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08-13-2007 DTMIN MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER REDEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK TASK FORCE HELD AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2007 Members Present: Louise Kuester, HRA Commissioner; Jean Lieser, HRA Commissioner; Lance Lindberg, Heritage Preservation Commissioner; Dan Tveite, EDA Commissioner; Mike Niziolek, Parks & Recreation Representative; Dave Rymanowski, Business Representative (First National Bank); Mark Urista, Task Force Chair & Business Representative (Coldwell Banker Vision); Keith Holme, Business Representative (Kemper Drug); Stewart Wilson, HRA Chair; Larry Toth, HRA Commissioner; Dana Anderson, Planning Commissioner; Molly Nadeau-Peterson, Resident Representative and John Anderson, Resident Representative Staff Present: Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich, Parks & Recreation Director Bill Maertz (6:00−7:00p.m.), City Engineer Terry Maurer (7:15-8:00p.m.), Assistant Director of Economic Development Heidi Steinmetz and Planner Chris Leeseberg Others Present: Stacie Kvilvang of Ehlers & Associates, Inc. and twenty-three members of the public 1. Approve August 13, 2007 Agenda The August 13, 2007 agenda was approved. 2. Approve July 16, 2007 Minutes The July 16, 2007 minutes were approved. Task Force Member John Anderson asked for clarification on the Task Force’s July 16 motion to accept the Draft Redevelopment Framework Plan based on Task Force modifications as of the same date. Chair Mark Urista responded that the Task Force voted to accept the Draft Plan in order to present it to the stakeholders. Member John Anderson also asked when his comments, which he submitted in writing to the Task Force on June 25 would be incorporated into the Draft Plan. Stacie Kvilvang of Ehlers & Associates responded that all of the Task Force’s modifications in addition to Board/Commission and public input would be incorporated for Task Force review at their October 15 meeting. 3. Recap of Last Meeting & Purpose of August 13th Meeting th Ms. Kvilvang provided a recap of the July 16 Task Force meeting when the Task Force considered and accepted the Draft Plan. She also stated that the stakeholders meetings on July 24 were well attended and indicated that a spokesperson for stakeholders of the Morton/Norfolk neighborhood in attendance this evening would be invited to speak during Item 5. Ms. Kvilvang stated that the purpose of tonight’s meeting is for the Task Force to further discuss Highway 10 in relation to the Draft Plan as directed by the City Council. She added that a couple of Task Force members requested that a discussion regarding the Draft Plan’s proposed river trail also be added to tonight’s agenda. She said that it is not typical in a normal redevelopment planning process to react to the public comments at this point because it is important to let the redevelopment planning process “play itself out”. She specifically mentioned the importance of gathering all of the Redevelopment Framework Task Force Minutes Page 2 August 13, 2007 ------------------------------------------ public input from City Boards and Commissions and the general public prior to making refinements to the Draft Plan. In addition, she said that it is important to be consistent by showing the same Draft Plan to the public. 4. Summary Report of Stakeholder Meetings Assistant Director of Economic Development Heidi Steinmetz summarized her staff report regarding the July 24 stakeholders meetings in addition to written public comments received as of August 7. She stated that the top two issues of concern submitted via written comments were the river trail and high density housing. She added that staff is not asking for the Task Force to take action regarding her report since staff will be gathering and providing additional public comments to the Task Force in October for review and consideration in refining the plan. 5. Discuss River Trail Concept Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich summarized her staff report regarding a request made by a several residents of the Morton/Norfolk neighborhood, to consider removing the river trail that is currently depicted in the Draft Redevelopment Framework Plan and Draft Illustrative Land Use Plan. She invited John Babcock, spokesperson for the neighborhood, to add any comments regarding the neighborhood’s request. Mr. Babcock distributed a summary of written comments from the neighborhood to the Task Force and provided additional verbal comments he had received from neighbors regarding the issue. Ms. Mehelich introduced Bill Maertz, Parks & Recreation Director, who was in attendance to answer any questions from the Task Force. She asked the Task Force if they wished to make revisions to its Draft Plan now, or allow the process to proceed in order to allow the rest of the community an opportunity to provide comments prior to modifying the Draft Plan. Discussion ensued regarding a variety of options for how to refine the Draft Plan in reaction to the neighborhood’s request, including the option of a river trail beginning at the dam and ending at Babcock Park. Task Force member Molly Nadeau asked about a parks and trails map that she heard was circulating around the City. Mr. Maertz responded that the map is two years old and that it reflects the City’s Comprehensive Parks & Trails Plan approved in 1989. He has received comments from property owners recently about proposed trails being included on the map and will replace the map to indicate only existing trails. Member Dana Anderson stated that the Draft Plan is not “reinventing the wheel” by including a proposed trail along the Mississippi and Elk Rivers because this trail has been included in the Master Park Plan for years. He asked the Task Force why they were discussing options for refining the Draft Plan regarding the trail before answering the question “Do we want the process to proceed in order to allow the rest of the community an opportunity to provide comments prior to modifying the Draft Plan?” The Task Force continued to discuss the different options and the following related policy issues:  Consistency of all City plans  Precedence that reacting to this request would set for other neighborhoods  Integrity of the redevelopment planning process that the Task Force agreed upon at their first meeting last November Redevelopment Framework Task Force Minutes Page 3 August 13, 2007 ------------------------------------------ Member Larry Toth asked if the river trail could begin on the southwest end of the Draft Plan area ending at Babcock Point. At this point, audience member John Houlton asked to speak since his family owns a significant amount of property in the area mentioned by Member Toth. Chair Urista invited Mr. Houlton to speak. Mr. Houlton mentioned that he has environmental concerns about the proposed river trail, especially because the area is a floodway (not just a flood plain). In addition, he spoke of the economic encumbrance that the proposed trail puts on his and other people’s property along the river. MOVED BY MEMBER DAN TVEITE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER JEAN LIESER, THE TASK FORCE ELIMINATES THE ENTIRE FUTURE RIVER TRAIL IN ITS ENTIRETY FROM THE DRAFT PLAN, ILLUSTRATIONS AND NARRATIVE. THE MOTION FAILED 7-6. MEMBERS MARK URISTA, STEWART WILSON, LOUISE KUESTER, MOLLY NADEAU, DANA ANDERSON, LARRY TOTH AND MIKE NIZIOLEK OPPOSED. MOVED BY MEMBER STEWART WILSON AND SECONDED BY MEMBER MOLLY NADEAU, THE TASK FORCE REFINES THE DRAFT PLAN, ILLUSTRAIONS AND NARRATIVE TO INCLUDE A RIVER TRAIL BEGINNING AT RIVERS EDGE COMMONS PARK (HEADING EAST) AND ENDING AT BABCOCK PARK. THE MOTION CARRIED 10-3. MEMBERS LOUISE KUESTER, DANA ANDERSON AND MIKE NIZIOLEK OPPOSED. 6. Highway 10 Discussion Prior to the Highway 10 discussion, Chair Urista stated that he hopes that the Task Force upholds the integrity of the redevelopment planning process from this point forward and that all members remain stewards of the Plan. He does not want to see the Task Force’s year-long planning efforts go to waste. Planner Chris Leeseberg provided a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate Community Development Director Scott Clark’s staff report regarding Highway 10. City Engineer Terry Maurer stated that he has recommended that the City Council fund a geometric design study to be completed for Highway 10 through downtown Elk River as part of the City’s Capital Improvements Program budget for 2008. Member Larry Toth asked why the Task Force was talking about the different Highway 10 options since the City Council either wants the highway to be elevated or depressed. Mr. Maurer responded that even prior to the 35W bridge collapse; MnDOT was not planning to fund any improvements to Highway 10 through downtown Elk River for at least thirty years. With the collapse, Mr. Maurer is assuming that bridge improvement projects will take precedence in the foreseeable future. Therefore, he would still recommend that the City fund a geometric design study. The Task Force discussed the land north of Highway 10 and how they didn’t think it was appropriate to leave the area “as is” with no opportunity to redevelop due to the threat of blight if a design configuration for Highway 10 continues to go undetermined for 20-30 years. Member Niziolek added that he came up with a Highway 10 option that would leave it “at grade” but would reconfigure its current alignment by going under the railroad tracks and following the Redevelopment Framework Task Force Minutes Page 4 August 13, 2007 ------------------------------------------ realigned Main Street concept in the Draft Plan, crossing over Jackson Avenue and begin elevating and curving up and over the railroad tracks and Highway 10 (near the grain elevator) and terminating at Main Street between Lowell and Morton. Ms. Mehelich responded that the City Council has made it very clear that they will not accept the “at grade” option whatsoever. Member Dana Anderson stated that the City Council compromised the integrity of the redevelopment planning process when they dismissed the Task Force’s recommendation for Highway 10 a few months ago. The Task Force continued to discuss the issue, including the disruption that elevating or depressing Highway 10 would cause for the community. Member Keith Holme added from a downtown business owner’s perspective that if Highway 10 is elevated or depressed “you might as well remove all commercial business from downtown” due to the lack of visibility and direct access. MOVED BY MEMBER LOUISE KUESTER AND SECONDED BY MEMBER DAN TVEITE, APPROVING THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION REGARDING HIGHWAY 10 WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN: 1) THE ILLUSTRATIVE MASTER PLAN SHOULD SHOW JACKSON AVE. AND MAIN STREET BEING AT GRADE (THIS WOULD REPRESENT THE IDEA THAT IT IS A PLACEHOLDER, ALBEIT THE TEXT OF THE PLAN WILL STRONGLY ARGUE FOR A GEOMETRIC STUDY). 2) THE TEXT OF THE PLAN WILL CONTAIN PLAN ILLUSTRATIONS THAT REPRESENT THE VARIOUS OPTIONS THAT HAD BEEN CONSIDERED. 3) THE MATRIX FOUND ON THE ORIGINAL DRAFT (PAGE 31) WILL BE MODIFIED AS SHOWN ON THE “ROADWAY DESIGN OPTION” ATTACHMENT. 4) THE PLAN’S HIGHWAY 10 CONCLUSION IS THAT A GEOMETRIC STUDY (TO INCLUDE SOIL BOILINGS) IS CRITICAL TO AVOID ANY NEW REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS CAUSING CONFLICT WITH FUTURE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 12-1. MEMBER DANA ANDERSON OPPOSED. Member John Anderson added that while he appreciates the effort that staff put into the Highway 10 options advantages/disadvantages chart included in the meeting packet, he feels that it is incomplete. Member Niziolek added that more options need to be considered for Highway 10 in order to attract future redevelopment to the area. Ms. Mehelich responded that the Draft Plan narrative includes the following verbiage “the Task Force recognizes that other unexplored roadway options and configurations may be feasible”. Ms. Mehelich invited Task Force members to the August 20 City Council meeting when staff will report tonight’s Task Force direction regarding Highway 10. 7. Next Steps Ms. Mehelich discussed the anticipated Task Force timeline through the end of the year, inviting members to attend Board/Commission meetings and other public meetings in which further public comments will be gathered on the Draft Plan. Redevelopment Framework Task Force Minutes Page 5 August 13, 2007 ------------------------------------------ 8. Final Comments Ms. Kvilvang asked each Task Force member to talk about his/her concerns or comments regarding the discussion this evening. The comments are listed below:  Mark Urista − He is “O.K.” with how things went tonight and hopes that the Morton/Norfolk neighborhood will remain true to what they said (that they will be ambassadors of the plan now).  Stewart Wilson − He echoes what Chair Urista said and was sensitive to the neighborhood because there are several influential people who own property in that neighborhood.  Louise Kuester − She feels that the Task Force violated the normal procedure of redevelopment planning tonight and it bothers her. She is concerned about the precedence this will set and feels that the Task Force needs to remember that they are serving the entire City, not just one neighborhood.  Keith Holme − He agrees with everyone’s comments so far but admits that he didn’t look at all sides of the issues regarding the Draft Plan. He feels that there has not been enough public communications on the project and that more pressure needs to be put on the Star News. He doesn’t feel Q&A newsletters are sufficient.  Jean Lieser − It is nice that the Task Force was sensitive to the stakeholders. The general public will appreciate that the Task Force listened.  Molly Nadeau − She agrees with Jean and would like each and every Task Force member to know that she holds them in high respect.  Dave Ryamowski − He is normally a “process guy” but is comfortable with the meeting tonight.  Dana Anderson − He feels that Task Force degraded the process tonight and have gone backwards. The neighborhood seems to have a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) attitude. The Task Force set a precedent that hurts its integrity and it will be interesting moving forward.  Larry Toth − He was picturing that the Draft Plan would look different on paper. He feels the Draft Plan is a starting point but that the Task Force should’ve continued work on the plan after the completion of the downtown parking study and the Highway 10 geometric study. He is not happy with taking the initial river trail out of the plan. He hopes that it doesn’t take thirty years to implement the plan.  Dan Tveite − He is a “process guy” too but felt that the situation of taking the trail out didn’t compromise the Task Force’s process because the Task Force solicited the public comments. He feels that the Task Force would’ve lost credibility if they didn’t react to the neighborhood.  Lance Lindberg − He feels that the Task Force should’ve had more information before proposing a trail in the first place. He agrees with Dan Tveite that since the Task Force solicited public comments that it was O.K. to remove the trail.  Mike Niziolek − He feels that today was a very difficult day due to his role on the Task Force as an advocate for Parks & Recreation. He feels that it is a very difficult balancing act to appease the property owners while advocating the importance of Parks & Recreation for the community.  John Anderson − He doesn’t understand why this process has been rushed. The next meeting will be held on October 15, 2007. Submitted by, Heidi Steinmetz Assistant Director of Economic Development