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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001 09-18 HCM MINiJTES OF THE PROCE�DINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION SEPTEMBER 18, 2001 CONFERENCE ROOM B CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Erickson at 7 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Ernie Erickson, Commissioners Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Shawn Taylor, Dennis Snook, Lloyd Deuel, Kathleen Carmody, Michael VonDeLinde, and Mark Yelich. Also present were Council Liaison Ed Nelson, and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Elizabeth Davis were absent and unexcused from the meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Taylor to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES April 24, 2001 There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Yelich to approve the Apri124, 2001 Housing Commission minutes as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES May 15, 2001 There was a motion by Commissioner, Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Yelich to approve the May 15, 2001 Housing Commission minutes as submitted. The motion passed. Commissioner VonDeLinde arrived at 7:05 p.m. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Chairperson Erickson welcomed Kris Lawrence-Anderson to the Housing Commission and invited Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson to provide a bit of information about herself to commission members. Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson noted that she has been a 14 year resident of Brooklyn Center and had become aware of the City's effort to work on its image and is pleased with the effort and would like to work to help continue the effort in a proactive way. Commission members welcomed Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson to the Commission. i 09-18-01 -1- Chairperson Erickson noted that there were several activities going on this spring and summer with regard to the Smart Growth study in the City and requested Commissioner Deuel to comment on lus attendance at these meetings. Coxnmissioner Snook arrived at 7:10 p.m. Commissioner Deuel stated he attended all four of the Smart Growth meetings and pointed out that the metropolitan population growth is anticipated to increase between 800,000 and 900,000 people in the next 20 years. He explained there was no real planning as to how growth occurred in the past and the Smart Growth effort is designed to improve the planning process for future growth. He fiuther explained that Brooklyn Center is fortunate to be selected for the Smart Growth study. With regard to the Brooklyn Center study he explained there were a number of options addressed including a baseball stadium. He thought the growth issues discussed were good and that the issue of transportation is an extremely important issue for the future. Commissioner Erickson discussed his experience with the Smart Growth process, particularly the area from Brookdale east to the Northbrook Shopping Center. He explained ideas for this area included expanded retail, senior housing and a small town type arrangement of residential around retail centers. REVIEW OF DRAFT ORUINANCE REVISIONS Chairperson Erickson stated he believes the draft ordinances submitted by staff summarize the Housing Conunission's collective consensus on the ordinance revisions. Conunissioner Yelich addressed ordinance section 19-103 paragraph 14 and subparagraph a) noting the ordinance addresses front yards only and that he would like to address parking with regard to rear yards also. Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated she would like to address parking on other areas of the lot and would like to look at the total number of vehicles allowed on a property. She cited an existing parking condition on a residential property in her neighborhood near Unity Avenue noting a great number of vehicles parked on the property. Chairperson Erickson next addressed the draft ordinance amending section 25-501 which limits the width of driveways and also requires that driveways would be hard surfaced within 36 months of the ordinance enactment. Commissioner Yelich commented that it appears gravel extensions would still be allowed for parking even with this amendment. Chairperson Erickson noted that there were numerous discussions last year regarding ordinance amendments and the issue of runoff. He explained one of the issues is whether or not we would be unduly increasing runoff by requiring paved exte�sions. Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated the ordinance is a bit unclear with regazd to whether or not it is regulating only the curb cut or all of the driveway. 09-18-01 -2- Chairperson Erickson next addressed the draft ordinance language amending 12-706 with regard to fence materials and maintenance. He explained this ordinance revision came out of the meeting with the City Prosecutor and specifically with regard to fences made of material not intended for fence construction. Conunissioner Carmody arrived at 7:40 p.m. Chairperson Erickson next addressed the draft ordinance revisions to section 19-1303 regarding the parking and storage of Collector Vehicles. He noted this ordinance was also a result of the meeting with the City Prosecutor. The Community Development Specialist noted that the language in the amendment addresses no more than two inoperable Collector Vehicles as opposed to operable vehicles. He explained with this language someone could have more than two operable collector vehicles and that it would be the Commission's discretion to revise this to operable or inoperable. The Commission discussed the operable versus inoperable language and there was a consensus to remove the words "but inoperable" from the ordinance amendment. Conunissioner Yelich stated he would like to review the runoff issue previously discussed. The Community Development Specialist explained he had discussed the issue of water runoff from paved areas with the City Engineer and the City Engineer noted there are studies that exist to assist in determining what is the maximum amount of runoff advisable from a residential lot. He noted the Engineer explained runoff not only comes from paved parking areas but from landscape areas using pavers and also from decks. The City Engineer explained many of the studies have come out of examination of lakeshore areas where runoff is of particular significance and the conclusion of many of these studies is that a maximum of 40 paved area seems to be a threshold where problems may start to occur. He also noted that the City Engineer indicated that he could attempt to find some of the studies for Commission review. Commissioner Yelich suggested that the Commission might want to look at the runoff issue and the 40 maximum paved areas being put in ordinance language. There was a motion by Commissioa�er �euel and seconded by Commissioner Lawrence- Anderson to forward the recommendations for t.he ordinance revisions as recommended by the Iiousing Commission, to the City Manager. The motion passed. REVIEW OF R V ORDINANCES FROM OTHER CITIES Chairperson Erickson noted staff had assembled a number of ordinances from other cities regarding RV parking and he pointed out the City of St. Louis Park's ordinance provides a good definition of recreational vehicles. Commissioner Carmody noted that on page 4 of the Maple Grove ordinance paragraphs c and d address pazking in boulevard areas. 09-18-01 _3_ Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson inquired whether the Commissian would be looking at the total number of vehicles paxked on a residence when the Conunission addresses the issue of RV parking. The Commission continued a brief discussion of RV parking and there was a consensus to table the discussion until next month's meeting. OTHER BUSINESS Chairperson Erickson reviewed a memorandum from the Community Development Specialist regarding possible fuiure meeting topics. The Community Development Specialist briefly reviewed items 3 through 5 on the memorandum noting that these are programs that are currently in place in Brooklyn Center and may be of interest to the Housing Commission to talk to representatives from these programs that address housing needs in the City. It was also noted that the Commission would like to have an update from the Community Development Director on department activities yet this fa1L With regard to the issue of Senior Housing on the memorandum, Commissioner Carmody stated she is uncleaz as to what the Commission's role is in senior housing. The Community Development Specialist explained that it was his understanding the Commission should focus on determining the need and type of senior housing needed in the future. Commissioner Carmody requested that item 6, with regard to senior housing needs in the Ciry, be clarified further with the Community Development Director. Chairperson Erickson noted that the Commission has had yeazly updates on code enforcement including meetings with code enforcement personnel and which areas of the city will be targeted in coming years. He noted this would be an item of interest to the Commission. Commissioner Snook also stated he would still like to have followup done on the trespass ordinance and the SAFE ordinance in the City of Minneapolis. The Community Development Specialist stated that he would follow up on this item for a future meeting. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Carmody and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to adjourn the meeting. The mation passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:55 p.m. f r_: t ��irrr 09-1 �-O l -4-