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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/14/2000 AGENDA MAPLEWOOD HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2000 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL MAPLEWOOD ROOM 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Minutes May 9, 2000 4. Approval of Agenda 5. Communications 6. Unfinished Business a. Home Replacement Program - Operations and Procedures Plan 7. New Business 8. Date of Next Meeting 9. Adjournment c:memoIHRAAGEND.MEM MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY NOVEMBER 14, 2000 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. II. ROLL CALL HRA Commissioners: Lorraine Fischer, Tom Connelly, Joe O'Brien, Gary Pearson (arrived at 7:08), Beth Ulrich. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES May 9,2000. Commissioner Connelly moved approval of the minutes of May 9, 2000, as submitted. Commissioner O'Brien seconded. Ayes-4 (Fischer, Connelly, O'Brien, Pearson) Abstain-1 (Ulrich) IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner O'Brien moved approval of the agenda as submitted. Commissioner Connelly seconded. Ayes-all V. COMMUNICATIONS Ken Roberts, associate planner, introduced Beth Ulrich and welcomed her aboard as the new HRA commissioner. Ms. Melinda Coleman distributed an article from the Star Tribune about a study that was done by the Maxfield Research Group that talked about the relationship between affordable family rental housing and home values in the Twin Cities. VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None HRA MINUTES 11-14-2000 VII. NEW BUSINESS -2- Home Replacement Program--Operations and Procedures Plan. Mr. Roberts presented the staff report for the city. On May 9, 2000, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) met and reviewed a proposed operations and procedures plan for the Housing Replacement Program. Since then, Mr. Roberts and Bob Wenger, the Maplewood Environmental Health Inspector, revisited some of the sites. One site they did not feel should be included on the list and a couple other sites were removed due to the homeowner improving the site. Ms. Fischer questioned why the particular sites were on the list. Was it due to structural issues or housekeeping problems? The difference being if it was just housekeeping and a new owner moves in, that issue could be eliminated within a couple months. If it was a structural issue, the problem would still be there with the new owner, and possibly continue to deteriorate. Dilapidated and Substandard Houses. Maplewood (October 2000) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 1819 Birmingham Street 1890 Adele Street 1779 Frank Street 1742 y" English Street 549 Farrell Street 1694 Sylvan Street 1724 Sylvan Street 1287 Lark Avenue 1800 Bradley Street (PIN 15-29-22-32-0023) (PIN 16-29-22-42-0018) (PIN 16-2922-43-0004) (PI N 15-29-22-33-0094) (PIN 36-29-22-14-0022) (PIN 18-29-22-34-0035) (PIN 18-29-22-34-0039) (PIN 09-29-22-44-0002) (PIN 17-29-22-34-0020) Structure Both Structure Structure ?-Size Size Size Housekeeping Housekeeping Chairperson Fischer noted the home on 1819 Birmingham Street (#1 in priority) has a for sale sign on the property. The property on Adele Street has five new homes built around it and staff feels a lot could be done for the neighborhood if that home was removed. Maps and information were collected for each of the properties listed which includes ownership, lot size and current market value. Ms. Fischer would prefer item C to be switched with item A under #8 in the Practices and Methods of Property Purchase and Resale, in a priority listing. The reasoning for item 8 was to improve the overall visual effect and improvement of the city and also to increase the city tax base, but Ms. Fischer stated "it appears that we seem to be going away from that. We are eliminating an unsightly house and building a new home to increase the tax base. The goal is to create additional tax base and not to create side yards." Staff reminded the board members the goal was to visually improve the neighborhood. If an old ratty home is gone and now there is open space and a new home gets built to replace it, the city has accomplished its goal. Staff does not feel the city wants anyone building on a 40-foot lot. It is just not good public policy. Ms. Fischer felt if the word got out that the city would allow a variance to build on a 40- foot lot, people would start paying their variances for the additional lot in fear of losing the lot. Ms. Coleman suggests getting feedback from the council to inquire if the Maplewood City Council would support building on a 40-foot lot (vs. 60 feet). She also felt if a variance is approved, the city should be able to stipulate what style of home is being built. HRA MINUTES 11-14-2000 -3- Under the Practices and Methods of Property Purchase and Resale, #6 will read: "The community design review board will review and approve all new house design and site plans. Also, the developer or builder may appeal the staff decision about design issues to the city council. When considering house plans, staff will consider the color and materials of the architectural elements of the proposed buildings". Ms. Coleman also thought it would be a good idea to run the plans through the design review board especially due to the fact there are not all that many per year. It was suggested that a committee could be created that combines HRA members and community design review board members. The developer or builder will have the right to appeal the staff decisions about design issues to the city council. Under the practices and methods, item 8, C will be listed first. B will state: "Divide the property and sell the pieces to the adjacent property owners". Item 8 will now state: If the property the city has bought does not meet the city's zoning standards for lot size or lot width, or street frontage, the city may choose to: a. Grant variances to allow the construction of a new house. b. Keep the property for open space rather than transfer the property to another owner. c. Divide the property and sell the pieces to the adjacent property owners. Mr. Roberts noted the home on English Street appears to be a chicken coop or a garage that at some point was turned into a home. It is currently landlocked with the two homes sharing a driveway. The property in this case could be sold between the two property owners. Commissioner Fischer noted that some of the lot values did not seem comparable to neighborhood values. Why more of the "clone" homes in the area were not included in the list was a concern to Ms. Fischer. Was it because staff had been inside the homes on the list and found them to be structurally unsound? Staff responded in saying the decision was probably based upon complaints from neighbors and after being inspected by Bob Wenger. If a home is taken down and replaced, what about the clones on the same street? Could we include other similar homes on the list and actually create a larger base? About six weeks ago staff made contact with the Realtor who had listed the Birmingham residence for sale. The real-estate agent stated the home was listed for $59,900. He did have a couple of people at that time that had made offers, but did not qualify. Commissioner Pearson shared several photos he had taken of the properties on the list. One of the commissioners noted the property on 1779 Frank has more board than paint showing on the exterior. Why hasn't the city ordinance for maintenance been applied as of yet? As far as staff knows from the Environmental Health Inspector, he has not received any complaints on this property as of yet. Ms. Fischer did not understand why the owner has not been tagged as of yet and told to get a paint job. Staff explained there are other problems with the property also. There is a city employee familiar with the home and has heard there are structural issues with the roof also. When this program gets underway, and the owner is approached by the city, staff is hopeful they will be interested in selling and moving on. HRA MINUTES 11-14-2000 -4- Mr. Roberts stated that he felt Dennis Campbell, a local home builder who builds three or four homes a year, would love the opportunity to build on some of these properties. Some cities are paying for contractors to be trained to become updated with the rehabilitation projects. If they are applying for renovation loans, they would need to select a contractor off the list that has been trained for that type of project. The contractors are required to carry the liability insurance, therefore, so many contractors are hesitant to do it. Also, there is so much work out there, why take the rehab jobs that cost so much for hazardous waste removal? Ms. Fischer noticed the irony of the home owner who has too much money to receive federal funds will not be required to follow federal regulation, and therefore will probably leave the lead paint. One of the commissioners noted that Minnesota was not one of the states that were having issues with containing the lead paint. Other states were not complying with the way the regulation said it needed to be handled. They made the regulations nearly suffocating, so in order to follow them to the letter, people end up relocating out of the house. All of the homes listed are on city sewer except possibly the property on Bradley Street which may have a well. The city property oft of Frost and English has a little well that goes down 600 feet. It had been covered up by the railroad and they are working on getting it capped. There are about 140-150 homes in the city that are not yet connected to city sewer with the majority of them in the south end of Maplewood. Ms. Coleman questioned how often Ramsey County actually goes out and appraises homes. Mr. Roberts responded in saying he thought it was once every four years. Ms. Coleman suggested a caveat be added stating the list is not in any way, shape or form exclusive (it is subject to change). Ms. Fischer was concerned that the practices and methods did not define dilapidated. She felt possibly using the term "substandard" may be more appropriate. Ms. Coleman suggested using both in the definition. Mr. Roberts informed the housing and redevelopment authority that the Harvester area just had their streets redone in the last couple years. He will be interested to see if that now creates more interest in that area for people to spruce up their property. Staff wanted to discuss item 10 which is the home that burned on Prosperity. Much of the inside of the home was destroyed and has been sitting boarded up for 12-15 years. Staff has it listed as a possible rehab project. If the owner is not willing to sell, it does not matter, but Ms. Fischer thought he may change his mind if the county looks at it, valuate the worth and makes an offer. The city gets one or two calls a month on the property. A good approach may be to watch for a for sale sign and approach the owner at that point. Ms. Coleman discussed the issue of how the city wants to disburse the funds. If funds are used for low to intermediate housing, the funds will not go as far. She would like to see the city jump in and start doing something, stop talking and start moving. The main question was" how quickly do we want to start"? The HRA commissioners felt a workshop at the city council may be the best place to start and the most informative for everyone. HRA MINUTES 11-14-2000 -5- Commissioner Pearson was willing to offer the services of his company to build Manufactured homes on the lots for cost only. He felt the sites were large enough for attached or detached garages and would sell for $45,000 to $55,000. All the homes would be 28-feet wide and 40 to 70 feet long. The home installed on Century Avenue, just north of the Dairy Queen, is this type of modular home and looks just like a little rambler. Mr. Pearson's product is a little more finished than the Wausau modular homes. Mr. Pearson's homes come with a little less woodwork, and can be ordered with a Lindsey Floor Truss which is made to go on a foundation. If they want to have a finished basement it runs about $10,00-12,000 more. That product typically comes without appliances and does not have the furnace and water heater, which could be installed after the unit is sited. It would appear to be beneficial for the city to install these homes on the sites, sell them and make a profit on them. Staff felt this proposal should be brought up to the council. One of the board members stated an empty lot does not have any adverse effects on the tax base for the surrounding properties, but when you place a new home on the lot it does increase the value of the surrounding properties. The HRA board members viewed the picture of the property on 1724 Sylvan Street and tried to figure out why that property was on the list. Staff felt that property did not look that bad esthetically and it was possible it was placed on the list by mistake. There may be another address on the block that should be listed instead. Staff clarified that with the majority of the properties listed, they are owner occupied. A commissioner questioned, "If some of the properties are dilapidated looking, can the city ticket the owner to fix it?" Staff responded in saying the maintenance ordinance could be applied. The commission would appreciate it if staff would include the maintenance ordinance in the next meeting packet so they know what they have to work with. Ms Fisher felt the ordinance has not been looked at since it has been adopted, and felt it would be beneficial to view the ordinance and maybe improve upon it. Staff feels when health and safety issues are involved, the Health Inspector becomes actively involved and includes the police when needed. His frustrations are when the courts get involved and the tickets are not followed up on. It may be beneficial to have Bob Wenger attend some meetings since Bob has been working in his field for over 20 years. When a complaint is received, Bob's first attempt is to gain rapport with the owner and get the problem fixed. If not, it usually ends up in the Ramsey County court system. VIII. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next HRA meeting will be in January or February after the workshop with the city council. IX. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m.