04-23-19 HRC AgendaREGULAR MEETING AGENDA
1. Call to Order
2. Attendance/Roll Call
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Approval of Minutes
March 26, 2019 regular meeting minutes
5. Staff Presentation
A. Affordable housing discussion with Emily Goellner, Senior Planner/Grant Writer
6. Old Business
A. Promotional Materials Discussion with Cheryl Weiler, Communications Director
a. Choose product, message, design
b. Appoint one commissioner to work with Communications to finalize product
B. Golden Valley Pride Planning
7. New Business
A. Presentation on anti-semitism
B. New Hope HRC event
8. Adjournment
Apr 23, 2019 – 6:30 pm
Council Conference Room
Golden Valley City Hall
7800 Golden Valley Road
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:34 pm by Chair Harris.
Roll Call
Commissioners present: Maurice Harris, Carrie Yeager, Jonathan Burris, Theresa Martin, Eve Clarkson,
Chris Mitchell, Kyle Scott
Commissioners absent: Gloria Peck, Lauren Barry
Staff present: Maria Cisneros, City Attorney
Approval of Agenda
Commissioners Martin and Scott proposed to add two additional agenda items to the New Business
section of the agenda.
MOTION to approve agenda as amended. Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes
Commission suggested two minor amendments to draft minutes.
MOTION to approve minutes from February 26, 2019 Regular Meeting as amended. Motion
carried.
2018 Annual Report Review
The Commission reviewed the draft 2018 Annual Report and discussed proposed edits.
MOTION to approve 2018 Annual Report as amended. Motion carried.
2018 Annual Report Review
The Commission reviewed the draft 2019 Work Plan and discussed proposed edits.
MOTION to approve 2019 Annual Report as amended. Motion carried.
Plan for Housing Discussion with City Planning Department
Commissioners discussed the link between housing and the Commission’s mission. Ms. Cisneros shared
that Associate Planner/Grant Writer Emily Goellner will attend the Commission’s April meeting and the
Commission prepared a list of questions for Ms. Goellner.
Pride Planning
The Commission plans to sponsor a booth at the 2019 Pride Festival. Commissioners discussed ways to
attract festival goers to the HRC booth, including interactive activities and swag, and agreed to continue
the planning discussion at the April meeting.
March 26, 2019 – 6:30 pm
Council Conference Room
Golden Valley City Hall
7800 Golden Valley Road
City of Golden Valley Human Rights Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
Jan 1, 2019 – 6:30 pm
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Resident Communication
Commissioner Scott shared an email she received from a resident. Ms. Cisneros received the email from
the Commission and will forward it to the City Manager.
News Items
Commissioner Martin and Ms. Cisneros shared news items and announcements of interest to the
Commission.
Adjourn
MOTION to adjourn. Motion carried.
Name
ATTEST:
Maria Cisneros, Interim Staff Liaison
Respectfully submitted,
Maria Cisneros, City Attorney/Interim Staff Liaison
Date: April 23, 2019
To: Golden Valley Human Rights Commission
From: Jason Zimmerman, Planning Manager
Emily Goellner, Senior Planner/Grant Writer
Subject: Housing Policy Update
Summary
Affordable Housing
Planning staff updated the City Council on affordable housing policy at the Council/Manager meeting
on March 12. The update included information about a potential funding source for future work – a
property tax levied by the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). The Council agreed that it
was too early to adopt a levy and directed staff to work on a strategic plan for the HRA over the next
8-12 months. The Council also requested that the affordable housing policy updates shift from the
Council/Manager meetings to the HRA meetings so that they can be televised and more easily
available for viewing by the public. The meeting materials from the March 12 update are available
here: http://goldenvalleymn.gov/council/pdf/Manager-Agendas/council-manager-agenda-mar-12-
19.pdf
Multi-Generational Housing
Staff acknowledged the trend toward multi-generational housing in the 2040 Comprehensive
Plan. The following link introduces the topic:
https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-04-2013/three-generations-household-
american-family.html
This article from the American Planning Association (APA) digs deeper into how to think about
multi-generational housing through the lens of city planning and zoning:
https://ci.billings.mt.us/DocumentCenter/View/36001/Adapting-to-Demographic-Changes-
Zoning-Practice-2018-02
New Construction on Narrow Residential Lots
In recent years, staff have been asked to weigh in on new construction of single-family homes on
narrow lots (40 to 60 feet in width). Because of the unusual size, the Zoning Code provides
unique setback regulations that end up allowing these homes to be built closer to the
neighboring properties than is typical in Golden Valley. Complaints from homeowners in adjacent
existing structures (more often than not single level ramblers) have focused on the proximity and
the height of the new homes which has tended to be two to two and a half stories.
Staff prepared a memo the City Council on this topic in 2017 and then a second memo providing
additional information for a specific property that was under redevelopment at the end of 2018.
The meeting materials from the November 14, 2017, meting are available here:
http://weblink.ci.golden-valley.mn.us/Public/2/doc/632284/Page1.aspx. The 2018 memo is
attached.
Attachments
Memo on “New construction at 310 Meadow Lane North” (3 pages)
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Date: December 17, 2018
To: Tim Cruikshank, City Manager
CC: Marc Nevinski, Physical Development Director
From: Jason Zimmerman, Planning Manager
Subject: New construction at 310 Meadow Lane North
In response to concerns raised about the construction of a new home at 310 Meadow Lane North
by an adjacent property owner, staff has prepared a summary of the zoning review to
demonstrate that the structure meets all City Code requirements.
Background
The previous structure at this location (then addressed as 312 Meadow Lane) was demolished
late in 2015 after correction notices were ordered by the City. Similar to the rest of the properties
on this block—as well as blocks to the east, west, and north—the original plats were for 40’ lots.
Many property owners purchased two lots but did not combine or replat so the appearance was
of 80’ lots even though the underlying legal descriptions remained as 40’ lots. This was the case
for 312 Meadow Lane.
After the demolition, they City and County were asked to verify that the two lots could be
uncombined” and developed separately. Consultation with the City Attorney and the League of
Minnesota Cities confirmed that the City had no basis to deny this request as long as the lots
were buildable, which staff confirmed.
In 2018, building permits were submitted for both lots, reviewed by Zoning and Building staff,
and approved. The northernmost home—now addressed as 310 Meadow Lane—is currently
under construction.
Zoning Analysis
Going back to at least the 1960s, residential lots in Golden Valley of less than 65’ in width were
subject to side yard setbacks of 10% of the lot width to the north and 20% of the lot width to the
south. Height has been limited to 2 ½ stories for the same length of time. In the early 2000s, and
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again in 2015, the zoning regulations regarding height and side yard setbacks were modified to
require that principal structure step back as the rise above 15’ at the side setback line. This
creates a tent-shaped building envelope and helps protect neighboring properties from excessive
blockage of light.
The new home under construction at 310 Meadow Lane is subject to these regulations and meets
all City requirements. As a 40’ lot, the minimum north setback is 4’ (10% of 40) and the minimum
south setback is 8’ (20% of 40). In order to meet the requirements of the building envelope and
accommodate a second story, the new home has an actual setback of 5’-6” to the north.
The overall height of the home is calculated as the distance from grade at the front building line
to the midpoint of the highest pitched roof. In the R-1 zoning district this limit is 28’; the height of
the proposed home is 25’-3”.
Conclusion
Although the proposed homes seem large in comparison to the home that was previously in this
location as well as the one story rambler-style homes on either side, they do meet all aspects of
the zoning code and in fact would have met these requirements even if they had been built in the
1950s (the age of the adjacent homes). If anything, the zoning requirements have become even
more strict in the last ten to fifteen years.
A comparable redevelopment situation can be seen just to the north. 513 Meadow Lane is a one
story rambler. Directly to the north—at 517 and 521 Meadow Lane—sit two new homes that are
two stories in height. All three are 40’ wide lots and have similar side yard setbacks. In this case, a
change in elevation exacerbates the difference in height, though that condition is not present for
the homes being constructed at 310 and 306 Meadow Lane.
The image on the following page shows the front elevation of the new home at 310 Meadow
Lane and represents the building envelope in a dashed red line (eaves are allowed to extend into
the setback up to 30”).
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