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Home My WebLink About2020 05-11 CCM Study SessionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA STUDY SESSION MAY I I, 2020 CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor Mike Elliott at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was conducted via Webex. ROLL CALL Mayor Milce Elliott and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, 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, City Clerk Barb Suciu, and City Attorney Troy Gilchrist. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS City Manager Curt Boganey requested that Consent Agenda Item 6c, Ordinance amending Chapter 3 of the City Code of Ordinances, be moved to Regular Session Agenda Item 10b, to allow for presentation of background information by City Staff. Mayor Elliott requested that Consent Agenda Item 6d, Resolution expressing support for converting Highway 252 from an at -grade expressway to a graded separated freeway, be moved to Item 10c, for City Council discussion. Councilmember Ryan stated he and Councilmember Kris Lawrence -Anderson met recently with Emily Anderson from Smoke Free Minnesota and Jess Nolan from the American Heart Association to discuss proposed revisions to the cigar pricing Ordinance. He added he requested that Mr. Boganey arrange for a review of this issue by City Staff. He noted he would like to discuss this issue at an upcoming Work Session. Mr. Boganey agreed. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS CONCEPT REVIEW — 61sT AVENUE AND BROOKLYN BOULEVARD Community Development Director Meg Beekman reviewed a proposal from CNR Homes for a multi -family housing development on vacant, EDA-owned property at 61St Avenue and Brooklyn Boulevard. She added the developers were available at tonight's meeting to answer questions and provide information. OS/11/20 -1- Ms. Beekman stated this is an informal review and non -binding discussion with the prospective developer. She added this is an opportunity for the City Council to review the proposal, provide comments and ask questions. Ms. Beekman stated the proposed development would be located on two sites made up of 4 vacant EDA-owned parcels. The proposal is for triplex units in 6 structures on one site and 7 structures on the other site, for a total of 39 units. Zoning code requires 2 parking stalls per unit. The buildings would have the look and feel of large single-family, high quality homes, with patios and lawn space between them. Ms. Beekman stated the 61St Avenue site would have primary ingress and egress off of 61St Avenue, with a right only exit on Brooklyn Boulevard. She added northern parcel would have primary access from Lee Avenue. She noted the developer is a builder and remodeler of single- family homes and is not requesting subsidies. Ms. Beekman stated the cul7ent property lines are not conducive to this project and the property would need to be re -platted. She added a preliminary and final plat would be required before the proposed projects could move forward. Ms. Beekman stated the City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan includes an overlay district along the Brooklyn Boulevard corridor that would allow for higher intensity land uses and identifies the area as "neighborhood mixed -use". Parcels along the corridor were re -guided to align with that future land use. Councilmember Ryan stated direct driveway access from homes along Brooklyn Boulevard is problematic in terms of traffic safety. Ms. Beekman agreed, adding the proposed developments would combine the existing four driveway access points onto Brooklyn Boulevard into one access point. Councilmember Ryan asked whether it is feasible for the development to be under the required 2 parking stalls per unit. Ms. Beekman stated that issue will be reviewed as part of City Staff s analysis. She added the overall parking for both locations meets requirements. She noted concerns about parking at the northern site have been addressed in the site plan. Councilmember Ryan stated residents would probably park on Lee Avenue if the limited amount of parking becomes an issue for them. The developer representing CNR homes stated he appreciates the opportunity to present their proposal to the City Council. He added this proposed development is important to him as he grew up in Brooklyn Center, and has ties to the City. He noted he and his partner have been in the construction business for 28 years, and they want to bring a product to Brooklyn Center that will be a higher end rental development at affordable rates, that will help to stabilize the neighborhood. The developer stated they intend to have high quality units and amenities, similar to what has been done at Earle Brown Terrace now call the Lux Apartments OS/11/20 -2- Mayor Elliott asked, in terms of affordability, now the developers can build a quality product and make it affordable. He asked who will be able to afford to live in these properties. The developer stated the triplexes will have three -bedrooms and will be appropriate for families with children. He added there is a tremendous need for 3-bedroom apartments in the metro area. ADJOURN STUDY SESSION TO INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL Mayor Elliott adjourned the Study Session to Open Forum at 6:53 p.m. RECONVENE STUDY SESSION The Study Session was reconvened at 6:54 p.m. CONCEPT REVIEW — 61sT AVENUE AND BROOKLYN BOULEVARD (Cont'd) Councilmember Butler asked why the City Council is being asked to enter into an agreement if the proposal has not been vetted by City Staff. Ms. Beekman stated it is common for developers to seek a preliminary development agreement, which is not a binding agreement, but serves as a letter of intent between the developer and the Economic Development Authority (EDA). She added City Staff will work with the developer to draft a preliminary agreement for City Council review and consideration at a future date. Councilmember Graves asked how many potential preliminary agreements can be considered at one time, for the same site. Ms. Beekman stated these properties are not being marketed by the City, so it would be unlikely that there would be additional agreements presented to the City. She added it is conceivable that there could be multiple proposals at one time. Councilmember Graves stated she finds the proposal conceptually interesting. She added she has other questions that would need to be reviewed before malting a formal decision. The developer stated Mayor Elliott aslted a question about who would be able to afford to live in these properties. He added the prices have been structured so that they are affordable and similar to a 3-bedroom unit at Section 8 rents. He noted the 3-bedroom units would be affordable for a family that would be able to afford a market rate apartment. The developer stated their goal is a long-term relationship with Brooklyn Center because of their ties to the community. He expressed their desire to spend marltet rate dollars for affordable housing in Brooklyn Center while supplying a higher end product. He added they have already invested approximately $40,000-50,000 in the planning process and want to continue to invest in this project. Mayor Elliott thanked the developers and Ms. Beekman for presenting this proposal. OS/11/20 -3- Discussion of this item continued and reached conclusion at the May 11, 2020, Work Session, ADJOURNMENT Mayor Elliott adjourned the Study Session at 7:00 p.m. STATE OF MINNESOTA) COUNTY OF HENNEPIN) ss. Certification of Minutes CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER) The undersigned, being the duly qualified and appointed City Clerk of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, certifies: 1. That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of a Study Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on May 11, 2020. 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 May 26, 2020, Regular Session. Barbara Suciu, City Clerk Elliott, Mayor OS/11/20 -4-