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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 11-18 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 NOVEMBER 18 2003 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 Ernie Erickson, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Mary Ba.rrus, David Johnson, Stan Leino, Judy Thorbus and Jean Schuster. Also present were Council Liaison Kathleen Carmody, Community Development Director Brad Hoffinan and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Deuel was absent and excused from the meeting. APPROVAL OFAGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Leino to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2003 There was a motion by Commissioner Barrus and seconded by Commissioner Leino to approve the minutes of the October 21, 2003 Housing Commission meeting. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Chairperson Yelich noted that senior housing has been a topic'of discussion at numerous meetings of the Housing Commission including last month's meeting and he informed Commission members that he found a senior housing directory published by Senior Housing Inc. He also noted the organization has a website at www.mnseniors.or�. Chairperson Yelich aiso noted that he had obtained a copy of the Regional Development Framework established by the Metropolitan Council. He noted that this document replaces the Council's Blueprint for 2030. He pointed out that the forecasts for Brooklyn Center's population is flat for the next 30 years according to this document. He also noted the document discusses elements of housing including affordable housing and affordability income limits. He also pointed out that many I of the goals of the Metropolitan Council are tied to the creation of affordable housing and the grant programs available to cities are tied to their efforts in creating affordable housing. The Community Development Specialist pointed out that the City of Brooklyn Center does participate in the Metropolitan Council's Livable Communities Act program, which requires a' s ta temen t o f housing goals. He also pointed out that essentiall y Brookl y n Center has met its 11-18-03 Page -1- affordability goals without constructing any new affordable housing. COI�NCIL LIASION REPORT Councilmember Carmody reviewed a city map showing the location of unpaved driveways in the northeast, southeast and southwest part of the city. She noted she had prepared the map, which showed at least 90 unpaved driveways in the area she surveyed, She added that she presented information to the City Council but that the paving of driveways has not been adopted as a priority for the city. DISCtISSION WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR REGARDING COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES Chairperson Yelich welcorned Community Development Director Brad Hoffinan to the meeting and requested that he review some of the activities and developments currently underway in the city. The Community Development Director began his review of development activities by describing the new Caribou Coffee corporate headquarters under construction in Brooklyn Center on the old Joslyn site. He pointed out the building is being constructed on the third and final phase of the Joslyn site redevelopment and the Caribou building is 108,000 sq. ft. under construction and will accommodate 150 employees to start, with an expectation to double that amount in tvvo yeazs. He explained the facility would be a distribution center, house the company's roasting operations and there will also be a small retail store. He pointed out that the undeveloped Joslyn property had a value of approximately $2,000,000 and with the completion of the developrnent the property valua.tion is over $22,000,000 with over 400 jobs anticipated on the site. The second development the Community Development Director discussed was the Global Furniture warehouse and showroom to be constructed at the corner of Freeway Boulevard and Shingle Creek Parkway. He explained that the facility would be a 30,000 sq. ft. building and that Global Furniture is the largest furniture company in the world specializing in office furn.iture. The third new construction project he reviewed was the Holiday gas station commissary, which is being constructed at the intersection of Shingle Creek Parkway and 69�" Avenue North. He also pointed out a new SuperAmerica gas station is planned for spring construction along Brooklyn Boulevard just north of the current Culver's restaurant location. With regard to the o1d Rainbow site, the Community Development Director explained there have been no proposals for reuse of this site but that rumors abound regarding the redevelopment, but currently there is no activity. The Community Development Director pointed out that the o1d Jerry's New Market site wiil possibly develop in 2004. He explained the president of Jerry's is interested in doing this groject but is currently involved with completing a project in Waconia. Commissioner Schuster suggested that a Kinko's copy store might be a good addition on the old Jerry's site pointing out that there are no major copy center facilities located in Brooklyn Center. 11�18-03 Page -2- The Community Development Director next reviewed the Radisson Hotel project proposed for the property adjacent to the Earle Brown Heritage Center. He pointed out the project as proposed includes a hotel with a 27,OU0 sq. ft. water park and pointed out that he is currently concluding a development agreement with the developer. The next project discussed was the old Holiday Tnn site and Mr. Hoffinan discussed the proposal to convert this building to a senior condo project. He noted the project has received approval by the City CounciL He explained the proposal includes a major rehabilitation of the interior of the building and the removal of the parking lot and installation of a landscaped grounds. The next project discussed by the Community Development Director was the Little Asia project which contemplates the redevelopment of the o1d Northbrook Shopping Center now called the Hmong American Shopping Center, He explained an initial market analysis of the proj ect has been eompleted and that the final market conclusions will be established after thepreliminary site plans have been completed. Commissioner Thorbus inquired as to the status of Thunder Alley and Heart Alive. The Community' Development Directar pointed out that the Thunder Alley operation may be mouing to New Hope and that he did not know what the future of Heart Alive would be at this point in time. The Community Development Directar briefly discussed the moratorium established for churches and noted that demand for church space is difficult to absorb for the city, particularly in light of the demand for church uses focusing on the opportunity site redevelopment area. �Ie noted the old Salvation Army building along Freeway Boulevard would become a Hindu worship center. Commenting on the bus situation, particularly along Xerxes Avenue near Brookdale, he pointed out the old Wells Fargo building and Sports Dome site will be the site of a new transit station. The next topic discussed by the` Housing Commission was the issue of group homes. The Community Development Specialist distributed State Statutes, which describes the ability of group homes to locate in municipal residential areas as permitted single family residential uses. He noted that as long as the facility houses six or fewer residents, the city essentially has had any zoning authority usurped by State Statute. He also noted that the facilities are licensed by the state and the state is not required to notify the city of the location of group homes established as a part of the state authorizing legislation. Commissioner $anus expressed her concern that the state does not require reporting to the cities regarding the clientele of group homes and felt that this was an important piece of information for cities to know. Chairperson Yelich inquired if there were any other questions for the Comrnunity Development Director. There being none, he thanked the Community Development Directar for reviewing Community:Development activities underway in the city and moved to the next item. 11-18-03 Page -3- DISCIISSION: CODE ENFORCEMENT Chairperson Yelich noted that the Commission has identified code'enforcement as a priority for this coming year. He commented that even with the code enforcement sweeps there always seems to be problem areas that remain. He noted an example of a particular house that was written up as a code problem and is now in foreclosure with the Veteran's Administration to take ownership in March 2004. Chairperson Yelich indicated he had spoken with C50 Matt Koncar who noted there is a lot of turnover in the CSO positions and felt that consistency would help. Chairperson Yelich stated there seems to be an ongoing problem of properties that are not fixed or maintained. He indicated he drove around and found 15 properties that were at least as bad as the condition his house was in when it was written up for painting around windows. He added that he spoke to 1VIatt Koncar and he explained that generally the building inspectors handle code violations on the inside and code enforcement handles exterior violations. Chairperson Yelich inquired again of the Commission whether this was an important issue for the Commission to pursue. He added that Mr: Koncar also expressed a concern that there are not enough teeth for code enforcement procedures when they go to court and are often given a continuance or are dismissed. Commissioner Bairus stated she would like a clarification of the code enforcement process and what the Commission should do with regard to code enforcement. Chairperson Yelich quesrioned whether codes could be written more clearly and noted an example where the ordinance says the roof is okay as long as it does not leak. ommissioner Leino commented that sometimes code enforcement situations may be a"tit for tat" C battle between neighbors and the issue may not always be that clear. He also commented that if more emphasis is placed on code enforcement there would be a corresponding budget ramification and inquired as to what this might be. Cornmission members discussed code enforcement issues and how to improve code enforcement; They also discussed the Preserving Housing Report done by the Office of Legislative Auditor, which addressed several code issues: Commission Thorbus stated that she believes the police department should be more observant and diligent about code enforcement issues and become aware of the types of violations that occur. Councilmember Carmody noted that code enforcement has always been somewhat of a controversial issue and cited the example of CSO's pulling garage signs and taking them back to the homeowners and the homeowners becoming upset. She noted the issue is one of priorities and where you draw the line in addition to the fact that code enforcement has a distinct public relations element. Commissioner Yelich stated he would like to hear what Commission members think of the code enforcement process and how to improve it. He added that he thought the Preserving Housing Report done by the Office of Legislative Auditor provided some good ideas to think about. Commission Johnson stated that he thinks there are always going to be homes that are annoyances but since code enforcement started it has improved. He added that he thinks the city should 11-18-03 Page -4- communicate reasonable standards to residents in enforcing housing codes and added that one of his main concerns is parking on streets, which in his opinion indicates a possible problem with the house. Commissioner Leino commented that the code enforcement program seems to be working and that he would rather not adopt a carrot and stick approach but that education, in his opinion, is a better way to go. Commissioner Johnson stated he thinks the garden awards are a good idea and the city may want to add a category of home turnaround". He added that this could perhaps be addressed through the Neighborhood Watch Groups and poinfed out that a tidy neighborhood gives a sense of security. The Community bevelopment Director commented that an additional problem relative to single family code enforcement is that more than 400 homes are not owner occupied and that this can become a big factor in home maintenance. Commission Barrus inquired of the Community Development Director whether he could suggest something to pursue as a goal to work for as a Commission. The Community Development Director recommended that the Commission look at the issue of senior housing including assessing what exists in the city and area and what the city would need in the future. He added that the Commission could look at housing issues and make policy recommendations to the City Council. Commission Leino suggested that the next agenda should include a discussion of senior housing. It was the consensus among Commission members that the Commission should pursue the issue of senior housing and Commissioner Banrus added that the Commission should address all types of housing in its discussion. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson and seconded by Commissioner Leino to adjourn the meeting, The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Chairman I �I 11-18-03 Page -5=