04-12-11 CM Minutes Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
April 12, 2011
Present: Mayor Loomis and Council Members Freiberg, Pentel, Scanlon and Shaffer, City
Manager Tom Burt, Director of Public Works Jeannine Clancy, Director of Planning and
Development Mark Grimes, HRA Assistant Director Jeanne Andre, Director of Parks and
Recreation Rick Jacobson, Communications Coordinator Cheryl Weiler, City Planner Joe
Hogeboom, Environmental Coordinator AI Lundstrom, Public Works Project Coordinator
Ron Nims, EIT Mark Ray. Also present were consultants Jupe Hale, WSB & Associates,
Graham Johnson, SEH, Denny Langer, EPI and Administrative Assistant Lisa Wittman.
The meeting began at 6:40 pm in the Council Conference Room.
Douglas Drive Preliminary Design Update
Jeannine Clancy introduced Jupe Hale of WSB &Associates, who came to the meeting to
present preliminary design layouts and update the Council on the status of the Douglas
Drive project.
Mr. Hale reviewed the work WSB has done to date. He showed the Council maps of the
Douglas Drive project area and discussed right-of-way impacts, lane configurations,
options for traffic control at intersections including roundabouts or signals, sidewalks,
bicycle lanes and impacts to properties.
The Council discussed some of the key intersections and the proposed roundabouts and
asked about pedestrian safety and the benefits of installing a roundabout versus a
signalized intersection. Mr. Hale explained that roundabouts use less space than a
signalized intersection and stated that pedestrians would benefit from slower traffic speed,
however there wouldn't be a signal stopping vehicles allowing them to cross.
Clancy explained that the project team will be working with Hennepin County staff. After
County review, the project will be reviewed again by Council. Also, a neighborhood
meeting will be in held sometime in late summer or early fall.
Douglas Drive Moratorium Area Study Update
Mark Grimes reminded the Council that in June 2010 an ordinance was adopted placing a
one-year moratorium on development within the area located at the northeast corner of
Highway 55 and Douglas Drive. He stated that staff is looking for direction regarding the
moratorium being extended or being allowed to lapse. The Council directed staff to start
the process to consider extending the moratorium. Mark Grimes then asked the Council to
comment on the draft report and make recommendations.
Council Member Shaffer referred to the existing utilities in the area and said he would like
to know where they are located. He added that he would also like the study to consider
future utility needs.
Mayor Loomis expressed concern about site accessibility and the cost of infrastructure and
utility relocation compared to the value of the property.
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April 12, 2011 — Page 2
After discussing the language in the Douglas Drive Moratorium Area Study the Council
consensus was to develop a site plan that locates the utilities outlined in the report,
continue studying the possibility of a creating a new zoning district for the area that does
not include multi-family housing and research what other cities, specifically Richfield,
include in such a district.
Comprehensive Plan Implementation Plan — Rezoning of Residential Areas/Traffic
Study
Southeast Corner of Winnetka Avenue and Highway 55
Joe Hogeboom reminded the Council that there are eight areas in the City where the
zoning designations don't match with the Comprehensive Plan land use designations. In
November, the Council gave staff direction to go ahead and re-zone the properties that did
not involve residential properties. Those re-zonings have occurred and staff is now looking
for direction regarding the remaining six areas.
Hogeboom referred to the first area in question which is the southeast corner of Winnetka
Avenue and Highway 55. Mark Grimes stated a developer has expressed interest in
constructing a senior housing development in this area which may work because it would
not cause an overwhelming amount of traffic.
The Council discussed various types of senior housing that may be developed including
cooperatives, assisted living and memory care units. They also discussed creating a
separate zoning district for senior housing or adding senior housing as a conditional use in
the R-3 zoning district.
Jeannine Clancy introduced Graham Johnson of SEH who came to the meeting to discuss
the recently completed Harold Avenue Traffic Study which is pertinent to the zoning
discussion. Mr. Johnson gave a PowerPoint presentation and provided an overview of the
study. He discussed the analysis of three different development scenarios and four
improvement options including trip generation and distribution information, peak hour
demands and ways to maintain or slightly improve the existing level of service.
After Council discussion the consensus was to first consider amending the language in the
R-3 zoning district to allow senior housing with a conditional use permit and second, to
start the process to consider rezoning the properties to R-3 Medium Density Residential.
The Council would also like staff to notify the property owners in the area and have an
open house on the rezoning separate from a neighborhood meeting with the potential
senior housing developer.
Northeast Corner of Golden Valley Road and Douglas Drive
Hogeboom referred to the second area in question which is the northeast corner of Golden
Valley Road and Douglas Drive. Currently, the Comprehensive Plan designates this area
High Density. The Council discussed what density would be appropriate and how to
designate the Land Use Plan map. After discussion the consensus was to consider
designating the properties Medium-High Density and rezoning the R-1 Single Family
residential properties to R-3 Medium Density Residential.
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April 12, 2011 — Page 3
Douglas Drive/Northeast Corner of Duluth Street
Hogeboom referred to next area which is on Douglas Drive, north of the Kingdom Hall of
Jehovah's Witnesses. The Council expressed concern about "down zoning" the existing
Business and Professional Offices property. The consensus was to keep the one parcel
zoned and designated Business and Professional Offices but consider rezoning the
properties surrounding it to R-2 Moderate Density Residential.
Golden Valley Road West of Decatur Avenue
The next area the Council discussed was the residential area north of Golden Valley Road
and West of Decatur Avenue. After discussion the Council consensus was ta keep the
property zoned R-3 Medium Residential and consider changing the Comprehensive Plan
designation to Medium-Fiigh Density.
Southwest Corner of Flighway 55 and Glenwood Avenue
Hogeboom referred to the next area of discussion and noted that this area is located at the
southwest corner of Glenwood Avenue and Highway 55. Jeannine Clancy suggested that
the public hearing for this area be considered at the same time as the first area at the
southeast corner of Winnetka Avenue and Highway 55 because it was included in the
Harold and Winnetka Avenue Traffic Study. The Council agreed and after discussion the
consensus was to consider rezoning the properties to R-2 Moderate Density Residential
and to leave the Comprehensive Plan designation as Medium-Low Density.
Southwest Corner of Xenia Avenue and Glenwood Avenue
The final area of discussion was the southwest corner of Xenia Avenue and Glenwood
Avenue. After discussion the Council consensus was to keep the properties zoned R-1
Single Family residential and consider changing the Comprehensive Plan designation back
to Low Density.
Park and Picnic Shelter Facility Analysis Report
Jeannine Clancy stated that funding for the analysis report was provided for in the 2011-
2015 Capital Irnprovement Program. She introduced Denny Langer of Environmental
Process, Inc. who came to the meeting to discuss the recently completed Park and Picnic
Shelter Facility Analysis Report. Mr. Langer gave an overview of the report which included
the evaluation of parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, walls, windows, doors, roofs, finishes,
plumbing, accessibility, HVAC systems and electrical systems. The Council discussed the
effectiveness of the design of some of the roofs. Tom Burt stated that the report will guide
facility improvements for expenditure of funds in the 2011 CIP and development of the
2012-2016 Capital Improvement Program. AI Lundstrom added that, when possible work is
done using in-house staff.
City Communications Policies
Cheryl Weiler referred to the existing City Communications Policy and explained that she
frequently receives requests from people who want to advertise or have links to their sites
on the City's website or in other publications. She stated that she is Iooking for guidance
from the Council on what kind of causes the City should or should not promote, and
whether the Council wants to consider changing the policy.
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April 12, 2011 — Page 4
Mayor Loomis said that she thinks many of the events currently advertised on the City's
website will eventually be on a Community Foundation website when one is developed.
The Council agreed to keep the communications policy as is.
Appointments to Northwest Suburbs Cable Communications Commission and
Northwest Community TV Board of Directors
The Council agreed to appoint, at the next regular Council meeting, Council Member
Freiberg as one of the City's Commissioners and Tom Burt as the City's representative on
the Northwest Community TV Board of Directors. �
Proposed Livable Communities Act— Housing Action Plan
Joe Hogeboom referred to the draft of the Livable Communities Act Housing Action Plan
and reviewed the changes that were made since the Council had last seen it.
After discussion the Council agreed to make the following changes:
• In Section VI — Nondiscrimination — use the same non-discrimination language the
State uses
• In Section III — Fiousing Variety— add an objective regarding providing housing for
people at all income levels
• In Section III — Housing Variety— strike the words "major streets" in policy number 2
• In Section III — Housing Variety— strike the word "owner-occupied" in policy number 6
• In Section IV—Affordability— add language about life-cycle housing
Tom Burt stated this item with the above changes will be on the next regular Council
meeting agenda.
Adjourn to Executive Session —Security Training
The meeting adjourned at 10 pm.
Lisa Wittman
Administrative Assistant