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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/09/1991 AGENDA MAPLEWOOD HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY APRIL 9, 1991 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM A (Note: Room Change) 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Minutes a. February 12, 1991 4. Approval of Agenda 5. Communications 6. Unfinished Business a. Definition of objectives and tasks from HRA Annual Report b. Federal Housing (HUD) Program Information 7. New Business a. Discussion of Certificate of Occupancy Programs (1) Steve Zaccard, Fire Marshal, Saint Paul (2) Joanne Velde, Housing Inspections, Minneapolis b. Election of officers c. Code Change: Sideyard Setbacks 8. Date of Next Meeting a. May 14, 1991 9. Adjournment HRAAGEND.MEM H~NUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD HOUSIN~ ~ REDEVELOPMENT ~UTHORITY FEBRUARY 12, 1991 e CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. ROLL CALL HRA Commissioners: Lorraine Fischer, Tom Connelly, Gary Pearson, Larry Whitcomb city Staff: Ken Roberts APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 11, 1990 Commissioner Connelly moved approval of the minutes of December 11, 1990, as submitted. Commissioner Whitcomb seconded Ayes--Fischer, Connelly, Pearson, Whitcomb APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Fischer moved approval of the amended agenda moving Items 6 a. and b. after Item 7. c. Commissioner Whitcomb seconded Ayes--Fischer, Connelly, Pearson, Whitcomb Se COMMUNICATIONS There were no communications. NEW BUSINESS a. Plaque Presentation - Dale Carlson Chairperson Fischer presented two plaques to Dale Carlson for his seven years of service on the HRA. One was the Council-adopted resolution of appreciation and the other was a plaque of appreciation from the HRA. b® Group Home Presentation Kathy LeMay, Executive Director of Dakota's Children Inc., presented information about her organization. She explained the history, whom they serve, and HRA Minutes 2-12-91 -2- discussed the three supervised living facilities operating in Maplew6od. Each of these facilities serves up to six residents with at least two staff always on site. Ms. LeMay stated that the State licenses the facilities and they were built to State standards for handicap and safety requirements. Mary Mahoney, Director of Ramsey County Department of Social Services, gave a presentation on foster homes. Ms. Mahoney distributed information on her department,s services. This included information on foster care, child care, and adult group and institutional care. The information contained siting facilities issues: those which affect needs and those which affect location. This information stated that as of 2-4-91, of the 664 licensed foster care homes in Ramsey County, 64 are in Maplewood. This information also included a draft bill from State Senator Sandra Pappas of St. Paul. This bill proposes to expand the'current distancing restrictions on programs licensed by State Human Services to include those programs licensed by the Minnesota Departments of Corrections and Health. Senator Pappas has not yet introduced this bill but is still taking comments on it. ' Ms. Mahoney explained the difficulties the County is having finding enough space to meet the group home needs. The County will be closing their Lake Owasso group home soon. These residents will need 11 six- person group homes in the County to replace their present facility. This situation, as well as the decentralization by the State of the regional treatment centers (State hospitals), is creating an increasing need for smaller group homes. Also, on December 20, 1990, St. Paul adopted a moratorium prohibiting developers from establishing community residential facilities in that city while St. Paul completes a study about them. The Commission asked Ms. LeMay and Ms. Mahoney several questions about foster and group homes. Both agreed that it is important for a group home to be a good neighbor. They also agreed that it is helpful to have the city as a communication link between a group-home operator and the neighborhood. c. Code Amendment - Truth-in-Housing Ordinance Secretary Roberts presented the staff report. Karen Christofferson and Keith Holm, of St. Paul Area HRAMinutes 2-12-91 -3- Association of Realtors, spoke regarding their request for an amendment to this ordinance and answered questions. Commissioner Whitcomb moved to amend the Truth-in- Housing Ordinance to add the following: "This article shall not apply to any owner or agent of an owner who made available a housing unit or residential building for sale before 1-1- 91 until the end of the current listing agreement, or to the sale of a property that has an executed purchase agreement or earnest money contract before 1-1-91." Commissioner Pearson seconded Ayes--Fischer, Connelly, Whitcomb, Pearson 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS ao R-IS and R-2 Zoning Districts Secretary Roberts presented the staff report for this proposed code amendment to separate small-lot single and double dwellings into separate zoning districts. Discussion followed. One area of concern of the commissioners was that property owners be contacted for their wishes before neighbors are surveyed for their comments or the zoning is proposed for change. Commissioner Fischer moved the HRA recommend: Adoption of the ordinance that creates a new R-IS district that is limited to smaller-lot single dwellings with the minimum requirements in the R-2 district. After adopting an R-iS district the Council should consider: ae Rezoning small-lot single dwellings, such as the Gall Avenue project, to R-1S. Rezoning existing single dwellings that the City has zoned R-2 to R-1 or R-iS. If such rezonings are contemplated, no action should be taken before "feeler letters" are sent to the property owners to determine their wishes. HRA Minutes 2-12-91 -4- Commissioner Connelly seconded Block Grant Information Ayes--Fischer, Connelly, WhitComb, Pearson Secretary Roberts presented information to the commissioners regarding future Ramsey County Block Grants. Discussion concerning possible future grant applications followed. f. Applicant Interviews The applicants, except Mary Martin who could not attend, were interviewed and the Commissioners voted as follows: .Leko Martin Tauer Wei~ Connelly 3 1 4 2 Fischer 2 3 4 1 Pearson 4 1 2 3 Whitcomb 2 3 4 1 TOTALS: 1. Tauer - 14 points 2. Leko - 11 points 3. Martin - $ points 4. Weis - 7 points Because of the late hour, Commissioner Connelly moved to table Items 7. d. - Definition of Objectives and Tasks from HRA Annual Report and 7. e. - Federal Housing (HUD) Program Information until a future meeting. Commissioner Whitcomb seconded Ayes'-Fischer, Connelly, Whitcomb, Pearson 8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING a. March 12, 1991 9. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 11:23 p.m. FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: MEMORANDUM City Manager Ken Roberts, Associate Planner H~AOb~eotives and Task Definitions February 6, 1991 INTRODUCTION The work program of the Housing and Redevelopment Authorityts (HRAts) Annual Report for March 1989 through February 1990 has six general objectives and six task goals. (See pages 3, 4 and 5.) To help staff in setting a work program for the upcoming months, the HRA should further define and rank these objectives and tasks. BACKGROUND December 10, 1990: The City Council accepted the HRAts Annual Report for March 1989 through February 1990. The Work Program in the Annual Report has six general objectives and six task goals. At this meeting Commissioner Fisher asked the City Council to rank the six task goals in order of their importance. Staff received two responses from the Council. They are on pages 6 and 7. DISCUSSION The HRA should further define and clarify several of the objectives and task goals in the HRAAnnual Report. A discussion of each needing further work follows. General Objectives 5. Use various media, including Maplewood in Motion, the Maplewood Review, the St. Paul paper and sewer bill inserts, to improve public awareness of housing issues. This should include information on the housing programs and developments in the City. The HRA should give staff direction on the use of the media about housing matters. Should staff place stories with the media at regular intervals or only when unique or special items come up? Determine how suburban cities such as Maplewood can fund various support services for elderly persons. These services may include the home-share program. This program helps to keep elderly persons in their homes rather than sending them prematurely to a nursing home or apartment. 3. Work with the seniors committee to determine how Maplewood can maintain an information and a referral service to aid older adults in finding ~vailable services. Sponsor or aid in any necessary code, law or policy revisions to make this information readily accessible to Maplewood residents. What support services do senior need? Are these a function of the H~ or should the Seniors Advisory Committee take up these items? The HRA should focus its energies on housing matters. As such, many of the needs of seniors raised in the two items above are beyond the scope of the HRA. 2. Sponsor or review any necessary code or law revisions to address the problem areas about housing for City residents. What are the problem areas in housing in the City? Staff would welcome suggestions for improving the housing in the City. This might include additions or revisions to the City Code or trying to get the City Council to provide additional funds for housing improvement programs. RECOMMENDATION Clarify and then rank the general objectives and task goals in the HRA's Annual Report. kr\mem24.mem Attachment~ 1. Pages 2, 3 and 4 of the 1989 - 1990 HRA Annual Report 2. Mayor Bastian response to HRA 3. Council member response to HRA 1989-1990 HRA Annual Report Page 2 served on the Home Share Task Force commission. Shown on page ll are the Share-A-Home statistics. The Share-A-Home budget for 1990-1991 is $22,974. Funding includes $9,987 from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA), $11,487 from a Community Development Block Grant from the County and the remainder from fees collected. This program requires that the participating communities provide some of the funding. Maplewood's share of this cost is about $2,000. EMERGING CONCERNS After years of looking at senior housing needs, the HRA believes that support services are an integral part of the housing picture for seniors. There' are a wide variety of services available from an equally wide .variety of sources. Some of these are governmental, some quasi-public, some private, some available to others when compared to the need. Information on what is available and how to get it may not always be readily available to those in need. What is the role of the City in the resolution of these problems or the dissemination of such information? Another more traditional area of concern to an HRA is that of neighborhoods with deteriorating housing. Maplewood has some areas of older, pre-code housing which has the potential to deteriorate. As appropriate, the HRA will review the issue and consider possible solutions to lessen the problem. Exhibit G (page 13) notes the possible changes in the housing market. The City should prepare for them. The numbers of .people aged 25 to 34 in the region and country will be dropping. A possible effect from this population decrease may be a drop in demand for the modestly priced single-family houses in Maplewood. This drop in demand for starter single-family homes may, however, make them more affordable to people with lower incomes. 1990-1991 WORK PROGRAM General Objectives 1. Continue to participate in Metropolitan Council and MHFA programs. 2. Continue to review ordinances and policies about housing costs. Monitor subsidized housing proposals for consistency with the City housing plan and the guidelines for tax-exempt, tax-increment and Community Design Block Grant financing. 3 Attachment 1 1989-90 HRA Annual Report Page 3 Keep informed on happenings and changes that will influence the provision of affordable housing. Use various media, including Maplewood in Motion, the Maplewood Review, the St. Paul paper and sewer bill inserts, to improve public awareness of housing issues. This should include information on the housing programs and developments in the City. 6. Encourage and aid in the provision of life-cycle housing, including alternative housing for older-adults. These efforts should include participation on the Older Adult Home-Share Steering Commission. Determine how suburban cities such as Maplewood can fund various support services for elderly persons. These services may include the home-share program. This program helps to keep elderly persons in their homes rather than sending them prematurely to a nursing home or apartment. Sponsor or review any necessary code or law revisions to · address the problem areas about housing for City residents. Work with the seniors committee to determine how Maplewood can maintain an information and a ~eferral service to aid older adults in finding available services. Sponsor or aid in any necessary code, law, or policy revisions to make this information readily accessible to Maplewood residents. Participate in the Comprehensive Plan update process. is so the plan addresses: This The revision of the housing element to reflect current and possible future programs, housing needs and conditions. With this, develop housing policies for the City which address: (1) (2) Mortgage assistance for first-time home buyers and other persons who cannot afford to buy a house. The encouragement of reinvestment in existing strong neighborhoods. (3) The need to encourage rehabilitation or redevelopment of severely deteriorated or abandoned housing. 4 1989-90 Annual RePort Page 4 b. The incorporation ~f the HRA's task goals and objectives into the plan as appropriate. Providing criteria and the identification of residential and commercial target areas for ..rehabilitation or redevelopment. d® The stricter enforcement of City codes to help prevent deteriorating housing, neighborhoods and blight in Maplewood. Have a tour for HRA, Council and interested Planning Commission members of areas of interest or concern in the City. ~ :' Research why there has been a decline in MHFA grants to Maplewood residents. Classify each of the task-specific goals as high, medium, or low priority. WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL If .the HRA feels that additional input or guidance from the Council is desirable, we will make a request for a shirt-sleeve work session. The HRA could also make a presentation under the "Visitor Presentation" item on your agenda. Also included with this report, as Exhibit F, is an item we thought might be of interest to you. This is a summary of rental housing developed with tax-exempt financing to date. This includes number of units, amount of the bond issue, fees paid to the City and federal financing restrictions. LORRAINE B. FISCHER Chairperson Maplewood Housing and Redevelopment Authority kd 5 JRN-- 4--9 I FR I I 8 : 44 ~IN TEAMST£R$ LOCAL $20 P . 01 January 4, 1990 To: McOuire From: Bastian Re; ~A Topics I would following (i) like to ese proposals (with options) come out of the HRA in 1991: Support Services for elderly. I still am very much support the home-share program. I would like to see some utilization of volunteers, oorrdinated through city using local chambers, to do repairs on needy senior homes. (2) (3) Affordable housing opportunities for the first time home buyers, the empty nesters and the single parent w or w/o children. Housing stock review and evaluation. #hat are the needs of the various neighborhoods to improve and maintain existing housing stock. for the Task Ooals stated in HRA report: 1. High _2_. ...... Low _to Medium 3. Medium 4. High 5. After #3 above 6. High 6 Attachment 2 H.R.A. ANNUAL REPORT -- PRESENTED 12-10-90 COUNCIL NENBER RESPONSE -- 12-15-90 II. III. IV. Though brief and filled with numerous figures and statistical information, I found the report easy to understand after the second reading. If this commission is an important part of City Government, I am of the opinion that it should be staffed by advertising for commission members or it should be incorporated in the Planning Commission. The City of Maplewood is at a period in its development where some one or commission should be charged with the sole responsibility of identifying areas and developments that are in need of rehabilitation. If the H.R.A. wants to leave its mark on the citizens of Maplewood, I would ask them to accept this charge and file a report with the City Council on the areas to be cleaned up, what the needs are, how the code can be changed to mandate upkeep, address the use of the courts to enforce the concerns, etc. The H.R.A. might be the moving force to make sure any and all future developments, regardless of who they serve, or how they may be funded or who may receive housing assistance, will be of such construction, landscaping and ongoing maintenance written into the C.U. permits so that any and all residents of these developments can live there for many years and have the pride of being a resident of a city that will always back them and represent their needs. I believe that researching financial needs for current and future residents is important, but if my other concerns are addressed, a financial program will fall in place because of the restrictions placed on them by other agencies of government. 7 Attachment 3 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: City Manager Director of Community Development Co~e Change - Si~eyar~ Setbacks February 23, 1991 The Planning Commission considered this subject at their last meeting and recommended that the Council take no action. The Planning Commission thought there was not enough need for a change. I have added a new alternative three since then and am recommending it to the City Council. I am sending the revised report back to the Planning Commission to see if they want to change their recommendation. TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: City Manager Tom Ekstrand, Associate Planner Code Change - Sideyard Setbacks February 22, 1991 INTRODUCTION The City Council asked Staff to report back on the City's sideyard setback requirements for single and double dwellings. The Council wanted to know if this setback allows enough room for access to the rear of the lot by emergency and construction vehicles. BACKGROUND The City has always required a five-foot minimum side yard setback for single and double dwellings. The Council added an additional requirement in 1985 for homes with less than 75 feet of frontage - the total of both side yards must be at least 15 feet. The intent of this was to prevent smaller-lot single dwellings from crowding together. Council amended the Code in 1980 to require a five-foot minimum side setback for all garages. Code had allowed a one-foot setback if the garage was 20 feet or more behind the house. ALTERNATIVES o Require at least a ten-foot side yard setback on one side and five feet on the other side. 44% of the cities on the attached survey use this requirement. However, they require that the ten feet be on the house side and the five feet on the garage side. This method would cause a problem in code interpretation if a property owner only proposed to build a house or a house with a tuck-under garage. Should the house have two ten-foot side yards? Should the tuck-under garage have a ten or five-foot side yard, since there is a part of the house over the garage? Letting the homeowner choose the side solves this problem. If the Council chooses this alternative, they should consider increasing the minimum lot width. This would maintain the current buildable width. R~q¥ire 15 feet of total sideyard setback, with a five-foot minimum. Code currently requires this for smaller lots in R-2 districts. The problem with this method is that the side yard setbacks might be only 7 1/2 feet on each side. This may not be enough room for construction equipment. Require that there be at'least ten feet of sideyard on one side of a house, only if there is enough room. Otherwise the current requirement of five feet would apply. 4. Make no change. DISCUSSION I recommend alternative three. The City should en~ourage, but not require a ten-foot sideyard setback, unless there is enough room. There is not enough public need to be more restrictive. I have not heard of any complaints from homeowners about the City's sideyard setback requirements. The Director of Public Safety believes that the current requirement is adequate for fire fighting or for access to an injured person. There is merit, however, in having one side yard setback of ten feet. Homeowners would have better access to their backyards for construction projects or to store an RV. The need to get an RV in the back or side yard may become important in the future if the City ever decides to prohibit them in the-front yard. A larger setback would also improve privacy. Most new homes have at least one ten-foot sideyard setback. We checked the side yard setbacks on the last 73 single-dwelling building permits and found that 88% had at least one side yard greater than 10 feet. 95% had an accumulated width of both side yards of 15 feet or more. The City should require a ten-foot sideyard for single dwellings with less than 75 feet of frontage. The City already requires these homes to have a total of fifteen feet of sideyard setbacks. It should not be a problem in most cases to have one ten-foot side yard. RECOMMENDATION Adoption of the ordinance on page 4. This ordinance would cre~se. the minimum sideward setback for single-dwellings from xve =o =eh feet on one s~de and on both sides of a double dwelling, if there is enough room for the proposed dwelling. TE5FOOT (File Code No. 5.1) Attachments 1. Survey dated December 3, 1990 2. Ordinance 2 SURVEY DeceI~ber 3, 1990 What is the minimum sideyard setback for a single dwelling and garage? City House (in feet) Garaqe (in feet) Maplewood 5 Crystal 5 New Brighton 5 Maple Grove 5 5 5 5 5 - (total of both sideyards must equal 15 feet) Columbia Heights 7 7 South St. Paul 9 5 Brooklyn Center 10 3 Apple Valley 10 Fridley 10 Shorevlew 10 White Bear Lake 10 New Hope 10 Cottage Grove 10 Inver Grove 10 Woodbury 10 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Blaine 10 Lakeville 10 Eden Prairie 10 10 10 10 - (total of both sideyards must equal 25 feet) Golden Valley 10% of lot width on both sides for lots under 70-feet-wide; 15% of lot width on both sides for lots between 70- and 100-feet-wide; 15 feet on both sides for lots over 100-feet-wide. Attachment 1 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE AHENDING THE SIDE YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENTS FOR SINGLE AND DOUBLE DWELLINGS THE MAPLEWOOD CITY COUNCIL HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS (additions are underlined and deletions are crossed out): Section 1. Section 36-71, Side yards, in the R-1 district are changed to read as follows: Each lot i'- ..... -- R-I "A'~A----C..--~----..~ D~ st~t--~-- shall have two (2) side yards, each having a width of at least five (5) feet. __bj~t ~- ~A The following exceptions ncdificatlcn~l shall aDD1V: (1) The side yard on the street side of a corner lot shall have a width of at least thirty (30) feet. Except that, if the majority of the dwellings on the same street and within three hundred (300) feet of the lot to be built on have a setback from that street that is different ~rom than thirty (30) feet, then all buildings or additions that are thcrcaftcr erectedT ....... or moved on that street shall conform to that predominant setback as a minimum. The City Council may approve a A conditional use permit may bc given to construct an addition to a single dwelling when such addition, or part thereof, extends into a minimum setback. A church or a school shall have a side yard of not less than fifty (50) feet on each side adjoining other property or thirty (30) feet from a public right-of- way. (3) When two (2) or more adjoining lots are used as a single building site, the side yard requirements shall apply only to the outside lot lines. (Code 1965, § 904.050; Ord. No. 487, § 904.050, 6-5-80; Ord. No. 576, § 1, 1-14-85) (4) The side yard shall be increased to at least ten feet. on one side of a house if there is enouqh room for the proposed house. Section 2. Section 36-90, side yards in the R-2 district, are changed to read as follows: Each sinqle-dwellinq on a lot with less than 75 feet of width~..~- -..~-..-~ 2 ..~..~~~~--A ~~~'~-~' shall have a side yard of at least five (5) ~eet on one side of a lot and ten (10) feet on th~ other side. The side yard for accessory buildinqs shall be fiv~ feet. Each sinqle-dwellinq lot with 75 feet or more of width shall have side yards of at least five feet on each side of the 4 Attachment 2 each side of the_~_ ~..~_l°t of five feet. t'.-o (2) ----'_c~ ~--~rd~, ~nc cn ~d~ of thc The forcg~i~g -"~--~ ~- ~- following exceptions --=<=<--~<--- shall apply: (1) such corncr irt =hall h_ _ a "~ -~ --~ ~--~ ~- thirty (*"'~., ~_..~-~ The side yard on the street side of a corner lot shall have a width of at least thirty (30) feet. Except that, if the majority of the dwellings on the same street and within three hundred (300) feet of the lot to be built on have a setback from that street that is different from thirty (30) feet, then all bUildings or additions that are erected or moved on that street shall conform to that predominant setback as a minimum. The City Council may approve a conditional use permit to construct an addition to a single dwelling when such addition, or part thereof, extends into a minimum setback. (2) ........ ~ school shall A church or m ..... , ~ ........... ~ ...... have a side yard of not less than fifty (50) feet on each side adjoining other property or thirty (30) feet from a public right-of-way. (3) When two (2) or more adjoining lots are used as a single building site, the side yard requirements shall apply only to the outside lot lines. (4) The side yard shall be increased to at least ten feet on one or both sides of a proposed double-dwellinq if there is enough room for the proposed dwelling. (5) The side yard shall be increased to at least ten feet on one side of a single-dwelling with 75 feet or more of lot width, if there is enough room for the proposed house. Section 5. This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and publication. Passed by the Maplewood City Council ,1991. Planning Commission Minutes 2-19-91 -5- The crushing/r~cycling operation shall be in with the plans prel by Harry S. ~n Companies, Inc., rec~ October 17, 1990. The cru: ~ to six is each fall Monday gh shall be limited a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 3. An access · Highway 61. operation be paved and maintained to ~cks for the crushing/recycling drive. Commissioner Pearson ~conded Ayes--Anitzberger, Axdahl, Fischer, Frost, Pearson, Rossbach Nays--Gerke, Sinn The motion Commissioner objected to said he :ed nay because he al noise his neighborhood. Commissio~ ordinance would cons Sinn said he ay because the mining has not yet been a %d. Mr. Sinn said he object to this requesti~ the previously mining ordinance is approved. Code Change: Sideyard Setbacks and Lot Frontages Secretary Olson presented the staff report for this request from the City Council for the Planning Commission to consider if present setback requirements allow enough room for access to the rear of lots by emergency vehicles. The Commissioners discussed whether, if the setbacks were increased, property owners may have enough room to plant trees in the additional sideyard area, thereby blocking the side yards. The Commissioners also felt increased setbacks would make it difficult to determine and enforce setback requirements for auxiliary buildings on lots. Commissioner Fischer moved the Planning Commission recommend no change in the present ordinance regulating sideyard setbacks and lot frontages for single and double dwellings. Planning Commission Minutes 2-19-91 -6- Commissioner Anitzberger seconded Ayes--Anitzberger, Axdahl, Fischer, Frost, Gerke, Pearson, Rossbach, Sinn The motion passed. VIS ITO~ PRESENTATIONS There were no visitor COI~ISSIOI~,. ~esentations. a. Counci February 11, 1991 lson reported on this meeting, b. Re' Lorrai for the February 25 Council Meeting: 9. STAFF PRE~ There no staff :esentations. 10. g adjourned at 10: p.m.