HomeMy WebLinkAbout20191203_Planning_MinutesMINUTES 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
A. Acquisition of 230 40th
Avenue NE-Resolution 2019-PZ05
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.
Therefore, the EDA has
requested that the Planning Commission review the acquisition of 230 40th 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
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Dec. 3, 2019
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Goal: Enhance
the economic viability of the community.
Encourage the continuation and enhancement of existing industries within the community.
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.
Encourage
existing industries and businesses to expand within the community.
Promote high quality development and redevelopment opportunities within the community.
Staff recommends the Planning
Commission find the acquisition of 230 40th 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 certain property (the “Property”) located at 230 40th 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
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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
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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 members that the developer working on the remnant site at
39th 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