Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-21 Work Session Meeting PacketAgenda City Council Work Session City of Edina, Minnesota City Hall Community Room Tuesday, May 21, 2024 5:30 PM I.Call To Order II.Roll Call III.Facility Reuse Discussion IV.Action step summary for Amending the Tree Protection and Preservation Ordinance V.Adjournment The City of Edina wants all residents to be comfortable being part of the public process. If you need assistance in the way of hearing ampli$cation, an interpreter, large-print documents or something else, please call 952-927-8861 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Date: May 21, 2024 Agenda Item #: III. To:Mayor and City Council Item Type: Reports / Recommendation From:Addison Lewis, Community Development Coordinator Item Activity: Subject:Facility Reuse Discussion Discussion CITY OF EDINA 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 www.edinamn.gov ACTION REQUESTED: Provide feedback on future use of city owned land at the current Fire Station 2, 7335 York Ave S, Art Center, W. 4701 64th St and new Fire Station 2 excess land, 4401 W. 76th St. Specifically, staff would like feedback regarding whether to pursue a water treatment plant at the site of the current Fire Station 2 in Yorktown P ark as there is more urgency regarding utility upgrades. INTRODUCTION: The City is in the process of working with Hennepin County on a new art center at the Southdale Library site at 7001 York Ave S. Construction of the new Fire Station 2 is already underway and expected to be complete by fall or winter of 2025. These new facilities present an opportunity to reuse the land of the current facilities for a new purpose. There is also excess land at the new Fire Station 2 site that has not been assigned a specific use. At the work session, staff will provide an overview of all three sites with some preliminary options. With three sites, there is the possibility a decision on one site could influence the decision on another, which is why staff would like to have a high-level discussion regarding all three. However, one possible reuse option staff would like feedback on is a water treatment plant at the current Fire Station 2 site in Yorktown Park. The City has a need for a water treatment plant in this area. Several sites were considered in 2017, including the current Fire Station 2 site, however, no decision was made. At the time, a water treatment plant at the current Fire Station 2 site was more challenging due to the presence of the Fire Station 2 building. If the Fire Station 2 building is demolished, a new water treatment plant at the site becomes much more feasible. Complementary park uses could also be incorporated as part of a new water treatment plant building. Sewer upgrades along York Avenue were scheduled for 2024 but have been put on hold to consider a water treatment plant at this site. If a water treatment plant were to be pursued, water main upgrades could be completed at the same time. A decision on the water treatment plant would be needed by the end of 2024 to achieve the efficiency of completing the sewer and water upgrades as part of the same project. Background information on the three sites is attached. More information will be provided at the meeting. ATTACHMENTS: Description Fire Station 2 (Existing) - Yorktown Park Art Center Fire Station 2 Excess Land Facility Reuse Discussion May 21, 2024 Council Work Session Fire Station 2 (Existing) / Yorktown Park City of Edina 4801 West 50th Street • EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 Address: 7335 York Ave S PID: 32-028-23-24-0005 Legal Description: Outlot C, Yorktown, Hennepin County, Minnesota Site Size: 4.55 acres Zoning: R-1 (Single Dwelling Unit District) Guided Land Use: Open Space and Parks Existing Conditions: • Uses: Fire Station 2 building, Tri-City Skatepark with Bloomington, Richfleld and the YMCA (The YMCA is not currently operating), community garden, promenade/Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail, wellhouse • Topography: Mostly fiat, minimal tree cover, no wetlands • Floodplain: Very minimal fiood issues Surrounding Uses: • North: Multi-family residential; zoned PRD-4; Guided High Density Residential (12-60 u/a) • West: Multi-family residential; zoned PRD-4; Guided Greater Southdale District Residential (50-100 u/a) • South: YMCA; zoned POD-1; guided Public / Semi Public • East: City of Richfleld – Adams Hill Park Site Issues: • Large easements run through the middle of the property, signiflcantly limiting how the overall property can be used. These easements are generally outside the footprint of the existing Fire Station 2 building, parking and drive aisle area, which accounts for approximately 0.9 acres. • The existing Fire Station 2 building has limited reuse potential. One possibility is to convert it to public restrooms and park storage; however, keeping the existing building makes locating a water treatment plant on the site more challenging/costly (discussed below). • The skatepark requires staffing but has not recently been staffed and has therefore been closed. • The City of Edina has an agreement with Three Rivers Park District to allow use of the Edina Promenade for the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trial. The agreement requires the City of Edina to maintain and operate the promenade in a manner that is consistent and complimentary to the entire trail corridor. The City must consult with Three Rivers Park District regarding any changes to the design, operation, or maintenance of the Edina Promenade which may affect the use as a regional trail. Facility Reuse Discussion May 21, 2024 Council Work Session Fire Station 2 (Existing) / Yorktown Park City of Edina 4801 West 50th Street • EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 Timeline & Transition Notes: • New Fire Station 2 is scheduled to be completed by Fall 2025. • York Avenue was scheduled for trunk sewer upgrades in 2024. Staff delayed the work to explore the water treatment plant site selection decision with Council. A decision to utilize the soon-to-be former flre station site for a water treatment plant would lead to trunk water needs along the same alignment as the sewer project and has the potential to provide savings to both projects. Engineering would need a decision before the end of 2024 to begin design of the utilities for 2025 construction. Construction of the water treatment plant could be 4-5 years out. There is the potential to incorporate the wellhouse into the design of a water treatment plant building. • Parks has a CIP request to complete a park study for Yorktown Park in 2026. This could allow for engaging the public on future park uses, as well as coordination with Engineering as a water treatment plant is designed. The timing also allows for coordination with Richfleld, which is undertaking planning efforts for Adams Hill Park in 2025-26. Parks has also submitted a CIP request for park upgrades in 2029. Potential Site Uses (may be one or a combination) Water Treatment Plant – This site was previously explored in 2017 for Water Treatment Plant #5 (WTP#5). The previous analysis assumed WTP#5 would need to flt around the Fire Station 2 building, which presented challenges and higher costs. This site becomes more feasible for WTP#5 if the existing Fire Station 2 building is no longer present. The footprint of a water treatment plant would be similar to the existing Fire Station 2 building and parking/drive aisle area. There is also some possibility of complementary uses, including, but not limited to, public restrooms, park maintenance storage, water treatment education and public meeting space. The existing wellhouse could also possibly be incorporated into the design of a water treatment plant building. Concept Rendering for WTP#5 from previous proposal, new alignment may differ. Park Land – The Fire Station 2 building could be renovated to include public restrooms and park storage. Alternatively, the building could be demolished to allow for another park use. A comprehensive study of long-term park uses at this site has not yet taken place. Facility Reuse Discussion May 21, 2024 Council Work Session Fire Station 2 (Existing) / Yorktown Park City of Edina 4801 West 50th Street • EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 Existing park features on the site include a skatepark, community garden, and the Centennial Lakes Promenade / Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail. The skatepark is a tri-city skatepark shared by the cities of Edina, Bloomington and Richfleld and operated by the Southdale YMCA. It was constructed in 2003. The skatepark requires staffing and has not been open to the public since 2019. The YMCA has expressed that they are not interested in reopening the skatepark or extending the contract for its operation. A study of the skatepark in 2023 found it is generally in good condition with no major structural issues present; however, a few actions were recommended to preserve its condition and to make the park safe for skateboarding. Bloomington and Richfleld have not expressed interest or capacity for staffing or funding to re-open this facility. Based on community feedback, there is interest in the conversion of this space into an all-wheel park and improving other amenities for other users of the park. After years of discussion, the Yorktown Park Community Garden was opened in 2013 as a pilot project. A parking lot was created for the garden, which was funded and is maintained by the YMCA. Community interest continues to book all 55 plots. Parks also has a need for maintenance storage that will be moved out of Fred Richards Park. Parks believes they could potentially reuse the existing garage space at Fire Station 2 to meet this need, which would require some maintenance costs estimated at $712,000 (2024). Housing – The Edina Housing Foundation has interest in City owned land for affordable housing development. This would require a rezoning, subdivision, and amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. Nearby properties on the east side of York are guided for High Density Residential in the Comprehensive Plan, which allows up to 60 dwelling units per acre. The portion of the site currently devoted to Fire Station 2 is approximately 0.9 acres so this could potentially provide up to 54 units if guided similarly. For this site to be viable for housing, likely the skatepark would need to be reconflgured or removed. Facility Reuse Discussion May 21, 2024 Council Work Session Fire Station 2 (Existing) / Yorktown Park City of Edina 4801 West 50th Street • EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 Costs: • Maintenance of existing building to preserve: $712,000 • Demo of existing building: $130,000 • WTP: $18 million (does not include park maintenance storage, public restrooms, water treatment education space, meeting space, etc.) • Wellhouse has $70,000 in deferred maintenance and replacement value of $212,000. This could be incorporated into the WTP design. • Park planning: $40,000 CIP request for 2026 • Park upgrades: $750,000 CIP request for 2029 Facility Reuse Discussion May 21, 2024 Council Work Session Edina Art Center / Rosland Park City of Edina 4801 West 50th Street • EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 Address: 4701 64th St W PID: 30-028-24-23-0006, 30-028-24-23-0007, 30-028-24-23-0008, 30-028-24-24-0003, 30-028-24-23-0009, 30-028-24-23-0010, 30-028-24-23-0011 Legal Description: Lots 4, 5 ,6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, Block 11, Normandale, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Site Size: 4.09 Zoning: R-1 (Single Dwelling Unit District) Guided Land Use: Open Space and Parks Existing Conditions: • Uses: Art Center building, parking lot and recreational trail connections • Topography: Site slopes downward toward wetlands to south / southeast. Heavy tree cover throughout the site with the exception of the existing building and parking lot footprint. Wetlands exist on the southeast corner of the site. • Floodplain: Flood zones exist along a signiflcant portion of the southeast corner of the site as well as the western edge. Surrounding Uses: • North: MN Highway 62 • West: Single-family residential; zoned R-1; Guided Low Density Residential (1-5 u/a) • South: Rosland Park; zoned R-1; guided Open Space and Parks • East: Rosland Park; zoned R-1; guided Open Space and Parks Site Issues: • The existing Art Center building has limited reuse potential. The building has many maintenance issues and does not meet current building and accessibility codes. • The site has heavy tree cover, fiood zones, and wetlands that limit the potential footprint for a new structure. • Existing trail system would need to be preserved or taken into consideration. • The two larger horizontal parcels on the south (lots 10 and 11) were acquired from the State of Minnesota out of tax forfeiture on the condition that they be used exclusively for park purposes. These parcels are mostly within fiood zones so there is limited potential for a structure. Timeline & Transition Notes: • The Art Center is currently being used for some programming on the main fioor. This will continue until a new Art Center is built in Spring 2027 at the earliest. Currently there is a letter of intent with the County regarding a new facility. Costs and design are still being reviewed. • The Art Center is being used by the video production team for a studio space (approximately 400 sq. ft.). This would need to be relocated prior to building demolition. • The trail system is used by park patrons for both neighborhood access and a looped trail network. • Park staff and the Edina Garden Council have been actively conducting natural resource restoration in this area for over the past 10 years. • A park plan could be undertaken to explore park needs and desires of the community. Facility Reuse Discussion May 21, 2024 Council Work Session Edina Art Center / Rosland Park City of Edina 4801 West 50th Street • EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 Potential Site Uses (may be one or a combination) Remain Park Land– The site is part of the 22.05-acre Rosland Park. The Art Center continues operations and, therefore, no alternative park use has been studied or discussed. The most recent approved master plan was done in 1958 and does not include the Art Center Property. Most of the park upgrades have been done as replacements or small project enhancements and have been engaged on a project speciflc basis. There are multiple upgrades identifled for the park in the next flve years, including a pedestrian bridge, aquatic center upgrades and court and fleld enhancements. The site contains wetlands that aid in Lake Cornelia’s water quality. The site has potential to help alleviate fiood risk to multiple properties with alterations to stormwater and road infrastructure. Roseland Park has 1.1 miles of recreational trails running through it and has excellent natural features with wetlands and heavy tree cover. Much of the area is in need of ecological restoration and invasive removals. The site is used primarily for passive recreation and is somewhat disconnected from the active recreation in the rest of Rosland Park. Park use is consistent with how the property is guided in the Comprehensive Plan. Housing – The Edina Housing Foundation has interest in City owned land for affordable housing development. This would require rezoning and an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. If the City were to retain lots 5, 9, 10 and 11 for preservation and develop housing on lots 6, 7 and 8 (where the existing Art Center building and parking lot are located), this would allow approximately 1.23 acres for housing development. If the property were guided for low density residential, this would allow up to 6 units of housing to be built. With the property abutting a highway, park, and lot 9 providing a buffer to the single-family residential to the west, a designation of medium density could also be considered, which would allow up to 14 units. Costs: • Demo of existing building: $175,000 • Park planning: $100,000 in 2027 • Other potential costs: new building, park amenities, or moving existing trails Facility Reuse Discussion May 21, 2024 Council Work Session Fire Station 2 Excess Land City of Edina 4801 West 50th Street • EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 Address: 4401 76th ST W PID: 31-028-24-44-0001 Legal Description: Tract M, Registered Land Survey No. 1129, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Site Size: 4.8 acres (excludes Fire Station 2) Zoning: Planned Industrial District (PID) Guided Land Use: Office Residential (20-75 u/a) Existing Conditions: • Uses: New Fire Station 2 (construction beginning spring 2024) and vacant land. • Topography: The site is mostly fiat with minimal tree cover. There is a delineated and regulated wetland in the southwest corner of the site. • Floodplain: Flood zones exist along a signiflcant portion of the southwest corner of the site. Surrounding Uses: • North: Office; zoned POD and PID; guided Office Residential (20-75 u/a) • West: Office/light industrial; zoned PID; guided Office Residential (20-75 u/a) • South: Office; zoned PUD; guided Office Residential (20-75 u/a) • East: Gym (LA Fitness); zoned PID; guided Office Residential (20-75 u/a) Site Issues: • Wetland and fiood zones in southwest corner limit site layout options. • High groundwater levels. • The non-flre station portion of the property does not have direct access to a public street, so access is limited to the access roads proposed for Fire Station 2. It is envisioned that future roads will be built as adjacent sites redevelop and larger blocks are broken up. Timeline & Transition Notes: Construction of Fire Station 2 is scheduled for completion in fall/winter 2025. Potential Site Uses (may be one or a combination) 1. Private development (housing, office, or mixed use) - This use is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan but would require rezoning (currently zoned PID). The site is guided for 20-75 u/a so a wide variety of housing options are possible. The Edina Housing Foundation has interest in City owned land for affordable housing development. The site allows for up to 12 stories or 144 feet of building height, which is the highest permitted in the City and one of the few parcels where this height is allowed. With jobs, retail, entertainment, park amenities and transit all within walking distance, the site would be well suited for housing. The site is located near the I-494 corridor which contains 21% of all metro area jobs. Office and possibly limited retail would also help bring activity to the site throughout the day and add to the vibrancy of the district. 2. Public open space – This could potentially be incorporated as part of a private development, similar to Nolan Mains or Pentagon Village. As the area transitions towards a mixed-use district as guided in the Greater Southdale District Plan, this will provide an attractive communal space for people to gather outdoors. There is wetland enhancement, water quality and stormwater management potential. If converted to parkland, this site would be classifled as 3-acre neighborhood park and provide similar beneflts, however only 1.5 acres of this would have active recreational potential. Linkages to trails and pedestrian systems would need to be made. Facility Reuse Discussion May 21, 2024 Council Work Session Fire Station 2 Excess Land City of Edina 4801 West 50th Street • EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 Costs: • Land: $15.5 million • Construction of Fire Station 2: $24.1 million (not including contingency, $1.8M and soft costs, $5.9M) • Likely costs for public space if included Date: May 21, 2024 Agenda Item #: IV. To:Mayor and City Council Item Type: Reports / Recommendation From:Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director Item Activity: Subject:Action step summary for Amending the Tree Protection and Preservation Ordinance Discussion CITY OF EDINA 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 www.edinamn.gov ACTION REQUESTED: Staff requests feedback from the City Council on making interim changes to the tree protection ordinance and those that will be reviewed and studied more thoroughly. With City Council direction those identified changes will be presented for review and action at the June 4, 2024 regular City Council meeting. INTRODUCTION: At the May 7, 2024, Work Session, City staff provided a review of City Ordinance 10-82 for the Edina City Council and identified several discussion points related to the effectiveness and process for residential tree protection and preservation since its inception on January 1, 2023. The goal of the ordinance is to emphasize the protection of trees and to increase the requirements for replacement. The attached staff report highlights the action steps that are planned based on City Council Feedback. ATTACHMENTS: Description Staff Report Staff Presentation Tree Protection 10-82 May 21, 2024 Mayor and City Council Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director; Cary Teague, Community Development Director Action step summary for Amending the Tree Protection and Preservation Ordinance Information / Background: At the May 7, 2024, Work Session, City staff provided a review of City Ordinance 10-82 for the Edina City Council and identified several discussion points related to the effectiveness and process for residential tree protection and preservation since its inception on January 1, 2023. The goal of the ordinance is to emphasize the protection of trees and to increase the requirements for replacement. The following report will highlight the action steps that are planned based upon City Council Feedback. Identified Factors for Immediate Change 1.Accepting that unbuilt lots shall have a separate calculation for tree protection. Applying an exclusion for house, driveway, and related structures for an unbuilt residential lot. An unbuilt lot is an existing or newly created lot, with a unique address that has not had a primary residential structure. Staff recommends this change is retroactive to January 1. 2023. This application would utilize the exemption language from the 2015 version of the tree ordinance for these permits only and any removals outside of allowable areas are subject to the mitigation replacement and escrow requirements. It is anticipated that are a small number of unbuilt lots remaining in Edina and that this provision will eventually sunset over time or until an alternate process is identified. Specifically: a.Protected Trees may be removed without mitigation, in the following areas: i.Including, and within a ten-foot (10’) radius of, the building pad, deck or patio of a new building. ii.Including, and within a five-foot (5’) radius of driveways and parking areas. iii.Including, and within ten-foot (10’) radius of installation of public infrastructure improvements including public roadways, stormwater retention areas and utilities. STAFF REPORT Page 2 2. Requiring an ISA Certified Arborist Currently an ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) Certified Arborist is required to release the escrow verification at the end of the 36-month period after certificate of occupancy. The City Council supported the requirement to have a certified arborist at the inception of the process. Staff recommends this requirement for any new home construction permit above $500,000 (consistent with the affordable housing exemption) and any project valuation over $100,000 in estimated value and staff strongly recommends for all project applications. To offset that requirement staff recommends that an allowance be given for this provision of up to $2,500 of actual realized arborist costs per permit and that amount would be deducted from the applicant’s escrow. 3. Modifying the escrow calculation to a progressive formula. Staff is not recommending any changes to the definition of the protected or heritage tree status, or the corresponding replacement calculation. Protected trees will remain defined as a deciduous tree at least 5” dbh and a coniferous tree at least 15’ in height. Heritage trees will remain at least 30” dbh and a coniferous tree at least 30’ in height. Replacement calculations will still require 75% of total protected dbh/height of removed and 100% of total heritage tree dbh/height removed. Staff recommends the modification of the escrow formula to institute a progressive replacement calculation upon approval of interim changes. This approach would increase monetarily based on higher tiers of caliper inches of tree removal. By moving to a progressive formula there remains a financial incentive to protect trees. The inverse is if a maximum escrow limit is established there may be decisions made if the cap is exceeded to continue to remove trees. Staff will provide examples and propose a progressive formula as part of the interim changes. 4. Application of the Tree Protection and Preservation The original intent of the review and update to the tree protection and preservation was for residential properties in Edina. Commercial (retail, multi-family, office and industrial properties) have their own set of landscaping and tree planting requirements. During the work session the City Council discussed that the ordinance did not include, nor did it exclude, specific private property types. Based on that discussion staff will begin to implement the requirements regardless of private property type. Staff is recommending that we adopt a commercial preservation tree ordinance with input from the EEC. Staff plans to bring forward an amendment to the existing tree preservation ordinance that would clarify distinctions between commercial and residential property types. STAFF REPORT Page 3 Identified Factors for Study Analysis and Follow Up The remaining topics require more deliberate review and analysis as several ideas were generated during the work session discussion. Specifically, the following were identified for more thorough study: 1. Review of calculations for steep slope, delineated wetlands, poor soils, utility easements, etc. 2. Determining the feasibility of a method by which applicants may plant or fund the planting of a limited percentage of the trees in off-site locations. 3. Identifying additional criteria that are mitigating factors and recommending either a review process for appeal or allowing staff the authority to deviate if those factors can be demonstrated and there is a rationale to deviate. 4. Rewriting of the City Code to address any gaps, overlap or missing provisions that currently exist as it pertains to tree protection. Potentially combining tree related requirements for more ease of interpretation. This study would be conducted by city staff as well as utilizing industry experts and City Commission members as directed by the City Council. Summary Residents of Edina have shown that natural resource management is important to the quality of life in the community. The City Council has respected that value through its longstanding support of implementing mechanisms to assist in the protection and management of those resources. This is evident by the adoption of the Climate Action Plan, Tree Protection Ordinance and support of the various forestry and land management initiatives that occur on park and public property. Staff requests feedback from the City Council on making interim changes to the tree protection ordinance and those that will be reviewed and studied more thoroughly. With City Council direction those identified changes will be presented at the June 4, 2024, regular City Council meeting. EdinaMN.gov Action Step Summary Tree Protection and Preservation City Council Work Session Tuesday May 21, 2024 Identified Factors for Discussion Factors for Immediate Change •Unbuilt Lot Exemption (retroactive) •Requiring an ISA Certified Arborist •Application Of Ordinance Process for Changes •Staff develop and present changes at the June 4, 2024, Regular City Council Meeting Factors for Study Analysis and Follow Up •Modify Escrow Calculation •Unique Lot Circumstances (slope, wetland, etc.) •Feasibility of planting in off-site locations •Criteria for deviation or review process •Edit and amend City Code for ease of interpretation Process for Changes •Develop recommendations, capture feedback on BTE, utilize Energy and Environment Commission as Review and Recommend, present changes at a future date.