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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDec 3, 2019 P & Z Minutes MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION DECEMBER 3, 2019 6:00 PM The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Chair Szurek. Commission Members present- Sahnow, Hoium, Schill, Kaiser, and Szurek. Members Absent: Fiorendino and Novitsky Also present were Aaron Chirpich (Community Development Director), Shelley Hanson (Secretary), and John Murzyn (Council Liaison). APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Schill, seconded by Sahnow, to approve the minutes from the meeting of October 1, 2019. All ayes. MOTION PASSED. OTHER BUSINESS th Acquisition of 230 40 Avenue NE-Resolution 2019-PZ05 A. Chirpich explained that in July 2017, the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority (the “EDA”) initiated the Commercial Revitalization Program (the “Program”) with the approval of EDA Resolution 2017-18, a program which was created to revitalize the commercial corridors throughout the City of Columbia Heights (the “City”), specifically through the acquisition of properties identified as nonconforming under the current zoning code of the City. Nonconforming properties acquired through the Program are held for the purposes of eventual redevelopment. However, pursuant to State Statue, Section 462.356, Subdivision 2, the Planning and Zoning Commission (the “Planning Commission”) in and for the City is required to review and ultimately determine that the proposed acquisition of real property conforms to the Comprehensive Plan of the City. th Therefore, the EDA has requested that the Planning Commission review the acquisition of 230 40 Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421 (the “Subject Property”) to determine if its acquisition conforms to the Comprehensive Plan of the City. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN The proposed acquisition of the Subject Property responds to several goals and policies adopted in the Comprehensive Plan of the City, specifically in Chapter 2: Land Use and Chapter 4: Economic Development. Below are the specific goals and policies from the Comprehensive Plan that directly and indirectly correlate to the conformity of the proposed acquisition. LAND USE AND REDEVELOPMENT Goal: Preserve and enhance the existing viable commercial and industrial areas within the community. Goal: Provide mechanisms for successful redevelopment of vacant lands and targeted areas within the community. Planning Commission Page 2 Dec. 3, 2019 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Goal: Enhance the economic viability of the community. 1.Encourage the continuation and enhancement of existing industries within the community. 2.Rehabilitate, or where necessary, redevelop substandard and/or functionally obsolete commercial development through private means or, if necessary, public means. Goal: Promote reinvestment in properties by the commercial and industrial sectors. 2.Encourage existing industries and businesses to expand within the community. 4.Promote high quality development and redevelopment opportunities within the community. th Staff recommends the Planning Commission find the acquisition of 230 40 Avenue consistent with the Comp Plan. Questions from members: Hoium asked if we will recoup our money on this property. Chirpich said eventually it should work out, but probably not for a while. He said the EDA paid a little over market value for this property after months of negotiations. But once it is combined with the other parcels that the City already owns adjacent to this piece, it will provide a good sized parcel for future redevelopment. This area is targeted in our new Comp Plan. Chirpich told members that the Fire Dept. will probably use this as another training opportunity and burn it down in the spring and then the City will have the remaining debris removed and re-grade it. Motion by Kaiser , seconded by Schill, to adopt Resolution 2019-PZ05, a resolution finding that the proposed acquisition of certain land for redevelopment purposes by the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority is consistent with the City of Columbia Heights’ Comprehensive Plan. All ayes. MOTION PASSED. RESOLUTION NO. 2019-PZ05 A RESOLUTION FINDING THAT THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN LAND FOR REDEVELOPMENT PURPOSES BY THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS’ COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. WHEREAS, the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority (the “Authority”) proposes to purchase th certain property (the “Property”) located at 230 40 Avenue NE in the City of Columbia Heights (the “City”) and described on the attached Exhibit A, for the purposes of eventual redevelopment; and Planning Commission Page 3 Dec. 3, 2019 WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes, Section 462.356, subd. 2 requires the City Planning and Zoning Commission to review the proposed acquisition or disposal of publicly-owned real property within the City prior to its acquisition or disposal, to determine whether in the opinion of the Planning and Zoning Commission, such acquisition or disposal is consistent with the comprehensive municipal plan; and WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission has reviewed the proposed acquisition of the Property, and has determined that the Property is located in an area of the City designated for transitional development within the City’s comprehensive plan, that the Authority’s purpose is to redevelop the Property consistent with this use, and that the proposed acquisition is therefore consistent with the City’s comprehensive plan. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Columbia Heights, that the acquisition of the Property by the Authority is consistent with the City’s comprehensive municipal plan, and will promote the correction of a nonconforming property and redevelopment consistent with the transitional development designation of the Property. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be communicated to the Board of Commissioners of the Authority. ORDER OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION Passed this 3rd day of December, 2019 Offered by: Kaiser Seconded by: Schill Roll Call: All ayes Marlaine Szurek, Chair Attest: Shelley Hanson, Secretary EXHIBIT A Description of Property Lot Seventeen (17), Rearrangement of Block “E”, Columbia Heights Annex to Minneapolis, according to the duly recorded plat thereof in the County of Anoka and State of Minnesota. Planning Commission Page 4 Dec. 3, 2019 The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, January 7, 2020. We do have one item for this meeting—a lot split with a variance for lot size. Chirpich told members the Site Plan Review for 3989 Central Ave will probably be ready for the February meeting with construction planned to start in the spring. Prodeo will also be starting soon. He then told th members that the developer working on the remnant site at 39 and Huset Pkwy will have to bring revised plans back to the commission for consideration. They ran into soil problems so they re-negotiated the terms with Dominium for the site, and plan to move the location of the building on the site and down size it so they avoid huge expenses for soil corrections. Motion by Schmitt, seconded by Sahnow, to adjourn the meeting at 6:17 pm. Respectfully submitted, Shelley Hanson Secretary