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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 02-15 PCMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA FEBRUARY 15, 2018 1. CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Christensen at 7:02 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Chair Randall Christensen, Commissioners Alexander Koenig, Jack MacMillan, Stephen Schonning, Rochelle Sweeney, Susan Tade, and Abraham Rizvi were present. Planner and Zoning Administrator, Ginny McIntosh, Interim Community Development Director, Michael Ericson and Michaela Kujawa-Daniels, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. were also present. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA — FEBRUARY 15, 2018 There was a motion by Commissioner Sweeney, seconded by Commissioner MacMillan, to approve the agenda for the February 15, 2018 meeting as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — JANUARY 11, 2018 There was a motion by Commissioner Schonning, seconded by Commissioner Rizvi, to approve the minutes of the January 11, 2018 meeting as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. 5. ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE (to re -appointed commissioners) Planner and Zoning Administrator Ginny McIntosh administered the Oath of Office to Commissioner Rochelle Sweeney. 6. CHAIRPERSON'S EXPLANATION Chair Christensen explained the Planning Commission's role as an advisory body. One of the Commission's functions is to hold public hearings. In the matters concerned in these hearings, the Commission makes recommendations to the City Council. The City Council makes all final decisions in these matters. 7. PLANNING APPLICATION ITEMS None at this time. 8. DISCUSSION ITEMS PC Minutes 02-15-18 -1- 8a) 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROCESS WITH JENNIFER HASKAMP OF SWANSON HASKAMP CONSULTING (SHC) Jennifer Haskamp introduced this item and provided a presentation on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Sweeney asked if the vacancy number for the City is within normal range and expressed her concerns that the City has image problems so she is not convinced that building a lot of apartments will be enough to draw people into the City. Ms. Haskamp stated the vacancy numbers vary a lot but they are not far off surrounding cities. Commissioner Tade asked how the projection numbers are determined. Ms. Haskamp stated the Metropolitan Council has looked at the main city trends at regional and national level and then made the determinations; she stated it isn't an exact science. Chair Christensen stated the numbers are confusing as they all seem to be inconsistent. Ms. Haskamp stated that is mainly due to the fact that the numbers take a long time to catch up as the planning process takes about 10 years to review it and add the data. Ms. Haskamp stated she is going to give the Commissioners a sheet to fill out later and return to her. She stated the information will be put into a survey engine and will ultimately become the goals for the 2040 plan. She asked that the sheets be returned within 2 weeks. She stated they are working on a project webpage with links to surveys so they can later on open the surveys up to the community and get their feedback as well. Chair Christensen stated he wants to make sure input is received from other Commissions that offer another point of view and insight. Ms. McIntosh stated they have already made contact with some of them to ensure they get that input. Chair Christensen stated he is curious to understand how Brooklyn Center's poverty level has been steadily inclining, while Brooklyn Park's has declined a bit. He stated he would like to know what they have been doing to contribute to the decline and stated Brooklyn Center could learn from that. He stated seeing Brooklyn Park decline is encouraging. Commissioner Sweeney noted it is important to remember that poverty doesn't necessarily only apply to young people; it could be seniors who are mostly on a fixed income. She stated those are people in the community they need to think about when making redevelopment plans so they can try to accommodate affordable housing for that demographic. Chair Christensen stated he would like the Commission to return their completed documents to Ms. McIntosh by Monday February 26, 2018. 8b) FOOD TRUCKS Ms. McIntosh explained this was discussed at the City Council Work Session on February 12, 2018. She provided a presentation on the current City Policies, State Policies, what neighboring communities are doing, and noted the complexities that take part of the ordinances and licensing for food trucks. PC Minutes 02-15-18 -2- Chair Christensen stated the City Council would like the Planning Commission to come up with a few ideas and dig into this topic more and ultimately bring it back to them for review. He stated the City Council supports the idea of having food trucks in the City but would like some ideas on how to proceed. 8c) PENDING/UPCOMING PLANNING COMMISSION SUBMITTALS Ms. McIntosh stated she received two formal submittals. She stated one of the items is for the indoor storage facility on Logan, and the second is for the old Earle Brown Lanes building. She stated the old Earle Brown Lanes building was purchased and the developers want to turn that into an event center. She noted both applicants hope to be on the Planning Commission agenda and hold public hearings on March 15, 2018. 8d) CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION (OPPORTUNITY SITE) Ms. McIntosh explained the special work session will take place on February 20, 2018. She noted there will be two presenters at that meeting bringing forward some items. Chair Christensen stated if several Planning Commissioners plan to attend they will want to post notice of a public meeting so there aren't any quorum issues. He encouraged the Commissioners to join the meeting if they are able. Ms. McIntosh stated she will take the steps necessary to ensure compliance with the public meeting requirement. 9. OTHER BUSINESS Interim Community Development Director Michael Ericson stated next Tuesday they will be introducing the new Community Development Director. He stated he withdrew his application for the permanent Community Development Director position and noted it was with mixed emotions but the timing just doesn't work for his life right now. He stated he will be working with the new director as an assistant through the transition and be around for a while helping get them situated and familiar with all the projects going on. Commissioner Tade thanked Mr. Ericson for all the work he has done. The other Commissioners echoed her thoughts. 10. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Tade, seconded by Commissioner Sweeney, to adjourn the Planning Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m. IV Ginny McIntosh, Secretary f Randall Christensen, Chair PC Minutes 02-15-18 -3-