6.3. SR 02-18-2003City
Item # 6.3.
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
Mayor and City Council
Michele McPhersoh?Oirector of Planning
DATE:
February 18, 2003
SUBJECT:
Case No. ZC 02-08
Request by the City of Elk River to Rezone Property from
R4 Multiple Family to C3 Highway Commercial
Request
The City Council is asked to consider a request to rezone property located at 321 Baldwin
Avenue (Ron's Foods) from R4 Multiple Family to C3 Highway Commercial.
Attachments
Location Map
1994 Zoning Map
1992 Zoning Map
1987 Zoning Map
· 1980 Zoning Map
· Development Options A-F
· Estimated Market Value Analysis
· Minutes of January 28, 2003 Planning Commission Meeting
· Minutes of January 30, 2003 Comprehensive Plan Task Force Meeting
· Ordinance No. 03 -
Location
321 Baldwin Avenue
Zoning/Land Use
R4 Multiple Family/HB Highway Business
i,i
RIVER
PLAZA
RIVER
SITE
UPA
River
Case Number:.
Location Map
ZC 02-08 CITY OF ELK RIVER
JUNIOR
HIGH
SCHOOL
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2b
BERNE:
SCHOOL
ELK RIVE~
HIGH SCHOOL
PARK
alc
SWF
(11)
PUD
Rld
COUN
178TH
177TH
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PUD ~'°~'~
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PUD
~78TH
177TH
176TH
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ST.
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LINCOLN
ELEM
PARKER
ELEM.
DISTRICT
OFFICE
~33
7th
R2
ST.
ST
5TH ST
BALDWIN
PARK
5TH ST
BALDWIN
PARK
OPT' ( A
MAIN ST.
3RD ST
5TH ST
BALDWIN
PARK
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3RD ST
OPTI O B
MAIN ST.
5TH ST
BALDWIN
PARK
OPT-kO C
MAIN ST.
5TH ST
OPTk D
MAIN ST.
5TH ST
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PARK
OPT O E
MAIN ST.
5TH ST
BALDWIN
PARK
OPTk F
MAIN ST.
PID # EMV USE # Units Acres
75-134-4101
75-134-4125
75-134-4120
75-134-4121
75-134-4122
75-134-4130
75-134-4105
75-423-0002
75-423-0001
75-423-0010
75-423-OO20
75-423-0030
75-423-0040
75-423-005O
75-423-0060
75-423-0070
75-423-0080
75-423-O09O
75-423-0100
75-423-0110
75-423-0120
75-423-0130
75-423-0140
75-423-0150
75-423-0160
75-423-0170
75-423-0180
75-143-4115
75-134-4116
75-134-4117
75-134-4118
75-134-4119
Total Value
Total Apts.
Total SF
Ron's Foods
# Apts.
# SF
N/A
N/A
910,500
932,900
750,500
401,500
806,000
496,000
334,000
102,400
94,100
102 500
112800
101 700
107 800
99 800
106 100
98 900
102 600
97 900
93 900
101 400
111 200
111 500
86 900
96 600
96 700
87700
119,600
90,600
92,000
89,600
6,935,700
3,720,900
2,304,300
910,500
116
23
Emporium
Park
Ron's Foods
A3t
Aat
A3t
A3t
A~t
A3t
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
SF
N/A
N/A
N/A
26
24
12
3O
12
12
0.79
0.94
2.38
1.59
0.95
0.79
1.96
Total Units 139
ELK RIVER PLANNING COMMISSION
WORKSHOP NOTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2003
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Chair Pederson, Commissioners Anderson, Franz, Jenson, Lemke,
Offerman and Ropp
None
Michele McPherson, Director of Plann/ng; Scott Harlicker, Senior
Hanner;, Chris Leeseberg, Planner
The Commission met in workshop to discuss the land use and zoning options for the Ron's Foods
area defined by Highway 169 on the west, 52 Street on the north, Line Avenue on the east, and Main
Street on the south. Prior to reviewing the staff-prepared options, the Commission discussed the
land use and transportation issues in the area. It was noted that commercial along the highway is a
natural fit for what is going on in the area with the large box retailers south of Main Street and
additional commercial to the north, as well as business park/office to the east in Mulvany Point.
Chair Pederson noted, however, that a redevelopment project in the area creates a potential loss of
affordable housing for the City.
Commissioner Franz stated that any redevelopment or land use change would need to address the
traffic congestion currently in the area, as well as acknowledging that MN/DOT's Highway 169
corridor plans include a diamond or cloverleaf interchange with highway access at this location.
Commissioner Lemke stated that there needs to be a better transportation connection between
Dodge Avenue and Zane Street; that currendy there is a lot of vehicle travel that occurs through a
predominandy residential area. Commissioner Franz suggested that the City consider changing the
R4 areas in the study area to Highway Commercial, and that the single-family area should be changed
to R4, Multi-Family.
Commissioner Anderson stated that he concurred with the recommendation to change the Multi-
Family areas to Highway Commercial, but that a road realignment needs to occur to resolve the
traffic issues. Most of the access points are too close to the intersections to create safe traffic
maneuvers. Commissioner Offerman noted that there is no good east-west connection near 193rd
Avenue, so residents typically leave Highway 169 at Main Street and travel the "back way" to the
residential neighborhoods to the north. He questioned what the tax impact would be to the single-
family homeowners if the property were guided to High Density Residential.
Staff then reviewed the six options for redevelopment/land use change with the Commission.
Option A - Phase 1 affected only the Emporium and the Ron's Foods site and proposed a 45,500
square foot mixed-use office retail/housing project. The Commission fek that k was more of a strip
mall versus big box and that there was no ability for the transportation system to support the
increased traffic. They did acknowledge that k doses the access onto Main Street from the
Emporium ske, and that k also "cleaned up the Emporium ske". This option presented the least
public cost.
Manning Commission Workshop Notes
January 28, 2003
Page 2
Option A - Phase 2 included the Emporium, the Ron's Foods site, and the two apartment buildings
adjacent to Main Street. The same 45,500 square foot mixed use was included in'the proposal, and a
24,500 square foot mixed use was added to the comer of Main Street and Line Avenue. The same
comments that were provided under Option A - Phase 1 apply to Option A - Phase 2.
Option B included the Ron's Foods site, the Emporium, the two Main Street apartment buildings,
and a small portion of the single-family area. This option proposed two office buddings, 26,500 and
10,000 square feet respectively, a strip mall retail facility of 23,000 square feet, and a 10,000 square
foot restaurant space. The Commission fek that this option proposed a good restaurant site. It did
not go far enough in acquiring and removing the single-family homes. It began to anchor a
commercial/mixed use comer. The Commission also liked that the plan was more open and that
travelers would be able to see a variety of buildings and uses.
Option C was a continuation of Option B and increased the amount of single-family dwellings to be
acquired. Option C proposed 26,500 square feet of office, a 10,500 square foot restaurant space at
the comer of Main Street and Highway 169, and two retail strip malls 23,000 square feet and 30,000
square feet, respectively. The option also included a realignment of Baldwin Avenue from 5~h Street
to County Road 13, north of 3ra Street. The Commission noted that they had concerns with access.
The access still requires traffic to travel through a predominantly residential neighborhood to get to
the redeveloped Commercial area. It also removed a number of single-family homes and increased
the loss of affordable housing; there is no addition to the number of Multi-Family units. The
Commission felt that the rest of the single-family might as well be acquired, based on Option C.
Option D proposed acquisition of the entire study area. All of the existing structures would be
removed and replaced with two large box retailers at 128,000 and 100,000 square feet, each. The
Commission noted that the park had disappeared. There was much discussion regarding the viability
and the marketability of big box retailers. Commissioner Offerman noted that there could be one
big box retailer anchoring the comer with smaller retail and office uses. Option D, in the
Commission's opinion, did not appear to be very exciting.
Option E as proposed, included an entire acquisition and redevelopment project. Two mixed-use
buildings at 30,000 and 35,000 square feet would anchor the redevelopment at Main Street and
Highway 169 and Main and County Road 13. Two retail buildings, 23,000 square feet each, would be
adjacent to Highway 169, and the remainder of the site would be used for apartments and
townhomes, and a relocated park. The Commission suggested that the southern part of Option B
could be mixed with Option E as an altemative. The Commission liked the additional housing and
the mix of uses.
Option F is similar to Option C in the amount of area to be redeveloped, however, the proposal
includes only a 90,000 square foot retail site and a 10,000 square foot restaurant site. It was noted
that there was a lot of impact for very little benefit.
It was the consensus of the Commission that the whole area needs to be guided for redevelopment
and that if the entire site was not identified as Commercial, then Commercial should be identified
along Highway 169 and Main Street, and that the single-family area should be guided for High
Density Multi-Family housing.
The Commission expressed throughout the meeting concerns with the impacts of the MN/DOT
Highway 169 corridor plan and felt that the traffic issues and transportation support system needed
to be resolved in order to make positive change at the Highway 169/Main Street intersection. They
Planning Commission Wonkshop Notes
January 28, 2003
Page 3
also discussed the possibility of expanding the study area to include the land east of Line Avenue and
north of Mulvany Point.
Respectfully submitted,
Michele McPherson
Director of Planning
Elk River Comprehensive Plan Task Force
Meeting of January 30, 2003
Task Force Members Attending
Jeff Gongoll, Dick Gruys, Ron Halpaus, Kurt Kragness, Kendra Lindahl, Lance Lindberg, Cliff
Lundberg, Garnet Novotny, Kevin Scott, Daryl Thompson, Dan Tveite
Task Force Members Absent
Ron Bratlie, Pat Dwyer, Doug Franz John Kuester, Larry Toth, Vance Zehringer
Alternates Attending
Dana Anderson, Lynn Caswell, Jean Lieser
Staff and Consultants
Michele McPherson, Director of Plannng and Brad Scheib, Hoisington Koegler Group Inc.
Public Input
Members of the public in attendance included Leo Offerman, Gene Thompson, Richard Thompson
and Wesley Hunt. They raised the issue of private property rights specifically as it relates to the
regulation of density within the areas currently designated as "Agriculture" in the current
Comprehensive Plan. The comments from those in attendance indicated a preference for a greater
density in the rural areas that is based on a site's ability to accommodate private wells and septic
systems within existing rules. Discussion ensued regarding the principles of cluster housing, zoning,
and private property rights. No public comments were offered on other issues.
Minutes
The minutes of the January 14, 2003 Joint Meeting with the City Council and Planning Commission
and the December 19, 2002 meeting were accepted as submitted.
Communications
An e-mail from Task Force Member John Kuester was received. His e-mail expressed his thoughts
regarding the development scenarios and the Ron's Foods site. A printed copy of the email was
distributed to the task force.
Ron's Foods
The Director of Planning reviewed the request by the City Council to have the Task Force review the
land use of the Ron's Foods area (east of Highway 169, north of Main Street, west of Line Avenue,
and south of Fifth Street). This request is in response to a zone change application to rezone the site
from Multi Family to Highway Commercial. Discussion ensued regarding the status of the project
area and the implications of new development of a commercial nature at the site particularly
associated with traffic issues and redevelopment impacts. Additional points of concern were the
status of the comprehensive plan and the development of land use concepts.
It was decided that because the land use concepts have not been taken through the planning process
and a preferred direction has not been agreed upon, that any direction to the City Council on this
issue would be premature at this time. It was suggested that Task Force member Dan Tveite, the City
Council representative convey the conversation and message to the City Council.
Task Force Meeting Minutes
January 30, 2003
Page 2
Land Use Concepts
The consultant presented the following topics as a follow up on items that were raised at the joint
City Council and Planning Commission meeting on January 14 that need to be clarified prior to the
public meeting on February 20, 2003. The items discussed and their associated recommendations
included the following:
· Do the concepts present appropriate uses for the development of gravel mining areas?
Recommendation: Incorporate a greater mix of uses including more residential, commercial
and light industrial uses and to remove the notion of a "regional park" on the guided growth
concept.
· How should the concepts present the need for public parks?
Recommendation: Parks should be addressed from a policy and "service needs" standpoint
and should not be identified on the guided growth or market based land use concepts.
· Do the concepts adequately provide for future commercial development needs?
Recommendation: Commercial nodes at 165~ Avenue and Highway 10 and CR 33 and
Highway 169 should be expanded in the guided growth concept. The neighborhood
commercial node should be moved south into the existing in the urban expansion area.
· Should existing single-family neighborhoods around the Downtown be included in the
Central Business District land use category?
Recommendation: Rename the designation in the guided growth concept from Central
Business District to Old Town and amend the written description to better describe
preservation of existing character, residential housing diversity, restoration and revitalization
as key objectives.
Public Workshop #4
An outline for the public workshop was included in the packet. No comments were offered
regarding the proposed process for the workshop. Staff indicated that mailings, flyers and newspaper
commentary have been used to generate public interest in the meeting. Task force members were
given copies of the flier to distribute. The web site will be updated with amended maps, written
description and the workshop announcement flier within the next week.
The workshop will be held at River of Life Church on February 20, 2003 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
The meeting concluded at 8:35 p.m.
ORDINANCE 03.
CITY OF ELK RIVER
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
CITY OF ELK RIVER ZONING MAP TO REZONE CERTAIN PROPERTIES
AS DESCRIBED
CASE NO. ZC 02-08
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as follows:
Section 1. The duly adopted Zoning Map of the City of Elk River is hereby
amended to rezone the property described as:
See Attached Exhibit A
Section 2. The rezoning is being approved based on the following findings:
1. Approval of the zoning request will not have adverse impacts on adjacent
uses.
2. The zoning request is consistent with the land use designation of the
Comprehensive Plan.
Section 3. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force from and
after the date of its publication.
Passed and adopted this 18th day of February, 2003 by the City Council of the City of
Elk River.
ATI~ST:
Stephanie A. Klinzing, Mayor
Sandra A. Peine, City Clerk
Exhibit A
All that part of the Northeast quarter of the Southeast Quarter (NE ¼ of SE ¼) of Section
Thirty-four (34) Township Thirty-three (33) Range Twenty-six (26), Sherburne County,
Minnesota, described as lying Westerly of Johnson Plat, according to the map or plat thereof
on file and of record in the office of the Register of Deeds in and for said Sherburne
County; lying Easterly of the Easterly line of the right-of-way of U.S. Highway #169 lying
Northerly of the following described line: Commencing at the Southwest corner of Outlot
B of Johnson Plat; thence North 0 degrees 05 minutes East, assumed bearing, along the
West line of said Outlot B for a distance of 207.35 feet to the actual point of beginning of
the line to be described; thence South 72 degrees 56 minutes West a distance of 256.06 feet,
more or less, to intersect said Easterly line of the right-of-way of U.S. Highway #169 and
there terminating, and lying Southerly of the following described line; Commencing at the
Northwest corner of said Johnson Plat; thence South 17 degrees 04 minutes East, assumed
bearing, along the West line thereof a distance of 520 feet, thence South 72 degrees 56
minutes West a distance of 327.60 feet, more or less, to intersect said Easterly line of the
right-of-way of U.S. Highway #169 thence South 17 degrees 04 minutes East along right-of-
way a distance of 260 feet to the actual point of beginning of the line to be described; thence
North 72 degrees 56 minutes East a distance of 327.40 feet, more or less, to intersect said
West line of Johnson Plat and there terminating. Containing 2.38 acres, more or less.