mobile. Commissioner Thorbus inquired how much control the Metropolitan Council would have over the redevelopment in the Opportunity Site. The Community Development Director explained that the Metropolitan Council would not have any inherent control unless the city would seek grants from the Metropolitan Council then they would have control over the aspects of redevelopment relative to the grant funding. Commission members briefly discussed potential redevelopment in and around the Brookdale area S including the Opportunity Site. Chairperson Yelich tha.nked the Community Development Directar for updating the Commission on redevelopment in the city and suggested moving on to the next -3- item, which was senior housing. DISCUSSION OF SENIOR HOUSING REPORT Commissioner Yelich requested the Community Development Specialist to review the senior housing report he had prepared. The Community Development Specialist noted that, due to the lateness of the hour, he would briefly review some of the major points in the report and that the Commission could again discuss in more detail at the October meeting. The Community Development Specialist explained that the purpose of the senior housing report he had prepared was to provide some general demographic and market information for Commission members. He noted that the report points out baby boomers will be driving the senior housing market beginning in the year 2010 when baby boomers will be in their mid 60's. Additionally, the baby boomers influence will continue through 2020 when boomers will reach their mid 70's and into 2030 when they will reach their mid 80's. He also pointed out an important demographic is that by 2030, 50 percent of persons over 65 will be living in one person households. The Community Development Specialist pointed out additional demographic data which shows that the growth of seniors in the metro area will be primarily in second ring suburbs and that there are more 65 year old and over people in the suburbs than in Minneapolis. He noted data also shows that currently one in three seniors lives alone. With regard to market trends, he pointed out that owner occupied housing for seniors, such as condos and restricted townhomes are making a resurgence and will continue to be strong in the near future. The Community Development Specialist next addressed the issue of affordability versus subsidized housing noting that affordable housing is not necessarily subsidized housing and that many of the new senior projects in the metro area include a mix of affordable and market rate housing. Another trend the Community Development Specialist noted in his report was the issue of aging in place, which will continue to be an important issue in the aging population. He explained the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Hennepin County are both looking at a model where a significant numbers of seniors will be remaining in their homes and that health care and other services will need to be delivered to them in that setting. Chairperson Yelich distributed a revised draft he had prepared entitled `Brooklyn Center Senior Housing Recommendations Brooklyn Center Housing Commission September 21, 2004. He explained he had reworked the draft he had distributed at the Commission's August meeting nad added a section on senior living amenities on the last page. He pointed out the Commission can add to this list of amenities as they see fit for discussion at the October meeting. He also requested that the Commission review items 1-7 in the draft to discuss at the October meeting. Commissioner Johnson moved to layover discussion of the draft to next month's meeting. There was a general consensus of Commission members to defer the item to the October meeting. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Johnson discussed the status of the St. Alphonsus Senior Housing Project and -4- I explained that the members of the church are having some difficulty in dealing with a definition of affordable rents and additionally parishioners have concerns about retaining the land. He concluded that at this point the project is not moving forward. Commissioner Thorbus inquired to the status of the Best Western Hotel, which had received Council approval to create condominiums. The Community Development Director indicated that as far as he knew the condominium project was not moving forward and that it remains a hotel. There was no other business addressed by the Commission. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Thorbus to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:30 p.m. I 2 Chairm�i i -S-