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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/11/2006 MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, APRIL 11,2006 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL MAPLEWOOD ROOM I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioner Tom Connelly Chairperson Lorraine Fischer Commissioner Joe O'Brien Commissioner Gary Pearson Commissioner Beth Ulrich Present Present Absent Present Absent Staff Present: Ken Roberts, Planner Lisa Kroll, Recording Secretary III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the HRA minutes for March 28, 2006. Chairperson Fischer had changes to the HRA minutes of March 28, 2006, on pages 3,4, and 5. On page 3, first paragraph, second line, insert the word HRA in front of Gladstone Task Force member. On page 4, last paragraph, first sentence, change the word f\G to~. On page 5, fourth paragraph, first line, insert the word correctlv after understood, on the next line insert the word contaminated in front of the word dirt, on the fourth line, after the words less than, insert the words if thinqs were built. Commissioner Connelly moved to approve the minutes as amended. Commissioner Pearson seconded. Ayes - Connelly, Fischer, Pearson The motion carried. IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Pearson moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Connelly seconded. Ayes - Connelly, Fischer, Pearson The motion carried. Housing and Redevelopment Authority -2- Minutes of 04-11-06 V. COMMUNICATIONS a. April 18, 2006, City Council Meeting Representation- Gladstone Redevelopment Plan Commissioner Connelly said he would be the HRA representative at the April 18, 2006, city council meeting. Originally the HRA decided that HRA commissioner and HRA Gladstone Task Force member Joe O'Brien would be the HRA representative but he was absent from the last two HRA meetings and missed the discussions. Therefore, Tom Connelly said he would report the HRA recommendation to the city council. VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Gladstone Neighborhood Redevelopment Plan Review and Recommendation Commissioner Connelly said he preferred the master plan (800 units) and he preferred the box culvert as opposed to the bebo because of the additional cost. The plan could include more units and amenities by cutting costs and building the box culvert. He envisions with the addition of 800 units to this area that Frost Avenue should be widened to a four lane road. He also believes three or more story buildings would allow for more green space and amenities for the area. Commissioner Pearson said he preferred a lesser density of around 600 - 700 units but he feels that the plan requires enough density to obtain the utilities and amenities needed which are key to making this area the best it can be. Therefore, he would recommend the master plan (800 units). Everything surrounding the future roundabout will need to be at least three stories tall and will require shops in the vicinity. If the city can't acquire the funeral home location the rest of the plan is not going to be successful so to him if the funeral home remains, it is a detriment to this plan. He would recommend the box culvert to reduce costs. Whatever the city council decides to do with the Gladstone Redevelopment plan if they choose to plan for a box culvert or a bebo that area will need to be well lit and not just by natural light. Chairperson Fischer said she would recommend the master plan (800 units). She also said that if the unit density is going to be a prime concern of the city council she would rather compromise and not go with the 490 unit plan but rather recommend a density number somewhere in between the 490 and 800 units like between 600 - 700 units. She would also recommend building the box culvert rather than building the bebo, which would help cut costs. She would recommend reducing the amount of landscaping, the length of the streetscaping, and possibly using stop signs temporarily until the city knows for sure a roundabout is necessary in the area (which would help cut costs as well). Some of the amenities could be trimmed back and this plan could still be attractive to a developer. Chairperson Fischer said she put together a recommendation to the city council and asked the commissioners if she could read it aloud to see if it covers what the commissioners had voiced regarding the Gladstone Redevelopment Plan. Housing and Redevelopment Authority -3- Minutes of 04-11-06 Chairperson Fischer said If the HRA can only chose from the master plan (800 unit plan) or the alternative plan (490 unit plan) then the HRA would recommend the master plan (800 units) as it is felt that the 490 unit plan is too marginal to be viable and attractive to developers. If on the other hand, there is another option, the HRA would recommend scaling back on some of the amenities such as building the box culvert to reduce cost, reduce the length of the streetscaping and so forth, thus making it possible to bring the unit density down to between 600 to 700 units, which could be still attractive to developers. Commissioner Connelly and Commissioner Pearson agreed with the wording. Commissioner Connelly moved to make the recommendation as read by Chairperson Fischer. Commissioner Pearson seconded. Ayes - Connelly, Fischer, Pearson The motion passed. This item will go to the city council on Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at the Maplewood Community Center in the theatre. Chairperson Fischer said regarding comments that have been made from the look of the Gladstone area, she knows there are housing maintenance codes and if a neighborhood is allowed to be rundown because the residents don't keep up their homes and yards, she asked if the city does anything to change that other than respond to complaints that are received at the city. Mr. Roberts said no up to this point the city hasn't done much regarding maintenance issues. Commissioner Connelly said that is a very sensitive subject. When you drive around and report it to the city homes that have maintenance issues either in the yard or with the home itself can be a very sensitive issue. Chairperson Fischer said she knows that the City of North St. Paul in the past drove around the city and wrote down the addresses that had issues and then sent letters out to those residents in the spring letting the residents know what the city code states. By sending those letters out the City of North St. Paul had an 85 - 90% compliance just from the letters they sent out. Many people don't know what the city ordinances are. Maybe they are from another city and recently moved here. Maybe they are elderly and need some assistance. They could just not be aware of how to dispose of things or where to dispose of items. She said she recently attended a meeting with the City of Falcon Heights, Roseville and possibly Little Canada where they discussed how they handle housing issues. The letter from the city can be informative and helpful and offer phone numbers or addresses of places that you can take items to or how to donate a car for instance, that way the letter is not as intimidating. Sometimes it is not how you do things, it is how you handle them that makes the difference. The City of Roseville recently adopted a new housing maintenance program. She asked if the City of Maplewood has ever talked about being part of a program such as this? Housing and Redevelopment Authority -4- Minutes of 04-11-06 Mr. Roberts said there are problems in Maplewood as there are in other communities. About two years ago the Fire Marshal, Butch Gervais, along with assistance from some of the full time fire fighters (while they were waiting for fire calls) were doing general sweeps by driving through neighborhoods in Maplewood and noted things they noticed and then sent letters out to those residents from the City of Maplewood. Some things were brought into compliance and changed. The Fire Marshal said they would not be doing that this spring however. This type of thing has to be made a priority and that would have to be given by the direction of the city council. At this time the City of Maplewood does not have such a program. VII. NEW BUSINESS None. VIII. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next HRA meeting is Tuesday, May 9, 2006. IX. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Fischer adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.