04-10-12 HRA Minutes HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
April 10, 2012
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the Hausing and
Redevelopment Authority of the City of Golden Valley, Hennepin County, Minnesota, was
held at 7800 Golden Valley Road in said City on April 10, 2012 at 6:30 pm, in the City
Council Chambers.
The following members were present: Chair Paula Pentel and Commissioners Joanie
Clausen, Mike Freiberg, Shep Harris and DeDe Scanlon. Also present were HRA Director
Thomas Burt, Assistant HRA Director Jeanne Andre, City Attorney Allen Barnard, Finance
Director Sue Virnig and Administrative Assistant Lisa Wittman.
Approval of Apenda
MOVED by Harris, seconded by Freiberg and motion carried unanimously to approve the
agenda as submitted.
Approval of Minutes — Januarv 10, 2012 Reqular HRA Meetinq and March 13, 2012
Special Meetinq
MOVED by Freiberg, seconded by Scanlon and motion carried unanimously to approve the
January 10, 2012 Regular HRA minutes and the March 13, 2012 Special HRA minutes as
submitted.
Reimbursement of City Expenditures
MOVED by Clausen, seconded by Scanlon and motion carried unanimously to authorize
reimbursing the City of Golden Valley $32,413.02 for expenditures incurred.
Receipt af March 2012 Financial Reports
MOVED by Freiberg, seconded by Clausen and motion carried unanimously to receive and
file the March 2012 Financial Reports.
Set Mav 8, 2012 Workshop Meetinq Date
The Commissioners confirmed that their Workshop Meeting date should be set for May 8,
2012 at 6 pm in order to learn about past HRA redevelopment efforts and to identify tools
and priarities for redevelopment and economic development in the City.
Golden Hills Redevelopment Area
a. Public Hearing on sale of land to Global 0ne Golden Valley L.L.C.
b. Resolution 12-04 — resolution approving conditional sale of certain real
property for the development of rental apartments and senior housing (Global
One Golden Valley L.L.C.)
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
April 10, 2012
Page 2
Andre stated that the HRA has been working with Global One Commercial on the possible
redevelopment of undeveloped land at the northwest quadrant of Highway 100 and
Interstate 394 that was acquired by MnDOT through the I-394 expansion project. She
explained that the property is in a redevelopment area and can be sold ta the HRA for
redevelopment purposes. The HRA can then, through a Private Development Agreement,
sell the property to a developer for an identified project. She reviewed the activities that are
necessary if the development agreement is approved by the HRA.
Mark Globus, Global One Commercial, referred to a site plan of the property and explained
his propasal to build a six-story, 212 unit, luxury apartment building and a five-story, 149
unit, senior building with three levels of care. The apartments will have one level of
underground parking and one level of at-grade parking. The senior housing will have one
level of underground parking. He stated that there have been several uses proposed far
this property but they were much more intense and had a higher level of traffic. He said he
feels this proposal is the most appropriate use for this site and creates the least amount of
traffic. He discussed some of the highlights of the proposal including: a landscaped buffer
from the neighborhood to the north, premium landscaping, a pond and a trail system.
Chair Pentel opened the public hearing.
Shelley Maasch, 5011 Circle Down, said she is concerned about a six-story building being
so close to her house. She said another concern is the traffic. This development will
generate a lot of traffic on Circle Down and there is only one access that they all share.
She questioned how the apartments could be considered luxury or high-end, if they are
sitting right on I-394. She said this proposal lacks green space and she is concerned about
the parking lot coming right up to her back yard. She suggested there be at least a 30-foot
wide buffer because she doesn't want to see the parking lot from her house. She said she
is cancerned about the water level in regard to the underground parking because the soil is
bad in this area and she's also concerned how the installation af piles would affect her
house.
Jane Gjerstad, 5420 Circle Down, said she gets enough traffic trying to get out of her
driveway so she is concerned about cars going in and out of the proposed development
right where she exits her driveway. She said Breck Schooi wanted to build their ice arena
on this property but couldn't because of the soil conditions. She added that the
neighborhood has petitioned the City in the past to buy them out.
Rivia Kaplan, 5210 Circle Down, said she is also concerned about the traffic because there
is only one way out of the neighborhood. Globus referred to the site plan and explained the
traffic patterns.
Jeff Vaala, 5320 Circle Down, said he would be backing out of his driveway where all of the
cars from the proposed development would be entering and exiting. He said there are
currently about 30 cars with the existing apartments but the proposed new apartments will
have approximately 300 cars. He questioned if there is a different option for access to the
property.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
April 10, 2012
Page 3
Globus explained that the existing alley cannot be used because there is not adequate
width for emergency vehicles and snow storage. He referred to the comment regarding
green space and said he feels he is proposing a great deal of green space but he would
consider eliminating some of the parking to allow for additional green space. Burt added
that there could be things changed throughout the process, such as allowing proof of
parking.
Shelley Maasch, 5011 Circle Down, asked about the width of the proposed buffer space.
Gary Tushie, Tushie Montgomery Architects, said the buffer space is approximately 10 feet
in width and there will also be an opaque fence with landscaping on both sides as well.
Bernadine Fox, 5211 Circle Down, asked about the height of the proposed fence. Tushie
said it will be a 6-foot high fence.
Seeing and hearing no one else wishing to comment, Chair Pentel closed the public
hearing.
Freiberg asked Globus to address the concern about these apartments being high end
when they are next to the highway. Globus said they can use triple paned glass to cut
down on sound emanation from I-394. Pentel noted several examples of high end
apartments that are built right next to highways.
Harris asked about the concern expressed regarding the stability of the surrounding
houses during construction. Globus explained that the general contractor's opinion is that
there will need to be soil corrections (removal of poor soil) done, but they don't believe
pilings will be necessary.
Harris asked how many units there are in the existing apartment buildings. Globus said
there are 24 units in the existing apartment buildings.
Pentel noted that this public hearing is the beginning of the process and that there will be
many more opportunities for input as the process continues.
Commissioner Harris introduced the resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION 12-04
RESOLUTION APPROVED CONDITIONAL SALE OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF RENTAL APARTMENTS AND SENIOR HOUSING
(Global One Golden Valley, L.L.C.)
The motion for the foregoing resolution was seconded by Commissioner Freiberg, and
upon a roll call vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Clausen,
Freiberg, Harris, Scanlon and Pentel; the following voted against the same: none;
whereupon said resolution was adopted, signed by the Chair and her signature attested by
the Director.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
April 10, 2012
Page 4
Review of Tax Increment Financinq Policv
Harris stated that the policy seems fairly straightforward.
Pentel explained that some of the objectives in the policy are set by statute and some of
them have been develaped by the HRA.
MOVED by Freiberg, seconded by Clausen and motion carried unanimously to affirm the
existing Tax Increment Financing Policy as set forth in Resolution 06-03.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:29 pm.
Paula Pentel, Chair
ATTEST:
Lisa Wittman, Administrative Assistant