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3.1. HRSR 07-28-2003 • SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY,JUNE 30, 2003 Members Present: Chair Toth,Commissioners Thompson,Motin and Wilson Members Absent: Commissioner Lieser Staff Present: Executive Director Catherine Mehelich and Economic Development Assistant Heidi Hall 1. Call Meeting To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof,the special meeting of the Elk River Housing and Redevelopment Authority was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Chair Toth. 2. Comprehensive Plan Update Commissioner Motion asked if research was done regarding the waste water treatment plant capacity. Commissioner Thompson explained that the Comprehensive Plan Update Task Force had not be asked to conduct research regarding that issue. Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich mentioned that she would forward Commissioner Motin's question regarding the issue to the Comprehensive Plan Update consultant Rusty Fifield of • Hoisington Koegler Group,Inc. 3. Downtown Revitalization Project Update Economic Development Assistant Heidi Hall summarized the results of the Downtown Revitalization Project Open House, comment forms, and other related communications for the project. Ms. Hall explained that Open House attendees were asked to fill out the comment form based on the following five aspects of the Bluff and Jackson Block development concepts and how those aspects address the City of Elk River's primary goal and development objectives for the Downtown Revitalization Project. Ms. Hall presented the following comment form results: • Use of Commercial and Retail Space-Majority of comments reflected approval • Design Features-Majority of comments reflected approval • Relocation of Gazebo/Jackson Square Open Space-Half of the comments reflected approval and half reflected disapproval • Waterfront Connection-Majority of comments reflected approval • Parking-Wide range of comments reflected parking concerns and suggestions Commissioner Wilson stated that he had been contacted by Keith Holme regarding parking concerns during construction. Ms.Mehelich provided the HRA with the next steps in the project,including a staff recommendation that the HRA consider a motion in support of MetroPlains and the City to submit a Multifamily and Housing Tax Credit application to the MN Housing Finance Agency(MHFA). Ms.Mehelich added that receipt of funds from the MHFA would be contingent upon a final development agreement between the City and MetroPlains. Vern Special HRA Minutes Page 2 June 30,2003 Hanson of MetroPlains Development further explained why the MHFA application is necessary to make the project financially feasible. Ms.Mehelich stated that while the MHFA application needs to be submitted,receipt of the funds will be contingent on the HRA and developer reaching a final development agreement. The HRA directed staff and MetroPlains to prepare the list of development agreement issues. Ms. Mehelich requested that the HRA identify any issues that need to be addressed as part of a final development agreement with MetroPlains. Commissioner Motion asked that the following issues be addressed in the final development agreement: • Clarification of proposed parking&transitional parking • Description of proposed walking path,etc. along river • Confirmation of project timeline&penalty for non-performace • Description of visual access to river from lower level on Bluff Block design Chair Toth inquired about whether or not the building of a parking ramp behind the Brick Block has been researched. Ms. Mehelich explained that a smaller surface level ramp was researched for the rear Brick Block concept but not the Jackson and Bluff Block concepts. Ms. Mehelich provided the following summary of parking options during project construction: • Dares Funeral Home parking lot • Remove Elk River Municipal Utilities building&close off King Ave. • City green space east of Sunshine Depot • • Contractor parking in city lots north of Hwy 10 COMMISSIONER MOTIN MOVED TO SUPPORT METROPLAINS AND THE CITY IN SUBMITTING A MULTIFAMILY AND HOUSING TAX CREDIT APPLICATION TO THE MINNESOTA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY AND THAT THE HRA RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO SUPPORT THE APPLICATION AND FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION TO A LETTER OF INTENT TO TRANSFER THE CITY-OWNED JACKSON BLOCK PROPERTY. COMMISSIONER WILSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. COMMISSIONER MOTIN MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE A LIST OF DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ISSUES TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE HRA FOR CONSIDERATION. COMMISSIONER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 4. Review&Comment on Downtown Design Standards Planner Chris Leeseberg reported that the HRA requested to review the Downtown Design Guidelines for a second time. The HRA reviewed the first draft in March and provided several issues of concern. Several HRA members expressed that the guidelines were too restrictive and asked if MetroPlains would have a problem complying with the new standards. Commissioner Thompson mentioned that MetroPlains should have been invited to all Planning • Commission meetings regarding the design standards. Mr.Leeseberg explained that MetroPlains had been consulted throughout the process but that developers are typically not Special HRA Minutes Page 3 June 30,2003 • invited to Planning Commission meetings to discuss the establishment of planning guidelines in order to prevent guidelines from being catered to a developer or project. Commissioner Thompson suggested that the boundary of the district include the buildings directly west of Lowell Ave. Vern Hanson of MetroPlains was asked to comment on the design standards. Mr.Hanson mentioned that his main concern is who will review and approve the final design. Commissioner Wilson expressed concern that the design standards would cause new downtown development to be too homogeneous in design and that a variety of building designs is important to downtown. Mr.Leeseberg agreed with Commissioner Wilson yet explained that the main purpose of design standards is to create variety with vertical separations,rather than to create a development to look like a single developer completed the project. Commissioner Wilson inquired how existing businesses would be required to conform when making an expansion using existing materials that would not conform to the proposed standards. Mr.Leeseberg asked the HRA what could be done to make the standards less restrictive. Commission Motin provided Mr.Leeseberg with several grammatical/composition suggestions regarding the standards. 5. Housing Work Plan Session III: St. Cloud HRA Ms.Hall introduced St. Cloud HRA Deputy Director Bruce Thielman and St. Cloud HRA • Housing Development Manager Wendy Hulsebus. Mr.Thielman provided an overview of the St. Cloud HRA and Ms.Hulsebus gave a presentation explaining the St. Cloud HRA's housing programs and also provided the following opportunities/challenges to developing a housing program: • Cities must identify their housing needs through a market study • Some cities have to deal with high land costs,a lack of developers,and NIMBYism (not in my backyard) • Developing partnerships and being an educator to partners is important(non- profits,experienced developers,power companies,local employers,banks, etc.) • Staff expertise in construction& financing is important • A large amount of staff time must be dedicated to coordinate the program and write applications for projects • Cities must acquire different streams of income to fund the program,such as developer fees • Each city must find its own niche to fill a need not being met by the private sector Mr.Thielman mentioned that he and Ms. Hulsebus would be willing to provide additional insight to the HRA if the HRA decides to development a housing program. 6. Adjournment There being no other business, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. COMMISSIONER WILSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Special HRA Minutes Page 4 June 30,2003 • The meeting of the Elk River Housing and Redevelopment Authority adjourned at 7:00 p.m. //,(--!-fti /41- ‘e Heidi Hall Economic Development Assistant • •