pc-minutes-nov-14-22
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
This meeting was conducted in a hybrid format with in‐person and remote options for attending,
participating, and commenting. The City used Webex to conduct this meeting and members of the
public were able to monitor the meetings by watching it on Comcast cable channel 16, by streaming it
on CCXmedia.org, or by dialing in to the public call‐in line.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by Vice‐Chair Brookins.
Roll Call
Commissioners present: E. Brenna, A. Brookins, S. Ginis, A. Johnson, C. Segelbaum, M. Ruby
Commissioner absent: L. Pockl
Staff present: Jason Zimmerman – Planning Manager, Myles Campbell – Planner
Council Liaison absent: Denise La Mere‐Anderson
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Approval of Agenda
MOTION made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Ruby, to approve the agenda
of November 14, 2022.
Motion carried.
4. Approval of Minutes
MOTION made by Commissioner Ruby, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to approve the meeting
minutes pending noted typo of October 24, 2022.
Commissioner Ginis, Commissioner Brenna: Abstained.
Motion carried
1. Discussion – Affordable Housing Goals
Cherie Shoquist, Housing and Economic Development Manager, introduced herself to the
Commission and started her presentation of Affordable Housing Goals and Strategies for Golden
Valley.
Shoquist started by defining affordable housing as when a household pays no more than 30%
of its monthly income on rent or mortgage. She went on to describe the tiers of affordable housing
by the Affordable Housing Continuum of the Twin Cities, including: income, housing type, population,
and housing cost burden.
November 14, 2022 – 6:30 pm
Council Chambers
Hybrid
City of Golden Valley Planning Commission Regular Meeting
November 14, 2022 – 6:30 pm
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Median rent in Golden Valley increased 20% from 2010‐2018 and in Golden Valley, 4% of renter
households and 53% of senior rental households pay more than they can afford in housing.
The 2040 Comp Plan includes housing goals:
Maintain Housing Quality
Expand Variety of Housing Options
Increase Housing Affordability
Encourage Environmentally Sustainable Housing
Advance Equity in Housing Practices and Policies
The Housing and Redevelopment Authority Housing Strategic Plan includes three main priorities:
Preserve Existing Affordable Housing to maintain housing stability
Develop New Mixed Income Housing to increase and diversify housing options and opportunity
Expand Access to Housing Choice and Opportunity for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and
Low‐Income Homeowners and Renters
Shoquist went on to review affordable housing goals and displayed a tool on the Golden Valley
website that illustrates this conversation in Golden Valley.
The Affordable Housing policy and Mixed Income policy were both reviewed, staff added information
on the Planning Commission’s role in affordable housing development.
Shoquist wrapped up by reviewing affordable housing funding, funding strategies, and the ways folks
can advocate and support the affordable housing goals.
• Support affordable rental and homeownership preservation and development
• Support the creation of a local Affordable Housing Trust Fund
• Join the Golden Valley Affordable Housing Coalition – Contact Ruth Paradise at
ruthparadise40@gmail.com
• Advocate for affordable housing funding at the State and Federal level – learn more at
Minnesota Housing Partnership mhponline.org/projects‐and‐campaigns/
• Learn more about Just Deeds to identify and disrupt narratives promoting exclusivity in
communities www.justdeeds.org and www.mappingprejudice.org
• Elevate and amplify narratives supporting Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx, Middle
Eastern, refugee and immigrant community members in housing choice and opportunity
Commissioner Segelbaum mentioned that the commission participates in the affordable housing
process but often it’s within a PUD. He followed up by asking what other things can be done to
incentivize affordable housing. Staff responded that there are 11 apartment complexes that are
NOAH (Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing) but they’re all under different ownership. Staff is
creating a partnership with the NOAH preservation fund to help maintain this housing. Otherwise
there’s a possibility of an outside developer purchasing the property and eventually flipping the
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buildings. Staff added that the luxury units now, will one day become the NOAH units, that doesn’t
help now but it helps create perspective for a long‐term plan.
Commissioner Ruby mentioned developers of multi‐family housing are being asked to create
affordable units alone. He followed up by noting developers of building types, business related, and
added if the City was allowed to state the developer needed to put some money towards affordable
housing in another area. While it may not directly benefit the developer, it’s creating accountability
for the community in which they’re building a business. Shoquist responded she’ll be asking the City
Attorney about that idea. The process is a balance between creating accountability without causing
eminent domain.
Commissioner Ginis agreed more affordable housing should be near public transit. Ginis added that
she would like to see more density in buffer areas of residential transit and on busy roads. The City
doesn’t want to lose the districts that accommodate the daytime population but there are areas that
would be great locations for higher density developments. The conversation continued along this
path on defining “higher density” and buffer locations.
Commissioner Johnson mentioned the presentation was clear and added he’s noticed most folks
don’t understand the level of detail when factoring what is “affordable” and asked staff how often
they run into this. Staff responded that the concept and equations are complex and folds don’t
usually think of what the income levels are. Folks tend to think of homelessness or precariously
housed folks; understanding that someone working 3 jobs can also fall into these categories isn’t
often a first thought when we hear “affordable housing”. Shoquist went on to talk about the
homeownership program and pointed out there are 35 of these homes already and folks don’t
realize that.
The conversation continued on to the housing units in Golden Valley, the number of rental licenses,
multi‐family rental units, and affordable rental types. Staff utilized the aforementioned housing
dashboard on the website for this data. The conversation went on to connect residential home
sellers with programs like this to offer options in R‐1 and how an affordable home in a neighborhood
doesn’t decrease the value of neighboring properties.
2. Discussion – Off‐Street Parking Regulations
Myles Campbell, Planner, reminded the group that this conversation started in June 2022 with the
Planning Intern, Max Gort, but he soon after was offered a job in another city so this project was put
on the back burner while staff worked on ADUs.
The catalyst was to ensure consistency with the code, land descriptions, while adding electric vehicle
requirements and off‐street parking minimums.
Golden Valley would like to take a more active role in requiring EV charging stations rather than
incentivizing them. Options for charging station requirements include the model ordinance from the
Great Plains Institute and St Louis Park code. Staff can then either update the PUD amenities
schedule for either a more significant EV investment or to remove as a points item if required in code
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by default. Additionally, parking has an impact on the City’s environmental health and staff plans to
consult with environmental staff and environmental commission.
The goal for parking minimums will be to right size minimums to land uses. There isn’t a perfect
system and staff reviewed the history of this with the development of city planning in general. Staff
will work with the GIS Specialist to create a comprehensive map of off‐street private parking in
Golden Valley. Additionally, while staff will see where cutting required parking is feasible, this has
practical limits in a city like Golden Valley, and staff does think minimums should be kept in place.
Staff went on to review the benefits to reducing parking requirement:
more impervious surfaces and green spaces
added parking is an increased cost to consumers
large lots are less pedestrian friendly
decreasing free parking lessens vehicle trips and thus greenhouse gas impacts
Staff continued with tax revenue differences of transit‐oriented development and auto oriented
development. Using the City of Saint Paul’s decision in 2021 to combat a surplus in parking, staff
compared their work to regulations in Golden Valley. Staff noted the differences in cities as well,
primarily by size and access to transit and infrastructure differences between cities.
Overall, staff doesn’t think eliminating parking makes sense today for Golden Valley, but reducing
parking requirements will mirror some of the benefits highlighted in the Saint Paul report.
Campbell continued to the Land Use and Setback code amendments:
Some specific land uses should be called out for parking, staff wants to align land use
descriptions as much as possible with the categories listed in the 113‐87 Summary Use Tables.
Setbacks for parking are inconsistent with certain code chapters, these should either be made
consistent or we should be deliberate about wanting to push parking further from ROW than
buildings in certain zoning districts, such as for mixed use.
Discussion
Thoughts on initial workplan?
Besides GIS mapping and initial materials, any additional background/info needed by
Commissioners?
Should a consult with Environmental Commission occur once staff is closer to an amendment?
Other elements of parking code to revisit?
Commissioner Ruby started by noting he likes how staff is focusing more on commercial areas,
adding that larger companies are asking employees to continue returning to the office so there may
be an issue with parking reductions. Additionally, residentially, he has concerns about letting the
market decide parking regulations. If residential roads allow parking, that can limit access to bike
lanes and other businesses may rely on street parking for overflow. Saint Paul has permit fees to
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allow street parking so that could be looked at but also what are the down the road impacts – like
plowing.
Commissioner Ginis added that she’d like to reduce parking but staff needs to be thoughtful about
transit expectations as they don’t support all trip types currently in the City. A lot of the retail
establishments aren’t pedestrian friendly, even winter parking standards can add another snafu.
Joint parking could be an option so daytime and evening parking share spaces and I’d be interested
to learn about incentivizing permeable parking spaces. She vocalized support for the Great Plains
report.
The conversation continued on Golden Valley’s parking requirements and how many spaces are
required per square foot for restaurants.
Ruby added that the group discusses “trickle down savings” where if the City allows a developer to
save money on parking, that the savings will be passed on to buyers. He asked for research on this
theory or studies to support that theory. Staff responded that St Paul mentions it but will look more
into results from other studies.
The conversation continued and revolved around working from home, the continuation of that, what
impact that has on parking needs for businesses, for apartments/homes, and how the carbon
footprints reduce/evolve.
Commissioner Brenna commented that EV are here to stay and tech changes will continue but it
shouldn’t stop the City from moving forward. There are endless benefits to reducing impervious
surfaces, and other cities know a lot about pervious pavers so there are resources. The group
discussed the inherent negatives to a reduction in parking so the points were clear to the group.
Ginis added she thinks public transit needs should be meet Golden Valley before a city‐wide
reduction of parking occurs.
Commissioner Johnson commented on the St Paul study data, the reality behind those who are all
season cyclists in Minnesota, charging stations and the limited technology in extreme weather, and
the discretion of the term “adequate plan”. Staff elaborated on the parking code, land use
consistency, the emerging technology of EVs, and how to define an adequate plan.
5.Council Liaison Report
Planning Manager Zimmerman on behalf of Council Member La Mere‐Anderson updated the
Commissioners on planning items on the upcoming Council meeting.
6.Other Business
Commissioner Johnson announced his resignation from the Planning Commission. He stated that he
would continue to serve until a replacement was appointed by the City Council.
7.Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Ginis to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Ruby and approved
unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:38pm.
________________________________
________________________________ Andy Johnson, Secretary
Amie Kolesar, Planning Assistant