HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 08-16 CCM Joint Work Session with Planning CommissionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY
OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
JOINT WORK SESSION WITH PLANNING COMMISSION
AUGUST 16, 2018
CITY HALL — COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Joint Work Session with the Planning Commission and
the session was called to order by Mayor Tim Willson at 7:01 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Mayor Tim Willson and Councilmembers Marquita Butler (arrived at 7:09 p.m.), April Graves,
Kris Lawrence -Anderson, and Dan Ryan. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Deputy
City Manager Reggie Edwards, Community Development Director Meg Beekman, Planner and
Zoning Administrator Ginny McIntosh, and Selina Pesta, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
Others present were Planning Commission Chair Randall Christensen, Commissioners Stephen
Schonning and Susan Tade. Planning Commissioners Alexander Koenig, Jack MacMillan, and
Rochelle Sweeney and were absent and excused. Planning Commissioner Abraham Rizvi was
absent and unexcused.
ATTENDANCE AT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS
Mayor Willson commented on the importance of attendance at Planning Commission meetings.
3. INVITATION TO ULI'S NAVIGATING YOUR COMPETITIVE FUTURE
WORKSHOP
Mayor Willson opened the agenda item by expressing the importance of ULI's Navigating Your
Competitive Future Workshop.
Councilmember Butler arrived at 7:09 p.m.
Community Development Director Meg Beekman, stated that the workshop will be held in Council
Chambers or on the first floor of City Hall, depending on the number of attendees. Ms. Beekman
stated that the Council could invite the Planning, Housing, and Financial Commissions to attend
as well. ULI will put together a panel that is customized to the community and will have
developers, real estate, finance and banking agents present to explain regional market trends and
how those trends can impact the community.
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Ms. Beekman continued that this workshop will take place on September 24, 2018, and that the
start time is flexible. ULI could shorten the introduction and discussion portion allowing for a 4:30
p.m. start time, ending at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Beekman also made note that food could be available if
requested.
Cormnissioner Tade asked if this is a public event. Ms. Beekman stated this is a public workshop,
but no more than 25 participants were recommended by ULI due to time limitation.
It was agreed by the City Council and Planning Commission that the start time should be 4:30 p.m.
so as not to shorten the workshop, that a light meal would be preferred.
4. JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL 2040
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DISCUSSION
Ms. Beelanan thanked the City Council and Planning Commission for their attendance and opened
with an update regarding the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Beelcrnan described where they are
at in the process of the Plan update and reminded the Council and Commission of the Metropolitan
Council requirements and what items need to be incorporated in the draft. Ms. Beekman noted that
the Council and Commission will specifically be analyzing the Land Use and Redevelopment
chapter, go over what is different from the 2030 Plan, speak about the relationship between land
use and zoning, and implications and alternations that will be needed.
Ms. Beekman continued to speak about utilizing a SWOT Analysis and addressed the clear themes
that came out of the analyzes with Jennifer Haskamp, Swanson Haskamp Consultants (SHC).
Items that stood out were identifying strategic priorities and goals, looking at changes in
households, demographic changes, and changes that may come up in the next twenty -years. Ms.
Beelanan gave update that they are currently on Plan Development piece number four. After piece
four is finished, the draft will be completed and brought to the Planning Commission. Ms.
Beelanan continued by stating the Planning Commission will bring recommendations to City
Council; City Council would then release the Draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan for public comment
and review for six months. After the six month review period, the Planning Commission would
then hold a public hearing, and finally the City Council would be asked to approve the final Plan
and submit to the Metropolitan Council for approval. This would be expected around late -April
or early -May.
Ms. Beekman presented an overview of chapters that are still being analyzed. Those chapters are
1, 6, 7 and 8, leaving chapters 2, 3 and 5 completed.
Ms. Beelanan then presented the 2040 new requirements:
- Plan to add approximately 2,250 new households by 2040.
- Areas planned for redeveloped.
- New housing areas need to average a minimum of ten dwelling units per acre.
- Areas with planned transit are required to pian for higher densities (C-Line/BRT
planned opening in 2019).
- Employment is forecasted to increase. Look at this with redevelopment (estimated
1,700 new jobs by 2040).
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- The need to plan for affordability in housing.
- MRCCA Plan more robust and more in depth.
Mayor Willson made note that the City has new land to work on developing more housing. He
stated this is a great thing to see in the community.
Councilmember Ryan asked about the current number of homes in Brooklyn Center. Ms. Beekman
referenced pages three in the draft and graph with a forecast of single-family and multi -family
homes.
Councilmember Graves asked where transportation is located in the plan. Ms. Beelanan addressed
this by explaining how they will look at roadways and intersections that are no longer correctly
functioning, regional road systems, and incorporating the City's population that use those systems.
Ms. Beekman stated the plan is to also organize the City's land use around transit and begin to
have conversations with Metro Transit to keep communication open.
Ms. Beekman asked the Council and Commission what roadways could see benefit.
Mayor Willson pointed out Highway 252 has problems and addressed the C -Line, D -Line, and
Blueline (Light Rail). Mayor Willson also made note that the City's transit system is in the middle
of a redevelopment area.
Chair Christensen asked what type of affordable housing the Metropolitan Council would like
developed.
Jennifer Haskamp, Swanson Haskamp Consultants (SHC), stated that the Metropolitan Council
cannot force the City to build affordable housing, but instead says the City should have enough
acres with a density that could potentially hold affordable housing.
City Manager Curt Boganey stated that greater housing density does not immediately result in
affordable housing and that expensive high density luxury housing is being built around the metro
area instead.
Mayor Willson made note that Minneapolis Mayor Frey is putting $42 million dollars towards
affordable housing.
Chair Christensen explained a graph that showed what is considered affordable in Brooklyn Center
and what the Commission and Council should look at is new affordable housing, rather than just
existing affordable housing.
Ms. Beelcman described how roughly 90% of housing in the City is affordable due to market, and
not because it is subsidized affordable housing, but that it's affordable because the buildings are
aging. The goal that Ms. Beekman explained is to look at legally binding housing that is high
quality and designed to be a modern, safe, clean, and affordable place to live.
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Mayor Willson also brought up property tax in the City, noting 98% of the property tax is from
affordable housing and the other 2% is on the high end. He addressed the concern that the City's
property tax cannot continue to be under affordable housing for the next thirty years.
Councilmember Graves stated she understands the need to increase taxes but that the City can do
what is necessary to meet the needs of the people living in the affordable homes.
Mayor Willson noted that while he is not opposed to looking at affordable housing, he would like
to see more mixed-use buildings.
Chair Christensen stated when a building ages, its value goes down. He suggested mixing in
higher -end housing with affordable housing to, over time, hit the market rate.
Councilmember Graves also pointed out that jobs could potentially lift people out of poverty,
balancing ways to help tackle the issue with affordable housing.
With the following comments, Ms. Haskamp addressed what the Council and Commission are
looking to improve on housing.
Councilmember Butler asked how the City is accounting for the aging population and their housing
needs. Mayor Willson stated there is not enough housing for the seniors that would like to stay in
Brooklyn Center and in twenty -years, what could this housing look like.
Ms. Haskamp agreed that aging "baby boomers" are looking for different housing. She stated that
a lot of high-end housing is half seniors and half a younger population, and there is an increased
desire to downsize. Ms. Haskamp stated that naturally, anything new will be in a higher market.
Ms. Haskamp went over Chapter 1- Vision, Goals and Strategies. She stated this is the first time
City Council has received the whole chapter and with their comments, edits can be made.
Ms. Haskamp explained Chapter 3 highlights of land use and redevelopment:
- New updated approach to land use (existing and planned).
- Generalized to allow for greater flexibility and control.
- Requires commitment to updating and creating supportive zoning.
Ms. Haskamp also explained Chapter 5- Parks and Trails, and how this is not a new plan. Chapter
5 is an update to the 2030 Plan that will ensure parks and trails will be well maintained and meet
the needs of the community. Ms. Haskamp continued by explaining the Mississippi River Critical
Corridor Area Plan (MRCCA) and its place in the Appendix of the 2040 Plan. MRCCA will focus
on public views and access to the river.
Ms. Haskamp addressed Land Use and Redevelopment by creating a land use pattern and getting
to a 10,000 feet level when looking at one land use designation. Ms. Haskamp also explained the
Residential Land Use map in Chapter 3, explaining where there is high density. She described
types of residential areas on the map, how RI and R2 are low-density residential areas (one- and
two-family), R3 and R4 are medium density, and high density is shown as R5, R6 and R7. Other
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non-residential areas included transit -oriented development (T1 and T2), neighborhood mixed use
(N1 and N2), and commercial mixed-use (CMI and CM2). Ms. Haskamp underscored that moving
ahead with the future land use approach as it is proposed by this Land Use map. Would necessitate
a significant revision to the City's zoning ordinance.
Ms. Haskamp indicated that having this type of map will attract more developers and benefit both
the developer and the City. Ms. Haskamp explained the idea of this is to make developing a clear
process and show developers this is what the City wants to be built.
Councilmember Graves asked about overlay. Ms. Haskamp responded by explaining Brooklyn
Boulevard is the overlay because it's the most active corridor and the City has the ability to re-
zone the neighborhood to mixed-use. Ms. Haskamp suggested starting with Brooklyn Boulevard
when implementing design guidelines and setback requirements.
Ms. Beekman spoke about the importance of discussing what this transition will look like and how
to guide redevelopment while incorporating into the overlay district. Ms. Beekman noted
consideration of access to Brooklyn Boulevard and the County potentially getting curb cuts off the
corridor.
Chair Christensen asked if what Ms. Beekman was speaking about is part of the Comp Plan. Ms.
Beekman clarified that this would be part of the City's zoning update. This question also brought
up site control through zoning described by Ms. Haskamp,
Ms. Haskamp showed examples of mixed-use buildings that the City could utilize for the overlay.
An example shown as Vintage on Sibley in St. Paul on 3.8 acres with 210 units and 55 dwelling
units per acre. Ms. Haskamp encouraged the City examples to build zoning ordinances.
Ms. Haskamp presented examples of how zoning districts could be written to fit within each land
use category, as well as building, parking, and storage setbacks. She suggested the City highlight
where setbacks can be found, giving developers less questions that needed to be asked.
Ms. Haskamp described the need for updating and creating new zoning districts to support the
Land Use Plan, which can reduce frequencies of PUD's and CUP's. Ms. Beekman also
recommended a newset PUD ordinance with regard to what is negotiable and what is not.
Mayor Willson stated that PVDs should be a last option. Ms. Haskamp agreed, stating the point of
this would be for site control and asked for additional questions and comments.
Councilmember Graves stated this is the most clarity she has received regarding the 2040
Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Code.
Mayor Willson agreed with Councilmember Graves' statement, noting the Plan sounds cleaner
and easier to work with developers.
Commissioner Tade asked if these uses are standard through the Plan or if there are other categories
that should be written in the Plan. Ms. Haskamp stated that the residential categories are fairly
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standard throughout the region, but that the mixed use categories were crafted to respond to
Brooklyn Center specifically, though the language used in them is standard language in many
comprehensive plans.
Ms. Haskamp mentioned City Hall and the use of the land where City Hall is currently located.
Councilmember Ryan made note that this stretch of land would be ideal for high-end apartments.
Ms. Beekman also stated it seems reasonable for a more intense land use.
Ms. Haskamp suggested this could be a topic for the future and perhaps there is a more convenient
area for City Hall.
Mr. Boganey stated the land use designation could change if this occurred and the purpose is to
cast a vision for the future of properties. He stated that by speaking of moving City Hall, it is giving
the community a signal that we don't like where City Hall is located.
Ms. Haskamp clarified this is an idea that could be used for discussion in the future and that the
City is under no obligation to change the location.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Lawrence -Anderson moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded adjournment of
the Joint Work Session at 9:14 p.m.
Motion passed unanimously.
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STATE OF MINNESOTA)
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN) ss. Certification of Minutes
CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER)
The undersigned, being the duly qualified and appointed City Cleric of the City of Brooklyn
Center, Minnesota, certifies:
1. That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of the City
Council from the City of Brooklyn Center Joint Work Session with Planning Commission
held on August 16, 2018.
2. That said meeting was held pursuant to due call and notice thereof and was duly held at
Brooklyn Center City Hall.
3. That the City Council adopted said minutes at its September 10, 2018, Regular Session.
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