2022-01-24 EC Agenda Packet7800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley, WIN 55427
763-593-8027 1 TTY 763-593-3968 1 763-593-8198 (fax) I www.goldenvalleymn.gov
Environmental Commission
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
city of
goldvall�
Y
January 24, 2022 — 6:30 pm
City Hall Council Conference Room
Remote Attendance: Members of the public may attend this meeting via Webex by calling 1-
415-655-0001 and entering access code 1773 93 4642.
Questions/Comments: Members of the public who have questions about the commission or
any items on the agenda should contact the staff commission liaison — Eric Eckman,
Environmental Resources Supervisor, eeckman@goldenvalleymn.gov, 763-593-8084.
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Approval of November 22, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes (5 min)
5. Old Business
A. Declaration of Climate Emergency (5 min)
B. Organics Recycling Update (5 min)
6. New Business
A. 2022 Work Plan (15 min)
B. GreenStep Cities Metrics (10 min)
i. Actions 13.1, 13.3, 13.4 Solid Waste
ii. Action 22.5 Environmental Management Sustainable Consumption and Waste
Action Requested
C. Program/Project Updates (5 min)
D. Council Updates (5 min)
E. Other Business
7. Adjournment
This document is available in alternate formats upon a 72-hour request. Please call
763-593-8006 (TTY: 763-593-3968) to make a request. Examples of alternate formats
may include large print, electronic, Braille, audiocassette, etc.
7800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley, RUIN 55427 CZJ 0J
763-593-8027 I TTY 763-593-3968 1 763-593-8198 (fax) I www.goldenvalleymn.gov Oldenlle
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Environmental Commission
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November 22, 2021— 6:30 pm
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Remote Attendance: Members of the public may attend this meeting via Webex by calling 1-415-655-
0001 and entering access code 1773 93 4642.
Questions/Comments: Members of the public who have questions about the commission or any
items on the agenda should contact the staff commission liaison — Eric Eckman, Environmental
Resources Supervisor, eeckman@goldenvalleymn.gov, 763-593-8084.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Chair Weirich at 6:30.
2. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Scott Seys, Wendy Weirich, Tonia Galonska, Shannon Hansen, Jim Stremel,
Dawn Hill, Felix Fettig
Commissioners absent: Debra Yahle
Council Members present: None
Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor;
Drew Chirpich, Environmental Specialist;
Ethan Kehrberg, GreenCorps Member;
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant.
3. Approval of Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Stremel to approve the agenda for
November 22, 2021 and the motion carried with the following addition:
• Add December 2021 meeting and 2022 meeting dates as new item 6A, moving the other items
down sequentially.
4. Approval of October 25, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve the minutes of
October 25, 2021 as submitted and the motion carried.
5. Old Business
A. Partners In Energy
i. Ethan has been reaching out to Multi -Family building owners, managers, and tenants to
look at energy efficiency practices they could be using as well as working on recycling
best practices.
ii. Home Energy Squad post card sent out to 4,000 of the oldest homes in the City.
iii. Social Media posts throughout October for Energy Awareness Month.
iv. Low Income program flyers going out with the LED lighting kits. Also given to PRISM.
This document is available in alternate formats upon a 72-hour request. Please call
763-593-8006 (TTY: 763-593-3968) to make a request. Examples of alternate formats
may include large print, electronic, Braille, audiocassette, etc. 6
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
November 22, 2021— 6:30 pm
v. Ethan had a table at the winter farmer's market to give out LED kits and talk about the
Energy Action Plan, the Organics Recycling Program, and Chloride Reduction.
vi. A letter will go out to small and medium sized businesses from the City and Xcel to talk
about energy efficiency opportunities.
vii. Eric, Xcel Energy, CenterPoint, and a representative from Mortenson will talk at the next
Golden Valley Business Council meeting on December 9.
viii. Staff, Communications, and the PIE team have been working on the award and
recognition program to recognize businesses in Golden Valley who are taking steps to
help make progress on our Energy Action Plan.
ix. Created an Electrify Your Ride flyer to hand out.
x. EV charging station is installed at Brookview.
xi. Federal Government passed the infrastructure bill with funding allocated to MN. Some
will be allocated to clean energy and sustainability efforts — specifically EV charging
infrastructure. $68 million.
B. Environmental Justice Commission Collaboration
i. Scott talked to Commissioner Mitchel from the DEIC. They've been taking a lot of time
with their commission and figuring out what their goals are. At their last meeting they
did vote to continue their collaboration with the EC. Speaker, Tree Equity, etc.
ii. Staff still interested in collaborating on a speaker or community event.
iii. Will update mapping showing inequities in green infrastructure.
iv. 2020 census data becoming available soon.
C. Draft Climate Resolution
MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve sending the
Draft Climate Resolution to the City Council with the changes discussed tonight and the motion
carried.
■ A revised draft will be sent to commissioners to review and provide feedback,
individually, before sending to council.
■ Change Title:
• A resolution joining cities and counties across Minnesota declaring a
climate emergency impacting the environment, economy, and human
health.
■ Take out some of the global info and keep it more local info? Inquire about this at
the next MN Climate Conference meeting in early December to see if others are
trying to shorten their resolutions by eliminating use of global information. Maybe
if they all feel it's important to include it we will include it, too.
■ Eliminate or combine repetitive language.
■ Under'BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED':
• Change the first bullet point to start out 'Continue to collaborate with
residents, businesses, institutions, and non -profits to implement...'
• Change the 5t" bullet point to include the read 'with an increasing focus
on...'
• Add 'the' in between Position and City in the 6t" bullet point.
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting '
November 22, 2021— 6:30 pm
• Add a bullet point - Consider the environment, energy, and climate in
the development of its annual legislative priorities.
6. New Business
A. December 2021 Meeting and 2022 Meeting Dates. The Commission discussed the City's Equity
Advancement Team's work on a new inclusive holiday calendar and potential policies to support
that effort. More information to come in 2022.
i. Commission voted to cancel the December 2021 meeting
ii. Commission voted to approve the following 2022 meeting dates:
1. January 24, 2022
2. February 28, 2022
3. March 28, 2022
4. April 25, 2022
5. May 23, 2022
6. June 27, 2022
7. July 25, 2022
8. August 22, 2022
9. September 19, 2022
10. October 24, 2022
11. November 28, 2022
12. December - Cancelled
B. GreenStep Cities Metrics
i. MOTION by Commissioner Seys, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve Action
12.5 Transportation Mobility Options as submitted and the motion carried.
ii. MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve Action
22.7 Sustainable Consumption and Waste as submitted and the motion carried.
iii. MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Hill to approve Action
24.6 Resilient Economic and Community Development as submitted and the motion
carried.
C. Program/Project Updates
i. 6300 Olson Memorial Hwy — City had received an application for light industrial buildings
— the current building will be demolished, the property divided into two lots, and two
new buildings built. This property is not zoned for multi -family.
D. Council Updates
i. None
E. Other Business
i. DEIC's had an open forum that was televised to explain to the community who they are
and what they do and allowed calls and a -mails from the community members to ask
questions. Would the EC be open to something like this?
ii. There are 3 areas where the community can participate with the environment.
1. One is with the DNR - They have a pine cone and seed collection:
1. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/2021/10/25/state-forest-nurserV-
has-urgent-need-lack-pine-red-pine-and-black-spruce-cones
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 4
November 22, 2021— 6:30 pm
2. Bumblebee Watch
1. https://www.bumblebeewatch.org/
3. MN Dept of Agriculture Arrest the Pest Site
1. http://www.mnitap.umn.edu/publications/exchange/2017/June/arrest/in
dex.html
4. Can we have links on our EC page to these? Possibly in the future. The City is
launching a new website in December 2021 and this will need to be evaluated.
7. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Stremel, seconded by Commissioner Hansen to adjourn the meeting at
8:20 pm and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Wendy Weirich, Chair
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Date: January 21, 2022
MEMORANDUM
Physical Development Department
763-593-8030 / 763-593-3988 (fax)
To: Environmental Commission
From: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor
Subject: 2022 Work Plan Ideas
As stated in its bylaws, the Commission is required to develop an annual work plan for review and
approval by City Council. The draft work plan for 2022 will be based upon the City's 2040
Comprehensive Plan, Energy Action Plan, GreenStep Cities Program, and City Council's legislative
priorities.
Attached is the 2021 work plan to get the conversation started. Commission members should
come to the meeting prepared to discuss the status of the current work plan and any ideas for
future items they wish to have considered. There will be additional discussion and development
of the draft work plan at the February meeting, ahead of Commission approval in March and
Council consideration in April.
GAEnvironmental Commission\Memos
2021 Work Plan
Proposed work plan priorities for 2021 are based on goals in 2040 Comprehensive Plan
(Resilience & Sustainability, Water Resources, and Parks & Natural Resources chapters), the
GreenStep Cities Program, Council legislative priorities, the City's organizational priorities
(including its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives), and the Energy Action Plan, which is
nearing completion.
• Curbside Recycling and Organics Collection
Help develop and implement the new recycling and organics program scheduled for launch in
January 2022.
• Xcel Energy's Partners In Energy Program
Help guide and participate in implementation of the City's Energy Action Plan, including:
o reducing the number of households experiencing energy cost burden by 20 households
through identifying, communicating, and connecting people with programs offered by utility
companies and others
o increasing participation in energy efficiency programs for residents and businesses
o exploring options for promoting, supporting, and developing clean, renewable energy and
electric vehicles and charging infrastructure
o supporting state and local efforts to update building codes or standards that advance energy
performance in buildings
GreenStep Cities Step 5
Continue working on actions and metrics to address climate -related impacts, improve the
environment, and reduce energy consumption and costs.
o If awarded a MN GreenCorps Member in 2021-2022, work to complete GreenStep Cities
actions related to Climate and Energy Action.
Community Outreach
Use the Commission's $3,500 budget toward one or more of the following efforts:
o host an educational workshop on planting for pollinators (approximately $1,400 for Metro
Blooms Workshop) in May 2021
o explore and develop a partnership with local schools to deliver a student project, product,
or service in the City
o host an environmental art show/contest
o sponsor a recognition program for native plantings or buckthorn removal
o fund a joint project, event, or speaker/conversation with the Human Rights Commission
• Climate Justice and Environmental Justice
Continue to partner with the Human Rights Commission on a joint project, event, or
speaker/conversation. Collaboration may include:
o sponsoring one "green" infrastructure project in an area of the City with inequities of trees,
green space, and natural amenities
o enhancing one existing community or neighborhood event by planting trees, vegetation, or a
garden in an area of the City with inequities of trees, green space, and natural amenities
o hosting at least one speaker or community conversation on climate justice and
environmental justice focusing on disparate impacts, adaptation, and resilience with respect
to vulnerable populations, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
• Zero -Waste Community
Help the City host a zero -waste community event in 2021, potentially at the Golden Valley
Farmer's Market.
• Natural Resources Management Plan
Continue to assist in implementation of the plan, including:
o supporting habitat restoration in the Briarwood Nature Area in 2021-22 with DNR Grant
funds
o exploring ways to promote, improve, expand, and preserve remnant natural areas and
open spaces in the City
• Downtown Redevelopment Study
Continue to engage in environmental aspects of the study and plan.
• Pollinators
Complete actions listed in the City's Pollinator Protection resolution, such as:
o developing more plots and habitat in the community, especially near underserved areas
o increasing pollinator education and promotion of programs and grants (such as Lawns 2
Legumes) in cooperation with the Golden Valley Garden Club, using resources such as
master gardeners and the University of Minnesota Bee Lab
• Transportation:
o support and contribute to the City's Bus Rapid Transit efforts along Hwy 55
o explore ways to reduce vehicle usage and expand transportation options in the City
• Water Resources:
o help update the City's Stormwater Management Program and improve the City's
stormwater assessment score in GreenStep Cities (as part of the City's permit requirements
with MPCA)
o look at long-range needs for stormwater storage, and consider how to use those needs to
improve recreation and conservation
• Resources
o explore and understand the resources available and needed to implement the City's
environmental goals, initiatives, plans, programs, and projects.
Items to consider from the 2021 idea session:
Waste/Recycling
• Reduce Styrofoam and single use plastics, bags, and containers
Energy
• Solar companies can install panels, connect to Xcel Energy's grid and become part of the
solar rewards program. Can the city do some pre -work and approve companies that have
been vetted for this program. Can we recommend companies? Review and improve
webpage and info.
• Can the City coordinate solar on a bigger scale? If we had a solar array on the vacant
property near Honeywell on Douglas for example (next to a retention pond), could that
solar array feed the cities needs and then go back into the grid for credits? Scale seems to
be something the city can achieve when it comes to solar.
• Consider/plan for use of electric vehicles to supplement City fleet (batteries and fuel cell
versions); there have been advances in EV since the last time we talked about this several
years ago.
• Develop a Net Zero project, perhaps a City project that is already scheduled for the future.
• Develop a GV solar garden to benefit those who are in danger of utility disconnection
&/or those who are energy burdened perhaps even GV nonprofit organizations. If this is
not feasible yet, perhaps a community solar garden for GV residents as a paid subscription
and a certain percentage is donated to those who are in danger of utility disconnection.
This could be a joint collaboration with the HS commission to help fund the project with
an annual fundraiser. It could also be a joint collaboration with Open Spaces Commission
(depending on location), the HR Commission &/or The RisingTides Task Force.
Water & Natural Resources
• Removing buckthorn, planting higher quality plants that sequester carbon, retain flood
water, etc. Can the city do a buckthorn collection streetside a couple times a year?
Encourage folks to clear it off their own properties? Is there a recognition program for
neighbors to recognize neighbors who are doing more with native plantings, etc?
• As for equity issues, I favor focusing on tree cover for all - closing the canopy in Golden
Valley! Tree Cover correlated to human health. Let's make sure we all have equal access
to trees and the canopy.
• Perhaps review if needed the Lilac Planting Project for environmental best practices
including using natives & pollinator friendly replacement plantings vs non-native lilacs.
Transportation
• Work on having a local & affordable rideshare program specifically for low income
households in GV that uses EV &/or hybrid vehicles. If this is not a true need due to i.e.
not enough licensed &/or insured drivers perhaps a possible local shuttle (again EV &/or
hybrid to a grocery store &/or Walmart/Target type store. This could be a joint
commission project with HR &/or The Rising Tides Task Force
• Work on having more bus routes in GV using EV &/or hybrid buses
• Busing for Loppet and MPRB Wirth Park events
Collaboration/Community Outreach
Piggy back on Story's work of gathering contacts with community leaders for PIE &
develop a program for the City to work with local nonprofits & community leaders that
serve GV residents (i.e. PRISM, food shelves, faith based communities, schools) to
determine the environmental needs/challenges their communities have and develop
communications & education to best encourage/spark action on environmental issues
that are relevant to those they service i.e. net zero, water conservation, cleaner water,
zero waste, etc. Again, this could be a joint commission project with HRC &/or The
RisingTides Task Force
• Student outreach to get their ideas for environmental initiatives
• Student environmental project contest where a project idea with an action plan is
submitted. The winner would receive a predetermined amount of funds from the EC's
small budget & a partnership with the City (department to be determined depending on
project) to complete the project as well as the project being documented thru GV's media
channels
• Challenge?
• Host an annual art show @ Brookview &/or City Hall with an environmental theme. If a
contest the winner could receive a small prize from the EC small budget & an "article"
communicated thru GV's media channels. Could be a possible joint venture with HRC.
• Host an annual or perhaps seasonal art installation (this could also include a garden)
contest where the contestants submit an environmental theme. Could be a possible joint
venture with OSRC.
o i.e. possible sites for the art install could be the pedestrian bridge across Hwy 55,
City Hall, the HC Library campus, Brookview campus, one of GV's parks, an empty
city lot, etc.
• Work on installing a GV community vegetable garden &/or fruit orchard in or near an
underserved community where a portion of one's bounty is donated to a local food shelf.
This could be a pay for plot set-up and a certain percentage of plots are free of charge for
those in need. We could even go so far as having a shared compost system and the
garden could implement a best gardening practices in place that the gardeners need to
adhere to i.e. no tilling, no chemical pesticides or fertilizers, include winter secondary
crops to feed the soil &/or birds. Rain capture & would be encouraged vs using City water,
perhaps solar lighting could be, etc. The garden(s) could even have contests for best
overall gardening practices, largest vegetable, etc. and the garden could have a
newsletter, Facebook page or bulletin with relevant articles provided by the People for
Pollinators group, GV Gardening Club, GV staff (i.e. Green Corps member, Drew, Eric, Tim
Kieffer, Al Lundstrom).
• Host webinars with GV staff as the speaker(s). I got this idea from Eric talking about the
sludge in the ponds that get dredged up and how the EC has the privilege of hearing from
a wide range of staff and the efforts GV takes to improve our environment. I believe Eric,
Drew, our GreenCorps members, Tim Kieffer, Al Lundstrom, etc. would all be excellent
candidates to give a workshop. It could be as simple as a live Facebook event or a series of
YouTube videos posted on the GV Website &/or Facebook page.
• Develop a GV Environmental website (or easy to find/access tab on the city of GV's
website & Facebook page to share with the City's residents, businesses & visitors that
would be extremely easy to navigate and find all the links to the upcoming PIE programs
that will be offered, workshop(s), links to Hennepin County's environmental offerings, etc.
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Date: January 11, 2022
MEMORANDUM
Physical Development Department
763-593-80301763-593-3988 (fax)
To: Environmental Commission
From: Ethan Kehrberg, GreenCorps Member
Subject: GreenStep Cities Metrics 13.1, 13.3, & 13.4
The City is completing the GreenStep Cities Metrics 13.1, 13.3, & 13.4: Solid Waste — Residential
solid waste generated per city resident per day (lbs), percent of residential solid waste recycled,
and percent of residential solid waste composted.
Core topic areas
• City Buildings and Lighting
• City Fleets
• Transportation Modes and
Miles
• Open Space, Parks, and Trees
• Stormwater
• Wastewater
• City Buildings and Lighting
• Renewable Energy
Optional topic areas
• Green Buildings
• Infrastructure for Biking and
Walking
• Car, Transit, and Bike Options
• Land Use
• Drinking Water
• Surface Water
• Solid Waste
• Local Food
• Jobs & Employment
"As of January 2022, the City of Golden Valley established a curbside organics recycling program
for all 1-4 unit residences. With the introduction of this program, the City expects a decrease in
residential solid waste generation, and an increase in the percentage of solid waste being
recycled or composted. Data is sourced from Hennepin County waste hauling reports."
Annual data from Hennepin County is reported for 2018-2021 for historical comparison.
After discussion staff requests that the Commission consider making a motion to approve the
City's Solid Waste metrics 13.1, 13.3, and 13.4 for submission to the GreenStep Cities program.
GAEnvironmental Commission\Memos
413 Solid Waste OPT10NAL
Units
2018,
020
2D21
Annual
Change
Residential solid waste generated per city resident per
13.1
Lbs
1.10
1.14
1.05
1.00
day.
13.2
Commercial solid waste generated per job, per day:
Lbs
13.3
Percent of residential solid waste recycled
°%
29-00%
7-00°%
2-00°%
2-00°%
0.00%
13.4
Percent of residential solid waste composted
%
12-00%
39-00%
25-00°%
17-00%
-8.00%
*2019-2021 data from reTRAC/SCORE reporting from Hennepin County. Data may be partially
incomplete, which affects total percentages. 2021 data is for Q1-Q3, waiting on Q4 reporting.
Residential solid waste generated per city resident per day is an estimate using total weight of
waste and dividing it by the number of Golden Valley residents.
try of
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Date: January 18, 2022
MEMORANDUM
Physical Development Department
763-593-8030 / 763-593-3988 (fax)
To: Environmental Commission
From: Ethan Kehrberg, GreenCorps Member
Subject: GreenStep Cities Best Practice Action 22.5
The City is updating the GreenStep Cities Best Practice Action 22.5 — Environmental Management
Sustainable Consumption and Waste: arrange for a residential and/or business/institutional
source -separated organics collection/management program.
Core topic areas
• City Buildings and Lighting
• City Fleets
• Transportation Modes and
Miles
• Open Space, Parks, and Trees
• Stormwater
• Wastewater
• City Buildings and Lighting
• Renewable Energy
Optional topic areas
• Green Buildings
• Infrastructure for Biking and
Walking
• Car, Transit, and Bike Options
• Land Use
• Drinking Water
• Surface Water
• Solid Waste
• Local Food
• Jobs & Employment
As of January 2022, the City of Golden Valley established an organized, curbside, source -
separated organics recycling program for all 1-4 unit residences provided by Republic Services.
The City also provides a drop -site collection of yard waste at the leaf drop-off events in the fall
and requires all licensed residential trash haulers to offer yard waste pick up. In 2020, there were
188 participating households in curbside organics collection. That same year, haulers reported
1,103 tons of yard waste collected and 272 tons of organics collected.
Organics participants: 95 households in 2018, 141 in 2019, 188 in 2020, and waiting on data for
2021.
After discussion staff requests that the Commission consider making a motion to approve the
update to the City's Environmental Management Best Practice 22.5 for submission to the
GreenStep Cities program.
PROGRAM/PROJECT UPDATES —January 2022
GREENCORPS UPDATE
The member continues to assist with the rollout of the organics recycling program. After creating the
informational video, most of his work has focused on the ordering, installation, and labeling of new containers
at city buildings to make sure they are properly utilized. He also ordered and put together a limited number of
organics recycling "starter kits" that were handed out to residents (first come, first served) at City Hall to
promote the new program. They included a small tabletop collection bin, a roll of compostable bags, an
organics recycling guide, and an informational flyer about the program.
He is still distributing LED lighting kits and energy resources to residents at City Hall, the Winter Market, and
through collaboration with PRISM.
The member conducted his first site visit of a multi -family property to do a recycling and energy efficiency
assessment. He presented on recycling requirements and best practices at the quarterly STAR meeting in
December.
Related to the Xcel Partners in Energy program, 700 letters were sent out to small businesses, posts about
energy continue to go on the City's social media and website, a story about energy assistance and home
assessments went in the City newsletter, and a utility bill flyer insert with similar information about energy
resources will go out to all residents in the next couple of months.
Additionally, he has been gathering data for an analysis of the City fleet with the goal of finding EV
replacements, as well as information to schedule a RETAP efficiency assessment of City facilities.
The winter maintenance tool that the member developed has been used by a few land developers for their
chloride management plans. The member continues to improve the tool and has been meeting with other
GreenCorps members as well as chloride and water experts with MPCA and BCWMC to offer feedback.
PLANNING COMMISSION — November 24, 2021 & December 10, 2021
Artessa Senior Coop —A six -story, 97-unit, senior building is being proposed for the southeast corner of the
Golden Valley County Club (currently a portion of the driving range). This project would require an
amendment to the Future Land Use Map (from Institutional to High Density Residential), an amendment to
the Zoning Map (from Institutional to High Density Residential), a Subdivision to carve out a new roughly two
acre parcel, and a Conditional Use Permit to construct over five stories. A neighborhood meeting will be held
December 2. Scheduled for the December 13 Planning Commission meeting.
1101 and 1113 Douglas Drive —Site Plan Review is required for a new two -building apartment project being
developed by -right on the site of the old Tennant Company Headquarters at 1111 Douglas Drive (new address
of 1101 Douglas Drive). Because this property is zoned for Mixed Use, by code the Planning Commission must
review and approve site and building plans. Scheduled for the December 13 meeting.
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6440 Wayzata Boulevard —Spire Credit Union proposed to construct a new building with a drive -through on
the southern 2/3 of this site, while the northern 1/3 would be retained by A's Clubhouse for overflow parking.
The proposal required a minor subdivision and a Conditional Use Permit. The Planning Commission
recommended approval at its October 25 meeting. Approved (5-0) at the November 16 City Council meeting.
6300 Olson Memorial Highway —United Properties is proposing to reguide and rezone the vacant Optum site
for Light Industrial use, and then to subdivide the lot into two lots (one north, one south) in order to redevelop
the property as a business park with R&D, light industrial, warehouse, and office uses. The Planning
Commission recommended approval at its October 25 meeting. On November 16, the item was tabled at the
request of the applicant to the December 7 City Council meeting.
On December 7, the City Council approved the land use change (4-1) and authorized staff to submit the
request to the Metropolitan Council. Assuming a positive response, the remaining two items will be scheduled
for a vote at a future City Council meeting.
Greenway Villas (formerly Golden Valley Country Club Villas) —A Final PUD Plan was submitted to complete
the process of gaining approval for a seven -unit single-family development with a short public street in the
northwest corner of the Golden Valley Country Club. The site has already been guided and zoned for Single -
Family use, and a Preliminary PUD Plan was approved by the City Council in September. The Planning
Commission recommend denial (7-0) at its meeting on November 8 citing primarily environmental concerns.
The City Council approved the Final PUD Plan (5-0) for a seven -unit single-family development with a short
public street in the northwest corner of the Golden Valley Country Club at its meeting on December 7. The site
had already been guided and zoned for Single -Family use, and a Preliminary PUD Plan was approved by the
City Council in September.
Updated Use Tables and Institutional District Rezonings—Zoning Text Amendments and Zoning Map
Amendments. Over the last year, staff worked closely with the Planning Commission to draft updates and
improvements to the use tables found in the Zoning Chapter of the City Code. The proposed zoning text
amendments would modernize language, address new uses, consider revisions to the Institutional Zoning
Subdistricts, and ensure the City is compliant with the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act
(RLUIPA). The changes to the Institutional subdistricts technically require a rezoning of those properties to
assign them to the new categories. The Planning Commission voted (6-0) to approve the new text and (6-0) to
approve the Institutional rezonings at their meeting on November 22. Scheduled for the December 21 City
Council meeting.
OTHER ITEMS
At its meeting on December 7, the City Council will have its first reading of a new Public Land Disposition
Ordinance, which would help direct decision -making by elected officials regarding the use of publicly -owned
properties and prioritize the use of excess land for affordable housing.