Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-07 Work Session Meeting MinutesMINUTES OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION COMMUNITY ROOM, CITY HALL TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2024 5:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Answering rollcall were Members Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Mayor Hovland. Staff in attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Ari Lenz, Assistant City Manager; Zoe Johnson, City Management Fellow; Stephanie Hawkinson, Affordable Housing Development Manager; Addison Lewis, Community Development Coordinator; Cary Teague, Community Development Director; Chad Millner, Director of Engineering; Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director; and Katie Bisek, I.T. Specialist; and Sharon Allison, City Clerk. Others in attendance: Ann Swenson, Bernadette Hornig, and Mary Kay McNee, Edina Housing Foundation; Mike Fischer and Mike Madden, LHB, and Zakcq Lockrem, Mend Collaborative JOINT MEETING: EDINA HOUSING FOUNDATION DISCUSSION DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTS FOR FIRE STATION 2 Ann Swenson, Chair of the Edina Housing Foundation, asked LHB, who they had hired to review the proposed concepts for the Fire Station 2 property. Mike Fischer, LHB, highlighted points from the Southdale area plan, land use/zoning, guidance from the Comprehensive Plan, existing conditions in the area including sidewalks/pathways, and potential future street locations. Mike Madden, LHB gave an overview of the three design concept schemes they developed including all townhomes; a mixture of townhomes and multi-family; and all multi-family. The Council asked questions of staff and discussed the wetlands and potential parking solutions; impact on affordability with the different parking options; importance of having all the relevant materials provided to the Council prior to the meeting; lack of in depth discussions by the Council regarding this excess land or had ever given permission to pursue non-binding development; how people listening to the meeting after the fact would be able to view the updated images and information that had been presented; possibly moving away from all higher density multi-family uses; next steps in the process if the Council supported this idea; desire to understand the financial construct moving forward and to see the market data; possibilities of co- op versus rental opportunities; ways to find community connection for all the buildings on the property since it would be located in a mostly industrial type area; desire for creative housing which the City does currently have; importance of having a safe feel for this housing project; concerns about putting housing here because there was no direct road access; perhaps having more dialogue about this before the Council is asked to make a decision; a potentially similar project located in St. Cloud; and the importance of discussing other potential needs of this site for the City which may be more important than housing. Ms. Swenson cautioned the Council about the potential loss of State funding if they take too long to make a decision. Other discussion points included possible feedback from the Minnesota Housing Foundation about creative ideas, and potential sources of funding from the State for affordable co-operative housing ownership. Ms. Swenson noted that about a year ago the City had explored the concept of an HRA tax for affordable housing and wanted to communicate to the Board that the Edina Housing Foundation was in support of that idea. Page 1 Minutes/Edina City Council Work Session/August 7, 2024 The Council asked questions regarding the input they had received from residents about the revenue coming in from sales taxes for housing and whether it can be used as second mortgages, and the current Come Home to Edina program. Ms. Swenson noted that she felt the direction they had received from the Council was that they were not ready to move on this action. Following additional discussion, the Council reached a consensus to support vetting this as an idea for housing and, at the same time, come up with more information in order to validate whether there are other ideas for the site, and also begin thinking about possible financing scenarios. UPDATE ON THE LINCOLN AND LONDONDERRY SMALL AREA PLANNING PROCESS Addison Lewis, Community Development Coordinator, introduced Zakcq Lockrem, a consultant from Mend Collaborative, who has been working with the City on the planning process in the Lincoln and Londonderry area. Zakcq Lockrem, Mend Collaborative, gave an overview of the Lincoln and Londonderry small area planning process, project study area, methods of community engagement, results of the first round of community engagement, vision and community statements for the area, sewer capacity situation, options for resolving the sewer capacity issues, and reviewed next steps. The Council asked questions, expressed their pleasure regarding working with Mend Collaborative, discussed how the sewer situation may be handled and whether the goals included affordable housing. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:58 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Minutes approved by Edina City Council, Aug. 20, 2024. 1):i 411L_ ron Allison, City Clerk • ames B. Hovland, Mayor Page 2