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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-02-2020 Planning Commission Minutes MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION June 02, 2020 6:00 PM The meeting was called to order at 6:01 pm by Vice Chair Fiorendino. Commission Members present- Sahnow, Novitsky, Hoium, Kaiser, Schill, Vargas, and Fiorendino. Also present were Aaron Chirpich (Community Development Director), Elizabeth Hammond (City Planner), Christy Bennett (Secretary), and Connie Buesgens (Council Liaison). ELECTION OF OFFICERS Elizabeth Hammond asked for nominations for the officer positions. Hoium nominated Fiorendino for Chair. There were no other nominations. Motion by Hoium, seconded by Kaiser, to elect Fiorendino Chairperson All Ayes. MOTION PASSED. Kaiser nominated Sahnow for Vice Chair. There were no other nominations. Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Schill, to elect Sahnow Vice Chairperson. All Ayes. MOTION PASSED. Hoium nominated Kaiser for Secretary/Treasurer. There were no other nominations. . Motion by Hoium, seconded by Sahnow, to elect Kaiser Secretary/Treasurer All Ayes. MOTION PASSED. The meeting resumed under the leadership of Chairperson Fiorendino. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Sahnow, seconded by Hoium, to approve the minutes from the meeting of May 5, 2020. All ayes. MOTION PASSED. PUBLIC HEARINGS CASE NUMBER: 2020-0601 APPLICANT: City of Columbia Heights – EDA LOCATION: 3989 Central Avenue NE, 3889 Central Avenue NE, 950 40th Avenue NE, and 961 Gould Avenue NE REQUEST: Review the Proposed sale of property and Determine if it Conforms to the Comprehensive Plan INTRODUCTION Elizabeth Hammond explain that the Economic Development Authority (EDA) of Columbia Heights is proposing to convey the property located at 3989 Central Avenue NE, 3889 Central Avenue NE, 950 40th Avenue NE, and 961 Gould Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421 (Subject Properties) for the purposes of redevelopment as mixed-use multifamily housing and a city hall facility, pursuant to a Purchase and Redevelopment Contract with Alatus Columbia Heights LLC. Minnesota Statutes (Section 462.356, subd. 2) requires the Planning Commission to review the proposed disposal (sale) of publicly-owned property within the City prior to its disposal, to determine it is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. The EDA has requested that the Planning Commission review the sale of the Subject Properties and make a determination. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN The proposed sale of the Subject Properties responds to several goals and policies adopted in the Comprehensive Plan, specifically in Chapter 3: Land Use, Chapter 4: Housing, and Chapter 5: Economic Competitiveness. Below are the specific goals and policies from the Comprehensive Plan that correlate to the conformity of the proposed sale. LAND USE AND REDEVELOPMENT Goal: Preserve and enhance the existing viable commercial and industrial areas within the community. 1. Facilitate the enhancement and redevelopment of major streets and commercial districts. Goal: Provide mechanisms for successful redevelopment of vacant lands and targeted areas within the community. 1. Enhance the image and viability of the Central Avenue corridor while protecting and enhancing adjacent residential uses.  Utilize mixed-use land use and design principals to integrate office, commercial, and residential uses with a focus on pedestrian and bicycle amenities within redevelopment along Central Avenue. Housing Goal: Strengthen areas of commercial and civic activity by introducing complementary housing development. 1. Support the inclusion of appropriate housing alternatives during redevelopment in mixed use districts. ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS Goal: Enhance the economic viability of the community. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution 2020-PZ04 a resolution finding that the proposed sale of land for redevelopment purposes by the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority is consistent with the City of Columbia Heights’ Comprehensive Plan. Questions from Members: Hoium asked if this was all in line with the original agreement. Hammond said that is correct. Public Hearing Opened There were no questions. Public Hearing Closed Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 Motion by Hoium, seconded by Novitsky, to adopt Resolution 2020-PZ04 a resolution finding that the proposed sale of 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. Subject Property 3989 Central Avenue NE, 3889 Central Avenue NE, 950 40th Avenue NE, and 961 Gould Avenue NE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2020-PZ04 A RESOLUTION FINDING THAT THE PROPOSED SALE OF CERTAIN LAND FOR REDEVELOPMENT PURPOSES BY THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS’ COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 WHEREAS, the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority (the “Authority”) proposes to convey th certain property (the “Property”) located at 3989 Central Avenue NE, 3889 Central Avenue NE, 950 40 Avenue NE, and 961 Gould Avenue NE in the City of Columbia Heights (the “City”) and described on the attached Exhibit A, for the purposes of redevelopment as mixed-use multifamily housing and a city hall facility, pursuant to a Purchase and Redevelopment Contract with Alatus Columbia Heights LLC; and WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes, Section 462.356, subd. 2 requires the City Planning and Zoning Commission (the “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 Commission has reviewed the proposed sale of the Property, and has determined that the Property is located in an area of the City which, on February 4, 2020, was approved by the Commission for designation as Planned Unit Development with allowed uses of market-rate apartments, commercial/retail, and office, that the Authority’s purpose is to redevelop the Property consistent with these uses, 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 sale of the Property by the Authority is consistent with the City’s comprehensive municipal plan, will promote the elimination of blight and blighting factors, and will foster redevelopment consistent with the zoning designation of the Property. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be communicated to the Board of Commissioners of the Authority. , Adopted this 2ndday of June, 2020 by the Columbia Heights Planning and Zoning Commission. Chair, Columbia Heights Planning and Zoning Commission EXHIBIT A Description of Property Lot 32, Block 6, Reservoir Hills, Anoka County, Minnesota. Lots 25 through 28, Block 1, Walton's Rearrangement of Lots 33 and 34, Block 6, Reservoir Hills, Anoka County, Minnesota. The vacated alley adjacent to Lots 25 through 28, Block 1, Walton's Rearrangement of Lots 33 and 34, Block 6, Reservoir Hills, Anoka County, Minnesota. Those parts of Lots 28 through 31, Block 6, Reservoir Hills; Lots 23 and 24, Block 1, Walton's Rearrangement of Lots 33 and 34, Block 6, Reservoir Hills; and of the vacated alley adjacent to Lot 24, Block 1, Walton's Rearrangement of Lots 33 and 34, Block 6, Reservoir Hills; lying Southwesterly and Westerly of the following described line: Beginning at a point on the South line of Block 1, Walton's Rearrangement, said point being 18.00 feet West of the Southeast corner of Lot 23, of said Block 1, Walton's Rearrangement; thence Northerly on a line 18.00 feet West of and parallel with the East line of Lot 23, a distance of 87.00 feet; thence on a Planning Commission Minutes Page 4 straight line to a point on the North line of Lot 30 of said Block 6, Reservoir Hills, said point being 47.23 feet Easterly of the Northwest corner of said Lot 30 and there terminating. Anoka County, Minnesota Abstract and Torrens Property AND Those parts of Lots 27 through 31, Block 6, Reservoir Hills and those parts of Lots 23 and 24, Block 1, Walton's Rearrangement of Lots 33 and 34, Block 6, Reservoir Hills and of the vacated alley abutting Block 1, "Walton's Rearrangement of Lots 33 and 34, Block 6, Reservoir Hills", as dedicated in said plat, lying within the following described tract: Commencing at a point on the South line of said Block 1, Walton's Rearrangement distant 18.00 feet West of the Southeast corner of Lot 23, said Block 1, Walton's Rearrangement; thence Northerly on a line 18.00 feet West of and parallel with the East line of said Lot 23, a distance of 87.00 feet, to the actual point of beginning of the tract to be described; thence continuing Northerly on the extension of said line to the North line of Block 6, Reservoir Hills; thence Westerly along said North line of Block 6, to a point being 47.23 feet Easterly of the Northwest corner of Lot 30, Block 6, Reservoir Hills; thence Southeasterly, to the point of beginning; Excepting therefrom Tract A, Registered Land Survey No. 250, Anoka County, Minnesota. Abstract Property AND Tract A, Registered Land Survey No. 250, Anoka County, Minnesota. Torrens Property AND Lots 24, 25, and 26, Block 6, Reservoir Hills Lots 20, 21, and 22, Block 1, Walton’s Rearrangement of Lots 33 and 34, Block 6, Reservoir Hills, and all of the vacated alley adjacent to said Lots 20, 21, and 22. Those parts of Lot 27, Block 6, Reservoir Hills and of Lot 23, Block 1, Walton’s Rearrangement of Lots 33 and 34, Block 6, Reservoir Hills and of that part of the vacated alley abutting Block 1, “Walton's Rearrangement of Lots 33 and 34, Block 6, Reservoir Hills”, as dedicated in said plat, which lies westerly of the northerly extension of the east line of Lot 23, said Block 1, lying easterly of the following described line: Beginning at a point on the south line of said Block 1, Walton’s Rearrangement, said point being 18.00 feet west from the Southeast corner of Lot 23 of said Block l, Walton's Rearrangement; thence northerly on a line 18.00 feet west of and parallel with the east line of said Lot 23, to the north line of said Block 6, Reservoir Hills. Reserving and subject to easement to the City of Columbia Heights for roadway purposes over the north 4.00 feet of the west 232.00 feet of said Block 6, Reservoir Hills. AND Planning Commission Minutes Page 5 Lot 19, Block 1, Walton’s Rearrangement of Lots 33 and 34, Block 6, Reservoir Hills. Anoka County, Minnesota. OTHER BUSINESS Updates: Chirpich said he had no special updates, but thanked the commission members for bearing with the hybrid system, using zoom to allow for social distancing during the pandemic. Chirpich said he is not anticipating a need for a July meeting, as the application deadline had just passed. Fiorendino welcomed Mark Vargas to the Planning Commission Board and asked him to introduce himself. Vargas shared he has owned a home in Columbia Heights since 1999. Vargas said he is excited to learn more about the process and how the City plans things out. Fiorendino recognized Marlaine Szurek, the previous Chair of the Planning Commission. Fiorendino said he has served on the commission with Szurek since 2004. Szurek was a member of the Planning Commission for many years and Fiorendino wanted to thank her for her service. He said that everything Szurek did for the Commission is appreciated. The meeting was adjourned at 6:17 pm. Respectfully submitted, Christy Bennett Secretary Planning Commission Minutes Page 6