1 00:00:03,310 --> 00:00:11,150 Now, I will call the Northfield Planning Commission meeting to order. Roll call, please. Commissioner 2 00:00:11,150 --> 00:00:16,990 Hollerin, Commissioner Holmes, here, Commissioner Bucke, here, Commissioner Novak, here, 3 00:00:17,390 --> 00:00:21,810 Commissioner Schmidt, here, Vice Chair Schroer, Chair Coleman. Here. 4 00:00:24,860 --> 00:00:27,800 First item of business 5 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:34,360 approval of the agenda that has been submitted. Do I have a motion to approve? 6 00:00:35,860 --> 00:00:41,200 So moved. Second. Second. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. 7 00:00:43,100 --> 00:00:51,160 Agenda is approved. Next, we have the minutes of the December 18th, 2025 Planning Commission 8 00:00:51,160 --> 00:00:53,960 meeting, do I have a motion to approve? 9 00:00:55,780 --> 00:01:00,500 I move to approve the minutes with an amendment. 10 00:01:01,740 --> 00:01:08,520 It had me at present at the meeting and so we just need to amend it so that I was absent 11 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:10,780 and was not voting record. 12 00:01:12,890 --> 00:01:15,850 Do we have a second with that amendment? 13 00:01:16,270 --> 00:01:16,590 Second. 14 00:01:17,270 --> 00:01:18,170 All in favor? 15 00:01:19,290 --> 00:01:19,490 Aye. 16 00:01:20,490 --> 00:01:21,210 Opposed? 17 00:01:21,430 --> 00:01:21,890 Same signed? 18 00:01:21,890 --> 00:01:25,770 And hearing none, the minutes as amended are approved. 19 00:01:27,550 --> 00:01:33,610 The first matter before us today is a public hearing for consideration of a zoning map 20 00:01:33,610 --> 00:01:36,790 amendment for 304 Second Street West. 21 00:01:38,090 --> 00:01:44,090 The public will have the opportunity to speak for against this item for a maximum of two 22 00:01:44,090 --> 00:01:47,050 minutes, not including interpreters time. 23 00:01:47,050 --> 00:01:52,830 the chair will recognize the speaker at the podium and conversation will be 24 00:01:52,830 --> 00:01:58,630 between the chair and the speaker. A person's wishing to speak must give their 25 00:01:58,630 --> 00:02:03,730 name. If they're representing a business also the name of the business or 26 00:02:03,730 --> 00:02:09,990 corporation and if an attorney or consultant is representing a client the 27 00:02:09,990 --> 00:02:12,470 The client must be identified for the record. 28 00:02:14,110 --> 00:02:24,370 With that, President Commissioner, do we have anybody wishing to make a public comment 29 00:02:24,370 --> 00:02:29,870 on a matter not pertaining to the Zoning Map Amendment? 30 00:02:31,330 --> 00:02:33,230 Seeing none, we'll proceed. 31 00:02:35,830 --> 00:02:39,210 Mr. Huey, I believe you have a presentation to give. 32 00:02:47,060 --> 00:02:51,680 So to recap the process of a zoning map amendment, this is a type 4 process. 33 00:02:52,060 --> 00:02:55,340 We will start with the public hearing, staff will give a presentation. 34 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,500 The applicant is present to answer questions if needed. 35 00:03:00,140 --> 00:03:02,180 I don't believe the applicant has prepared a presentation. 36 00:03:02,980 --> 00:03:11,520 Followed by public input questions from the commissioners at that time, and then we will move on to consideration of the item. 37 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:12,260 This 38 00:03:25,860 --> 00:03:28,760 is a zoning map amendment for 304 Second Street West. 39 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:49,380 This is an aerial view of the parcel in question, and the request is for the planning commission to recommend approval to change the zoning 304 Second Street West from R1B low density residential to C1B downtown, which is a commercial zoning district. 40 00:03:49,380 --> 00:03:54,140 This is a zoning map context for reference. 41 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:59,280 The parcel in question is the orange here outlined in the light teal. 42 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:05,440 The yellow, which is the existing zoning, is the low-density residential. 43 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:06,240 That's the R1. 44 00:04:07,220 --> 00:04:11,940 The purple color is the C1 downtown district. 45 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,700 Directly to the east, there is this parcel that appears to be sort of a gray beige color. 46 00:04:17,700 --> 00:04:23,440 That simply has to do with the fact that the city owns that parcel and there's an overlay that got put on that 47 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:28,160 So it's a disc it's discolored. It should be purple. It is zoned. See one 48 00:04:28,940 --> 00:04:31,580 Purple and then that light pink parcel on the corner 49 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:36,360 Field ambulance depot that is public institutional zoning 50 00:04:40,300 --> 00:04:43,240 There's a couple of street views taken from Google Street view 51 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:48,560 This is 304 second street looking northwest from second street and spring street intersection there 52 00:04:50,940 --> 00:04:54,580 and this is looking you'll notice there is a large empty portion of the lot here 53 00:04:54,580 --> 00:05:00,280 and the greenhouse that exists. This duplex is visible in the background and 54 00:05:00,900 --> 00:05:07,720 here's a view looking north east from second showing the existing home which 55 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:12,100 is a duplex and spring street can be seen in the distance there as well as the 56 00:05:12,100 --> 00:05:16,540 railroad tracks and beyond that highway three and some additional commercial. 57 00:05:20,690 --> 00:05:21,210 So 58 00:05:21,210 --> 00:05:25,690 that we've mailed a public hearing notice on December 22nd, 59 00:05:26,090 --> 00:05:28,430 published another one in the paper on December 31st, 60 00:05:28,830 --> 00:05:31,530 the public hearing tonight and consideration 61 00:05:31,850 --> 00:05:33,850 of a recommendation from the Planning Commission. 62 00:05:34,470 --> 00:05:38,110 The first reading of the ordinance, 63 00:05:38,110 --> 00:05:40,470 and so the type four zoning map amendment, 64 00:05:40,810 --> 00:05:43,670 the ultimate decision resides with City Council, 65 00:05:43,810 --> 00:05:45,790 they will make that final determination. 66 00:05:46,790 --> 00:05:50,350 That determination requires a supermajority vote 67 00:05:50,350 --> 00:05:57,290 to approve because it is changing from residential to commercial, but that first reading at City Council 68 00:05:58,090 --> 00:06:03,430 will happen on February 10th, the February 3rd meeting for City Council. This hasn't been 69 00:06:03,430 --> 00:06:09,070 formally adopted but by state statute we can't have a meeting that night. It is caucus night and so 70 00:06:09,070 --> 00:06:13,830 that meeting is being moved to February 10th. That doesn't change any of the rest of the timeline. 71 00:06:14,530 --> 00:06:19,670 The second reading will still be scheduled if approved on February 10th. The second reading will occur 72 00:06:19,670 --> 00:06:27,790 on February 17th, followed by a summary publication and the zoning map amendment takes, goes into effect 30 days after the publication of that. 73 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:39,340 So, City Code lays out the criteria, zoning map amendments may be initiated by City Council, City Staff, or the property owner. 74 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:48,840 In this case, the applicant is the property owner. It's a type 4 review procedure, which is a planning commission recommendation, and a City Council decision. 75 00:06:48,840 --> 00:06:57,000 There are four criteria that the decision is to be based on, and they're laid out here. 76 00:06:57,580 --> 00:07:03,420 It's adequacy of infrastructure, adequacy of a buffer or transition between potentially incompatible districts, 77 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:08,100 the purpose and intent of the land development code, or in the case of a map amendment, 78 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:12,880 whether it meets the purpose and intent of the individual district, and then the specific policies, 79 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:18,460 goals, objectives, and recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan and other city plans. 80 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:22,360 Staff, in this case, is recommending approval. 81 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:30,000 So criteria one, our specific policies, goals, and objectives of the Com Plan and other 82 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:31,800 city plans being met. 83 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:40,680 So for this finding, we look at the future land use map adopted in the Comprehensive Plan 84 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:46,460 and the interventions framework map in the Comprehensive Plan, both in this case support 85 00:07:46,460 --> 00:07:50,300 the change in zoning to commercial. 86 00:07:50,940 --> 00:07:56,140 The future land use map identifies this as a mixed use commercial parcel and the rezoning 87 00:07:56,140 --> 00:07:57,140 is consistent with that. 88 00:07:58,140 --> 00:08:06,640 This area is identified as enhanced in the rezoning in the interventions framework map, rezoning 89 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:11,080 consistent with the intensification, infill, and redevelopment requiring smaller scale 90 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:17,000 investment from the city. So, the enhanced is sort of the, if I'm recalling the lowest 91 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:24,380 interventions just above preserve. And preserve was mostly reserved for parks, the college 92 00:08:24,380 --> 00:08:31,480 campuses kind of things. So, access chapter of the comprehensive plan 93 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:36,360 strategy one, plan for accessibility, strategy two, develop in a compact and sustainable way. 94 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:41,020 Okay, all of these findings are detailed in the resolution, so if anyone has a question 95 00:08:41,020 --> 00:08:45,980 about it, there is a packet available and it was sent to the Planning Commissioners. 96 00:08:48,430 --> 00:08:53,870 And then sustainable economic future, Strategy 3 was small business development, Strategy 97 00:08:53,870 --> 00:09:00,610 5, Diversity or diversified Northfield's tax base, Strategy 6 was grown in a compact and 98 00:09:00,610 --> 00:09:01,950 sustainable development pattern. 99 00:09:01,950 --> 00:09:06,670 All of these are either satisfied or encouraged by this rezoning. 100 00:09:08,090 --> 00:09:10,810 Here's the future land use map for context. 101 00:09:11,350 --> 00:09:17,710 This light blue circle here in the sort of center is the parcel. 102 00:09:18,090 --> 00:09:20,390 And you'll note that purple color is the mixed use commercial. 103 00:09:23,350 --> 00:09:26,150 The mixed use commercial and 104 00:09:26,150 --> 00:09:31,790 sort uses our commercial multifamily housing office public institutional densities 105 00:09:31,790 --> 00:09:44,890 When contemplating multi-family housing projects a citywide average density of 5 to 15 units per acre should be the minimum outcome to provide enough density to support future transit connections and other parts of the city. 106 00:09:45,950 --> 00:09:57,830 Transportation considerations are improved walkability between and around businesses and connections to the river, improved pedestrian and bicycle routes across major barriers including highway 3 and 19. 107 00:09:59,050 --> 00:10:04,570 the railroad tracks in the Cannon River and collaborate with Min Dot to redesign Highway 3. 108 00:10:05,390 --> 00:10:10,430 Those are all taken from the comp plan with regards to the future land use here and the goals. 109 00:10:12,150 --> 00:10:23,390 The interventions framework map. So it's a little tough to read these, but this residential area is identified as E1. 110 00:10:24,070 --> 00:10:26,670 That's a residential neighborhood west of the river. 111 00:10:27,330 --> 00:10:30,510 This residential area is described as lacking parks, 112 00:10:30,530 --> 00:10:33,590 and could also benefit from enhanced non-motorized connections 113 00:10:33,590 --> 00:10:36,410 to improve access to services and commercial enterprises. 114 00:10:37,290 --> 00:10:42,030 One way to do that is introduce more commercial and service enterprises 115 00:10:42,030 --> 00:10:46,290 on this side of Highway 3 and the river, which do service a barrier. 116 00:10:47,750 --> 00:10:50,550 And then it's directly adjacent to T1, 117 00:10:50,550 --> 00:10:52,730 and you can kind of see that within that circle. 118 00:10:52,930 --> 00:10:57,130 It's sort of located right over the new transit hub, 119 00:10:57,670 --> 00:10:59,290 but T1 is a transform area, 120 00:10:59,730 --> 00:11:01,330 represent the greatest opportunity 121 00:11:01,330 --> 00:11:03,550 for future development and redevelopment 122 00:11:03,550 --> 00:11:04,970 to harness growing market demand 123 00:11:04,970 --> 00:11:07,530 and create walkable mixed-use income centers. 124 00:11:08,390 --> 00:11:10,710 Land use changes and or intensification of uses 125 00:11:10,710 --> 00:11:13,150 will create lively places to live, work and play, 126 00:11:13,790 --> 00:11:15,190 and they will serve as neighborhood centers 127 00:11:15,190 --> 00:11:17,090 for residents and employees alike. 128 00:11:19,610 --> 00:11:26,330 T1 Downtown River West, through transportation improvements to Highway 3, improve the 129 00:11:26,330 --> 00:11:31,670 Highway 3 corridor, including crossing. The downtown land use pattern and scale will 130 00:11:31,670 --> 00:11:36,810 expand west, making the river the focal point, and making the transit hub accessible a more 131 00:11:36,810 --> 00:11:39,510 convenient, encouraging lively and active streets. 132 00:11:45,430 --> 00:11:49,790 Criteria 1 continued the strategic plan, improved financial strength, growing the commercial 133 00:11:49,790 --> 00:11:54,530 industrial and industrial tax base, rezoning this parcel to commercial and getting additional 134 00:11:54,530 --> 00:11:57,750 commercial development would contribute to this strategic plan goal. 135 00:11:59,450 --> 00:12:04,430 So criteria two, does the new zoning district meet the purpose and intent of the individual 136 00:12:04,430 --> 00:12:04,890 district? 137 00:12:05,470 --> 00:12:11,250 The purpose of the downtown district is to create Northfields brand in unique sense of place, 138 00:12:12,710 --> 00:12:16,710 sustain the historic central business district, make highway three corridor more integral 139 00:12:16,710 --> 00:12:23,510 an attractive part of downtown and provide transitions from highway three that downtown commercial 140 00:12:23,510 --> 00:12:29,070 into the more residential areas. C1 district aims to provide compact pedestrian friendly 141 00:12:29,070 --> 00:12:35,570 active mix of land uses including business and the design standards of this district reflect 142 00:12:35,570 --> 00:12:39,650 the character of the historic downtown and will help create a sense of arrival and center. 143 00:12:40,370 --> 00:12:44,450 Yes, the rezoning supports the intent and purpose of the C1 district 144 00:12:44,450 --> 00:12:50,390 by providing that transition from the Highway 3 corridor into the more residential neighborhood 145 00:12:50,390 --> 00:12:58,290 to the West, softening that transition. It also improves, you know, connectivity 146 00:13:00,390 --> 00:13:06,830 and stimulates development around the transit hub, furthering additional development goals. 147 00:13:10,570 --> 00:13:15,770 Criteria 3 is their adequate infrastructure available to serve the proposed action or use. 148 00:13:15,770 --> 00:13:30,410 There is adequate infrastructure available including sewer, water, streets, sidewalks, transit access, spring street, and as a note, this has been brought up multiple times, but spring street will be closed at second street west as part of the quiet railroad project. 149 00:13:32,430 --> 00:13:39,270 Access and changes to access to the spring street, those are all items that will be addressed at the site plan stage, site plan review stage. 150 00:13:40,830 --> 00:13:46,250 There's existing sewer and water, so well-connected site, it's on the street grid. 151 00:13:47,830 --> 00:13:53,090 And criteria 4, is there adequate buffer or transition provided between potentially 152 00:13:53,090 --> 00:13:54,330 incompatible districts? 153 00:13:56,930 --> 00:14:01,550 Buffering is adequate and adequate buffering will be required, additional buffering if necessary 154 00:14:01,550 --> 00:14:03,530 will be required as part of the site plan review. 155 00:14:05,370 --> 00:14:11,510 The LDC provides buffering and design standards to address the transition from downtown commercial 156 00:14:11,510 --> 00:14:13,370 to low density residential. 157 00:14:14,130 --> 00:14:18,910 Any redevelopment will be subject to those standards, and then the downtown commercial 158 00:14:18,910 --> 00:14:25,650 district does border the low density residential district for most of its edge, and the parcel 159 00:14:25,650 --> 00:14:27,550 of butts the C1 to the east and south. 160 00:14:28,950 --> 00:14:32,710 So it's consistent, it is only transitioning on one side. 161 00:14:34,270 --> 00:14:38,190 Some site development standards designed to mitigate the impact of commercial lot, next 162 00:14:38,190 --> 00:14:46,770 to a residential lot, include maximum building height, rear setbacks, front side setbacks, 163 00:14:47,010 --> 00:14:51,710 or front setbacks, interior side, corner side yard setbacks, screening and buffering standards, 164 00:14:51,710 --> 00:14:54,950 which often include landscaping, but maybe fencing, et cetera. 165 00:14:54,950 --> 00:14:58,730 lighting standards and... 166 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:22,040 Different design standards, including prohibitions on corporate architecture, et cetera, and large blank walls are not allowed. So, those are, there's quite a detailed list of those design standards, and I won't recap all of them for you at this point. State statute. So a change in zoning from residential to commercial requires a two thirds approval. Just as a note, that will come up at city council. 167 00:15:28,350 --> 00:15:29,470 That is the end of my presentation. 168 00:15:33,510 --> 00:15:38,610 Okay. Thank you very much. At this time, does the applicant 169 00:15:38,610 --> 00:15:42,930 can't have the one to make a statement, the applicant here. 170 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:50,280 Okay, hiding behind the person in the room in front of you. 171 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:55,960 Okay, if you don't want to make a statement, 172 00:15:56,140 --> 00:15:58,080 we'll open it up to the public. 173 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:00,920 And again, you may speak for up to two minutes. 174 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:05,440 And please state your name and come to the podium. 175 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:09,940 There's a button there to turn the microphone on. 176 00:16:09,940 --> 00:16:14,720 and just state your name and we'll start the timer. 177 00:16:15,380 --> 00:16:17,480 Does anybody want to speak at this time? 178 00:16:35,390 --> 00:16:38,050 Deacon Mickey Redfern, St. Dominix. 179 00:16:39,970 --> 00:16:43,930 If Spring Street is going to be closed, 180 00:16:45,050 --> 00:16:49,390 we have concerns about parking and traffic flow, 181 00:16:49,670 --> 00:16:53,470 depending on where the entrance into this possible store 182 00:16:53,470 --> 00:16:53,970 will be. 183 00:16:53,970 --> 00:17:01,450 So, if the entrance is on second street, that wouldn't be problematic, but if the only 184 00:17:01,450 --> 00:17:07,970 way to get to the store is to come down Spring Street, which is now a dead end, every person 185 00:17:07,970 --> 00:17:12,230 would have to come past the church and then back. 186 00:17:12,710 --> 00:17:18,430 So Wednesdays, for example, our school is north of the church. 187 00:17:18,430 --> 00:17:23,750 all of our school students walk down the street to come to Mass on those days. 188 00:17:24,570 --> 00:17:29,510 And there's, I can't see where the parking will be for this. 189 00:17:30,810 --> 00:17:32,710 That's all I have to share. 190 00:17:33,350 --> 00:17:34,610 Okay, thank you very much. 191 00:17:35,490 --> 00:17:39,190 Has anyone else wish to speak at this time? 192 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:46,080 Do- 193 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:51,660 Chair, I will know you should all have a copy of a public comment that I did receive 194 00:17:51,660 --> 00:17:57,720 via email in front of you. So there's a copy there. Due to the timing of that, we've provided it 195 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:02,620 as a print. There are several copies over on the table for members of the public who might be 196 00:18:02,620 --> 00:18:11,040 interested and then that will be entered into the record post meeting. Thank you. Before we close 197 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:19,380 the public hearing, do any commissioners have any questions at this time? We'll have the discussion 198 00:18:19,380 --> 00:18:25,260 after, but if you have any questions specifically clarification to Mr. Huey, 199 00:18:27,730 --> 00:18:29,530 yes, well. 200 00:18:30,510 --> 00:18:31,270 Thanks, Chair. 201 00:18:32,230 --> 00:18:37,530 The closure of the street is presented as a feda complete, but I don't know that that's 202 00:18:37,530 --> 00:18:39,550 been shared with us at this point. 203 00:18:40,450 --> 00:18:46,090 Can staff give us some more information about what the expectations and the process are at 204 00:18:46,090 --> 00:18:47,030 that point for that? 205 00:18:47,930 --> 00:18:52,750 So, as you know, the city has been pursuing a quiet rail designation. 206 00:18:52,770 --> 00:18:55,170 I'm not sure the technical title of it. 207 00:18:55,930 --> 00:19:01,370 It's as part of that, or the end goal is that the train will not have to blow the whistle 208 00:19:01,370 --> 00:19:02,610 as they come through town. 209 00:19:04,130 --> 00:19:05,830 And so, lessening the impact of that. 210 00:19:06,170 --> 00:19:11,310 As part of that, we do have to address each rail crossing in town and bring those up to 211 00:19:11,310 --> 00:19:13,190 a certain safety standard. 212 00:19:14,790 --> 00:19:21,290 This intersection design, as it is with Spring Street, presents the opportunity for someone 213 00:19:21,290 --> 00:19:26,990 who would be heading south on Spring Street to come to that stop sign and potentially 214 00:19:26,990 --> 00:19:32,570 make a left turn, the curbs are there to prevent that, but because the tracks go through 215 00:19:32,570 --> 00:19:37,790 there somebody could kind of avoid the curbs and go over the tracks and make a left turn 216 00:19:37,790 --> 00:19:45,150 there. And in so doing not check behind them to see a freight train coming headed south 217 00:19:45,150 --> 00:19:52,350 on those tracks, resulting in a potentially catastrophic accident. So they, the rail 218 00:19:52,350 --> 00:19:56,870 road standard is that that intersection be closed because the reconfiguration is not, 219 00:19:57,110 --> 00:20:03,270 there's no way to reconfigure it to prevent that, you know, from happening. At this point, 220 00:20:03,270 --> 00:20:10,670 The Public Works Department has scheduled a meeting with the Railroad and Mindot because 221 00:20:10,670 --> 00:20:12,690 this is always a joint thing. 222 00:20:12,890 --> 00:20:14,870 That meeting is scheduled for next week. 223 00:20:16,090 --> 00:20:17,790 Planning will be involved in that meeting. 224 00:20:17,910 --> 00:20:24,390 We're going to go along to kind of work through things and identify what the best work with 225 00:20:24,390 --> 00:20:31,390 them to come up with a best case solution for the closure of Spring Street. 226 00:20:32,310 --> 00:20:38,910 There are many options on the table, include everything from a cul-de-sac to a hammerhead turnaround, and 227 00:20:38,910 --> 00:20:41,710 nothing. At this point, it's all very preliminary. 228 00:20:42,030 --> 00:20:47,310 The only thing we know is that that will have to be closed if we want to achieve our stated goal of getting the quiet zone. 229 00:20:51,300 --> 00:20:52,860 I think the issue holds. 230 00:20:53,260 --> 00:21:00,320 Thank you. I just want to get clarity on this because I don't think it's a question of zoning, but 231 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:05,700 the question about the orientation of the building and where an entrance might be located. 232 00:21:06,780 --> 00:21:14,080 To me, that's another issue, not related to how we zone property, but can you just 233 00:21:14,740 --> 00:21:19,880 when and if a building is built there, is that something that is then considered in terms 234 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,620 of in the building process and code, et cetera? 235 00:21:22,700 --> 00:21:25,980 Can you just clarify that for me and for anyone in the audience, too? 236 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:33,220 So, yeah, our land development code currently, and this of course depends on, you know, timelines 237 00:21:33,220 --> 00:21:38,060 of when we get applications, when architects have been involved, and, et cetera, as things 238 00:21:38,060 --> 00:21:41,120 move forward, but I will speak to our existing land development code. 239 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:46,700 Does require an entrance to face the street, so that will be a part of it. 240 00:21:47,260 --> 00:21:49,360 The C1 district does require a second story. 241 00:21:50,500 --> 00:22:00,880 There are material restrictions, so I think that the preference is heavily towards brick and masonry, not pre-cast concrete. 242 00:22:02,500 --> 00:22:12,020 And yes, access is an item on the, it's called a checklist for a site plan review. 243 00:22:12,020 --> 00:22:17,400 And so, generally, with a site plan review, that process involves a pre-application meeting, 244 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:22,840 kind of a preliminary, like here are the restrictions, here's things you need to be aware of. 245 00:22:23,020 --> 00:22:28,040 Before we even, somebody even gets into design so we can head off some of those issues. 246 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:36,240 And you are correct that that is not, those are not items under consideration for the rezoning there. 247 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:44,960 Yeah, and just to clarify too with the future land use map that was in the presentation 248 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:50,540 and our anticipated change of the zoning code in the next, within the next 14 months. 249 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:57,680 Would this, would the rezoning and what is there in the future land use map do we anticipate 250 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:02,180 that that would be changed within that time period within the next 14 months as a part of 251 00:23:02,180 --> 00:23:03,340 the process we're about to go through? 252 00:23:05,350 --> 00:23:08,270 Can I just ask a clarifying question? 253 00:23:08,530 --> 00:23:14,950 Will that, is your question whether or not that existing commercial, or I'm sorry, what 254 00:23:14,950 --> 00:23:20,770 the future land use map shows as commercial, if that would become the new zoning map, 255 00:23:21,890 --> 00:23:27,390 or do you anticipate that all of those parcels, or are you asking if all those parcels identified 256 00:23:27,390 --> 00:23:30,230 as future commercial will be also rezoned as commercial? 257 00:23:30,230 --> 00:23:37,510 Correct, it would not tonight, but within our work as we look at the changing the zoning code. 258 00:23:41,020 --> 00:23:42,900 I will defer to the city planner on that one. 259 00:23:44,580 --> 00:23:51,000 Chair and Commissioner Holes, correct, the future land use map is what guides our future zoning. 260 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:58,580 They are two separate things, but the zoning map is then where the code language ties to that zone. 261 00:23:58,580 --> 00:24:06,320 So correct, that whole block in essence will be zoned commercial when we get to the end 262 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:10,880 of the zoning code update and we update all the code language we will also update the 263 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:12,800 zoning map to be reflective of that. 264 00:24:13,780 --> 00:24:14,580 So correct. 265 00:24:17,380 --> 00:24:23,880 But in the interim we don't have any, I don't have any existing applications or pending 266 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:26,340 applications for additional rezonings at this time. 267 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:29,500 Thank you for that clarification. 268 00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:33,500 Any further questions? 269 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:38,260 Not do we have a motion to close the public hearing? 270 00:24:42,860 --> 00:24:44,020 I move to close the public hearing. 271 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:44,560 Thank you. 272 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:45,280 Second. 273 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:46,340 I'll second. 274 00:24:46,940 --> 00:24:48,560 All in favor, please say aye. 275 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:49,440 Aye. 276 00:24:50,120 --> 00:24:51,260 Close same sign. 277 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:56,200 The hearing is closed. 278 00:24:57,900 --> 00:25:02,120 We will now, as a commission, take the matter under consideration. 279 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:10,280 Do we have any further questions, first of all, for staff on this matter? 280 00:25:15,370 --> 00:25:18,310 We have a resolution, oh sorry, 281 00:25:21,190 --> 00:25:21,530 Commissioner. 282 00:25:22,170 --> 00:25:22,810 Thank you. 283 00:25:23,150 --> 00:25:28,610 I just want to make sure I understand this so as of now, there is no applications or 284 00:25:28,610 --> 00:25:32,590 any information about any potential building on this site. 285 00:25:33,870 --> 00:25:34,970 That is correct. 286 00:25:34,970 --> 00:25:36,090 Thank 287 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:43,040 you. 288 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:43,720 Commissioner Strener. 289 00:25:45,980 --> 00:25:46,600 Thanks, Chair. 290 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:54,080 This is following on Commissioner Holmes's question, but edging into discussion. 291 00:25:55,080 --> 00:26:01,900 It's, do I understand correctly, it is likely verging on, very likely, that this will be 292 00:26:01,900 --> 00:26:09,160 re-zoned anyway at the end of our zoning process that we're starting out on? 293 00:26:10,260 --> 00:26:15,660 staff do you want to answer that yes that is that is correct. I appreciate it. Thank you. 294 00:26:18,990 --> 00:26:20,710 Any further discussion? 295 00:26:22,900 --> 00:26:31,300 There is a motion I have another question of the staff. So if 296 00:26:31,300 --> 00:26:36,360 somebody would put a new building on there and maybe commercials different than residential 297 00:26:36,360 --> 00:26:44,360 that the narrow width of the lot is the entrance or the address for the property. 298 00:26:45,140 --> 00:26:49,000 In this case, is that different on its commercial and residential? 299 00:26:53,500 --> 00:26:59,380 Commissioner Schmidt, so the, no, the narrow portion of the lot is still considered the front. 300 00:26:59,380 --> 00:27:06,480 So the dimensions of the lot, the most narrow width would be considered the front. 301 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:15,580 C1's a little different, where they have minimum and maximum setbacks for both the front and like the corner side. 302 00:27:16,340 --> 00:27:19,900 And the right, you're trying to pull the building to the corner then already. 303 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:23,720 So that's a little different in relationship to residential. 304 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:32,220 So there's that and you could have entrances off of both sides, really. 305 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:39,920 And there's, you know, regulations around what, you know, those entrances look like, too. 306 00:27:40,180 --> 00:27:43,140 But it could be both, or either or. 307 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:48,560 Okay, with that, do you have a resolution? 308 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:55,080 Do we have a motion to approve and we'll have discussion after, commissioner? 309 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:55,260 Sure. 310 00:27:55,760 --> 00:27:59,060 I'll move the resolution that staff has offered for approval. 311 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:00,120 Second. 312 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:00,820 Second. 313 00:28:01,580 --> 00:28:05,020 Um, discussion at this point. 314 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:07,720 Any other comments or questions? 315 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:10,680 Commissioner Schrer. 316 00:28:11,220 --> 00:28:11,860 Thank you, Chair. 317 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:20,800 As the mover, I think staff did a fine job of reviewing the criteria and it seems to fit 318 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:21,300 them well. 319 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:30,040 It fits them, I would say, at the moment, and it will fit them even better or will automatically 320 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:31,160 happen in the future. 321 00:28:33,030 --> 00:28:35,440 We don't know that absolutely, but it seems likely. 322 00:28:36,540 --> 00:28:39,640 So I'd like to support this application. 323 00:28:43,550 --> 00:28:44,270 Any other comments? 324 00:28:45,510 --> 00:28:53,250 One question I have for staff, because we don't know what will happen at that intersection. 325 00:28:57,970 --> 00:29:04,510 if the, however, it gets configured on Spring Street. 326 00:29:04,870 --> 00:29:12,610 If that were to prove to be so detrimental to the owner's plans, 327 00:29:15,250 --> 00:29:19,550 what could they do with the property if they chose, we don't, 328 00:29:19,750 --> 00:29:25,350 we'd rather make it more, put a duplex in or some other residential. 329 00:29:25,350 --> 00:29:26,270 So 330 00:29:29,500 --> 00:29:54,560 there is the existing duplex, my understanding on, based on preliminary discussions of the closure of spring street, is that a cul-de-sac would be sort of the most space-intensive solution to closing that street, providing turnaround space for fire trucks and snow plows. 331 00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:59,820 It would encroach significantly into the 332 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:04,120 Property owners' property due to the railroad right-of-way constraints. 333 00:30:06,660 --> 00:30:29,980 Because of that, the city would be in a position where they would have to purchase a portion at least of that property to make that happen. So it comes down to timing, timing of the closure of Springstreet and those improvements, timing of bringing things up. 334 00:30:29,980 --> 00:30:34,260 things, you know, forward to city council versus having a site plan approved, et cetera. 335 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:43,280 And so, yeah, we don't have clear direction from the railroad on that. 336 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:50,240 I can say that, you know, there is cause to advocate for a hammerhead turnaround, which 337 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:58,000 would require far less property acquisition and provide for more and still provide those 338 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:00,920 Those turn around elements necessary. 339 00:31:04,660 --> 00:31:10,360 I guess my question is, if not knowing what that will be, 340 00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:17,400 if say it is called a sack and encroaches, 341 00:31:18,740 --> 00:31:25,420 would the property owner need to come back if they decided, 342 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:28,640 well, no, this isn't going to work commercial, we want it to be residential. 343 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,380 What they need to rezone again? 344 00:31:33,990 --> 00:31:40,150 No, the existing residential is allowed and then multi-family residential is also allowed 345 00:31:40,150 --> 00:31:48,270 in C1 subject to certain, you know, again, certain design standards, et cetera, so generally 346 00:31:48,270 --> 00:31:54,530 commercial is considered more permissive of a zoning district than a residential district. 347 00:31:54,530 --> 00:32:00,750 So they would still have options as to what they could do with that property. 348 00:32:01,890 --> 00:32:02,870 Okay, thank you. 349 00:32:02,990 --> 00:32:07,870 I think that may clarify it for some of the people in the audience and watching online. 350 00:32:09,350 --> 00:32:12,810 Any other comments or questions or discussion? 351 00:32:13,850 --> 00:32:14,630 Commissioner Schroer. 352 00:32:15,430 --> 00:32:15,890 Thank you, Chair. 353 00:32:16,830 --> 00:32:22,950 I'd like to, I'd like all of us, if we can to respond to, if we, again, 354 00:32:22,950 --> 00:32:28,390 if we can to some of the citizen input. I appreciate citizen input. I want to try and respond 355 00:32:28,390 --> 00:32:34,510 to it if we can. I think some of the concerns that have been raised are legit. I think there 356 00:32:35,270 --> 00:32:45,630 can be addressed by staff as the plan as the owner develops plans and as staff figure out 357 00:32:45,630 --> 00:32:57,430 I had to apply the regulations, I hate to say it's premature to raise these concerns because I don't think it's ever entirely premature to raise concerns, but I think they can be addressed. 358 00:32:58,210 --> 00:33:04,670 So I don't want you to feel not heard, I think they're legit concerns, I think they can also be addressed. 359 00:33:07,410 --> 00:33:11,010 Thank you, well said, any other comments? 360 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:20,980 I'll call the question. All in favor of the resolution as before you please say aye. 361 00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:28,240 Aye. Aye. Opposed? Hearing none. Motion passes or resolution passes. 362 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:38,520 Do we have any reports or from any of the commissioners this time? Commissioner Holmes? 363 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:50,340 I will just report back from Council 1 if you've watched any of the meetings I've brought up the comprehensive plan on every item since we've had our last since November. 364 00:33:50,780 --> 00:33:54,620 So just in the spirit of making sure that we're returning back to that. 365 00:33:54,780 --> 00:33:59,180 And I also applaud staff too in terms of bringing that into the legislative memos. 366 00:33:59,180 --> 00:34:04,420 In this past, well our past meeting, not the work session that we had this week, but 367 00:34:05,540 --> 00:34:11,360 last week's meeting, we discussed board and commission changes to board and commission 368 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:21,380 both nominations, but also council involvement, and while council involvement has been reduced 369 00:34:21,380 --> 00:34:26,220 in several of the boards and commissions, we did pass that there would still be a council 370 00:34:27,180 --> 00:34:36,460 but as a liaison role, so a non-voting member to the planning commission which will begin in April with the new terms. 371 00:34:37,100 --> 00:34:52,780 So I just wanted to let you all know that there will still be a council representative, a non-voting member, but that we felt that it was important to have someone have that connection as we go through the zoning code, land development code and zoning changes. 372 00:34:52,780 --> 00:34:54,900 just so, that's all I have to report. 373 00:34:56,820 --> 00:35:00,580 You have, have they named that new representative yet or? 374 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:02,760 I think it will be named in April, maybe, 375 00:35:02,940 --> 00:35:06,300 but I'm hoping it's still me, 376 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:11,080 unless I do something to, to change that, so. 377 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:12,040 Okay, thank you. 378 00:35:15,460 --> 00:35:16,480 Staff updates. 379 00:35:19,260 --> 00:35:22,060 Thank you, Chair Coleman and planning commission. 380 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:25,300 Maybe before I jump into staff updates, 381 00:35:25,460 --> 00:35:27,920 I think you have all met Scott Wapita, 382 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:33,260 our new community development director, but I thought I would just give him that short introduction. 383 00:35:36,210 --> 00:35:37,210 Yeah, go ahead. 384 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:45,620 Thank you, Mrs. Schmidt. I'll just maybe take a moment to introduce myself a little 385 00:35:45,620 --> 00:35:52,840 bit about my background in the best of for maybe fortunate or unfortunate. Almost all of you know me 386 00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:59,920 considerably over many years, but I'll just share for those watching or recording. 387 00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:06,580 I've been a long time Northfield resident well over 20 years and have held a lot of roles 388 00:36:06,580 --> 00:36:07,160 in this town. 389 00:36:07,660 --> 00:36:14,160 It started off actually as a builder contractor up until the 2007-2008 housing crash. 390 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:20,800 I spent a lot of time in this town as a youth pastor for 11 years, a soccer coach for 13 391 00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:24,720 years and seven as a head coach at the Northfield High School for the boys team. 392 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:29,600 Many of you might know me as the executive director of the Northfield Union of Youth or 393 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:34,000 the key, and obviously most recently is the Executive Director for Community Action 394 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:40,020 Center, where typically we're known for, or we're known for kind of basic needs, human 395 00:36:40,020 --> 00:36:44,640 services work, my time there really spend in the community development. 396 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:51,240 And so, at a growing portfolio of work in Northfield and in Faribow, and to some extent throughout 397 00:36:51,240 --> 00:36:56,780 the state, mostly focus on housing, more specifically affordable housing and even more, more specifically 398 00:36:56,780 --> 00:37:03,840 around sustainable housing design and have had the chance to work with many of you in that capacity 399 00:37:03,840 --> 00:37:09,720 who are on our commission. So thanks for that time. I will, I do want to say from an introductory 400 00:37:09,720 --> 00:37:16,020 side that in contrast to my predecessor and in contrast to the two really intelligent professionals 401 00:37:16,020 --> 00:37:21,780 next to me, I do not have a history in city planning. This is not the area that I bring 402 00:37:21,780 --> 00:37:27,580 as, you know, a well-spring of experience, I do have a lot of experiences and a lot of things, 403 00:37:27,580 --> 00:37:32,600 and yet I have an opportunity to learn from some real expertise and long tenured staff here 404 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:38,980 at the city of Northfield. And so one thing you may not know about me though, and while similar, 405 00:37:39,180 --> 00:37:43,180 and yet different, I did spend eight years actually working for Travelers Insurance, which used to be 406 00:37:43,180 --> 00:37:50,400 Saint Paul companies, where I navigated policy, insurance policy, the state, kind of from the state, 407 00:37:50,400 --> 00:38:11,120 from kind of the private sector in terms of actually working with cities on applying really complex coverage scenarios and coverage analysis, and there's been a lot of time both drafting letters and working through legal ease around how different kind of insurance policies have applied in really high severity claims and high publicity claims all relating back to to some extent code language. 408 00:38:11,700 --> 00:38:20,380 And so while different, it's been really fun to kind of have a nostalgic throwback sitting with my colleagues and hearing some of the challenges they're experiencing. 409 00:38:20,380 --> 00:38:25,220 and so I just want to say I'm really excited and honored to take this role. 410 00:38:25,940 --> 00:38:30,680 It's an honor to just have your trust and stepping in to this new role, 411 00:38:30,860 --> 00:38:32,560 and to continue serving the community of Northfield. 412 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:37,820 I'll yield to the staff for the rest of the report, but just want to express my gratitude for this opportunity. 413 00:38:38,360 --> 00:38:38,620 Thank you. 414 00:38:39,060 --> 00:38:41,720 Thank you, and we look forward to working with you. 415 00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:45,140 Great. 416 00:38:45,540 --> 00:38:49,340 Next on my updates are just the zoning code update and redesign. 417 00:38:49,340 --> 00:38:59,660 So, Halzee Levine was, the contract was approved by Council January 6th and we are having our first kickoff meeting staff and the consultant tomorrow. 418 00:38:59,940 --> 00:39:03,920 So, we're looking forward to getting things rolled out and getting started. 419 00:39:04,620 --> 00:39:10,860 And we were, we hope to then have you all meet them soon, potentially in February. 420 00:39:10,860 --> 00:39:12,660 So, we'll see how schedules lay out. 421 00:39:16,380 --> 00:39:25,620 I guess I wanted to touch base two on park and trail dedication fees from last month. 422 00:39:26,460 --> 00:39:35,160 We tried to start the conversation last month and then chair and vice chair and myself 423 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:41,760 met as we do to kind of do our pre agenda review and discuss this a bit further. 424 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:50,340 So I'm just trying to pull together the loose ends a little bit more, get some more information and come back to you again in February. 425 00:39:51,780 --> 00:39:59,140 The plan was potentially to have the public hearing then, but I think that we need a little more time to talk about it before we do that. 426 00:39:59,740 --> 00:40:07,560 Or we certainly could and then you would, you know, delay a recommendation, but I don't think that that's necessarily the most productive way to approach it. 427 00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:14,740 So keeping that in mind, I think we're going to reiterate and try to explain better, 428 00:40:14,940 --> 00:40:19,560 kind of the why we're asking for the increase to the park dedication. 429 00:40:21,980 --> 00:40:25,660 And then tonight, too, just to talk 430 00:40:28,090 --> 00:40:33,710 about little, reiterate what we heard from December, right? 431 00:40:33,710 --> 00:40:43,550 So, I tried to lead that into written form in my staff report of, you know, we want to keep 432 00:40:43,550 --> 00:40:49,230 cost low for affordable units. You know, that that's important keeping cost low for overall 433 00:40:49,230 --> 00:40:56,990 development is important, weighing out design over fees and other, you know, like there's always a 434 00:40:56,990 --> 00:41:02,530 pros and cons or cost and benefit to weighing out different options, right? So how are we going to do 435 00:41:02,530 --> 00:41:12,690 that and seeing some real-life examples of Northfield using comparable cities and just providing 436 00:41:12,690 --> 00:41:17,870 a little more context about how we kind of fall into those mix that mix of cities and size 437 00:41:19,550 --> 00:41:25,670 but also knowing like no other city is Northfield right and so that's the danger of adding 438 00:41:25,670 --> 00:41:32,350 Comparable to is that nobody is comparable in that sense, but we're going to give it a 439 00:41:32,350 --> 00:41:39,390 try just in terms to talk through the relevant costs that cities are charging to developers 440 00:41:39,390 --> 00:41:42,110 for their park dedication fees. 441 00:41:44,810 --> 00:41:50,150 I do have a draft sort of spreadsheet that I could have 442 00:41:50,750 --> 00:41:58,810 We could pull up here and talk about, but really it's just a matrix to show on the left-hand side we would say, 443 00:41:59,210 --> 00:42:05,210 here's residential examples, commercial and industrial examples, and do real-life examples of those in Northfield, 444 00:42:05,350 --> 00:42:09,410 of ones that we've completed and that are future coming. 445 00:42:10,350 --> 00:42:19,230 And then on the top side of the chart lists out, here's what our park dedication fees are right now in Northfield 446 00:42:19,230 --> 00:42:21,410 and what that looks like for those real-life examples. 447 00:42:22,410 --> 00:42:28,790 The other things we looked at were, you know, from last time, 2500 was kind of the mark 448 00:42:30,170 --> 00:42:36,570 that staff was proposing, so if we did an example of a thousand per unit and a percentage 449 00:42:36,570 --> 00:42:43,030 for commercial and industrial, 2500 per residential unit and a percentage for commercial industrial. 450 00:42:43,030 --> 00:42:51,350 So if we did a percentage kind of low starting or then you could do percentages again because 451 00:42:51,350 --> 00:42:59,110 the right there's four or five different ways you can sort of slice this and offer ways 452 00:42:59,110 --> 00:43:05,530 you can do it and then do a percentage where it's higher for lower residential and then 453 00:43:05,530 --> 00:43:11,450 it's a sliding scale where it gets the percentage is smaller if it's higher density residential 454 00:43:11,450 --> 00:43:17,330 So you give those higher density a break or is this a percentage across the board? 455 00:43:18,010 --> 00:43:22,790 So that was where I was going to start with that chart to sort of give everybody 456 00:43:22,790 --> 00:43:33,610 and a range of view. Will, I feel like you're not excited about this. Got any feedback for me right 457 00:43:33,610 --> 00:43:33,830 away? 458 00:43:37,350 --> 00:43:40,910 Thanks. Well, I was hoping this would be an agenda item and not a staff update 459 00:43:40,910 --> 00:43:47,070 So that we could have this discussion, because staff updates don't allow for this conversation. 460 00:43:48,310 --> 00:43:50,410 Well, I'm discussing it. 461 00:43:50,530 --> 00:43:52,210 I'm trying to discuss it right now. 462 00:43:52,590 --> 00:43:53,510 I appreciate it. 463 00:43:53,530 --> 00:43:54,570 To do that. 464 00:43:55,050 --> 00:43:59,310 And I apologize that I did not have time to make it a formal item. 465 00:44:00,090 --> 00:44:05,110 And I'm also trying to, right, 466 00:44:07,470 --> 00:44:11,830 yeah, it will be a staff item coming up. 467 00:44:11,830 --> 00:44:18,530 I didn't have time to do it this month and I'm working on trying I'm trying to I'm trying 468 00:44:18,530 --> 00:44:20,750 Okay, I appreciate that. Can I 469 00:44:21,230 --> 00:44:27,790 Did appropriate that we can talk about it? No, that's why I'm bringing it up. I appreciate that so I I think there's 470 00:44:28,590 --> 00:44:29,150 there 471 00:44:30,510 --> 00:44:32,690 The consultant who's not here today 472 00:44:34,250 --> 00:44:40,450 Offered an incredibly wide variety of ways that cities have approached this in the past 473 00:44:41,410 --> 00:44:44,610 and you've just ticked through a number of considerations. 474 00:44:45,830 --> 00:44:48,510 I would find it for myself incredibly helpful. 475 00:44:48,750 --> 00:44:51,110 I would like to suggest it to be helpful for all of us 476 00:44:51,110 --> 00:44:54,290 if we could kind of develop some categories 477 00:44:55,590 --> 00:44:59,730 and start with what staff think the right mechanism is. 478 00:45:00,050 --> 00:45:29,270 And separate the mechanism from the amount. So if it's a flat fee, there are pros and cons to that. If it's a sliding fee, there are pros and cons to that. The consultant had a, we had a little email conversation with the chair and I and the consultant's like, well, we can always wave it, you know, for low income, right? And one of the responses was, that is a very ad hoc approach. Why don't we just make policy? 479 00:45:30,030 --> 00:45:35,910 below this, don't pay the fee above it, and City Council can always change that, right? 480 00:45:36,010 --> 00:45:40,590 But let's make policy, that's our assignment, is to make policy and not to say City Council 481 00:45:40,590 --> 00:45:43,090 can waive it at some point in the future if they feel like it. 482 00:45:43,730 --> 00:45:46,850 That's abdicating our policy, our job, in my view. 483 00:45:47,730 --> 00:45:56,170 So I would like to see staff recommend mechanism, and then after that, then we set the fees 484 00:45:56,610 --> 00:45:57,710 within that mechanism. 485 00:45:57,710 --> 00:46:04,230 So we start here, if you're, you know, for these considerations, it's this much, if 486 00:46:04,230 --> 00:46:07,850 you meet these considerations, it's less, but let's start with the mechanism. 487 00:46:08,110 --> 00:46:08,590 Can we do that? 488 00:46:09,850 --> 00:46:17,150 Chair Coleman and Commissioner Schroer, I understand sort of why that would be helpful to break 489 00:46:17,150 --> 00:46:22,450 it out, but because they're connected, I don't think we can break them out, because they 490 00:46:22,450 --> 00:46:29,410 in one influence is the cost. So I don't think that's the solution. We have to look at them 491 00:46:29,410 --> 00:46:35,050 holistically together and decide which bucket it's going to fall into. 492 00:46:37,970 --> 00:46:42,190 And I understand that's what you're trying to put a matrix together. 493 00:46:42,590 --> 00:46:45,770 Correct. Yep. So we can see some live. 494 00:46:46,570 --> 00:46:51,090 Right. To see how damn full. Right. Because you could say, oh, we want a sliding scale. 495 00:46:51,090 --> 00:46:55,070 But if you don't see the numbers associated with that, you could be, oh, that's actually 496 00:46:55,070 --> 00:46:55,770 too much money. 497 00:46:55,890 --> 00:46:58,750 We think we're putting a too much burden on the developer, right? 498 00:46:59,370 --> 00:47:05,730 So that's what I was hoping to show with a spreadsheet that would show all of the options 499 00:47:05,730 --> 00:47:09,670 and then talk about the pros and cons of each of those options. 500 00:47:10,410 --> 00:47:16,370 And that's, and that's gets into decision-making framework, right? 501 00:47:16,370 --> 00:47:22,950 And that's where I was going to lean in on to the comprehensive plan and lean into those questions and 502 00:47:23,530 --> 00:47:27,890 matrices in there to say how this is supporting these 503 00:47:28,790 --> 00:47:31,330 These framework questions or not 504 00:47:32,350 --> 00:47:41,590 And that is what when we were emailing and discussing it you asked me to you know say what we heard at the December meeting 505 00:47:41,590 --> 00:47:43,670 I feel that I've reiterated that. 506 00:47:44,090 --> 00:47:49,870 I have described the options that I hope to bring forward in February. 507 00:47:50,810 --> 00:47:55,490 And I've described how to propose to evaluate each of those options using the decision making 508 00:47:55,490 --> 00:47:57,830 framework from the comprehensive plan. 509 00:47:58,850 --> 00:48:05,310 Now I don't have those all sorted out and delineated yet because of the time constraint associated 510 00:48:05,310 --> 00:48:05,870 with that. 511 00:48:05,870 --> 00:48:10,350 and I brought it for tonight, so we could all discuss it. 512 00:48:10,510 --> 00:48:14,590 It's not in its own staff report, but it is able to be discussed. 513 00:48:15,940 --> 00:48:18,330 And I appreciate your feedback on that. 514 00:48:23,420 --> 00:48:26,170 Any other comments from that last meeting? 515 00:48:26,730 --> 00:48:30,630 The one thing that would be helpful for me, if it's not, 516 00:48:30,950 --> 00:48:34,830 if it's even available or not too difficult, 517 00:48:34,830 --> 00:48:43,810 So I don't know how much we have been as city getting over the last five, ten years. 518 00:48:44,530 --> 00:48:50,310 Just some context around how much money we're talking about here would be helpful. 519 00:48:50,490 --> 00:48:52,370 We can certainly pull that information. 520 00:48:53,190 --> 00:48:58,550 I was thinking of going back from, you know, 2011, then the code was last updated and it's 521 00:48:58,550 --> 00:49:02,690 a matter of just going through all the development agreements and we have some interns that can 522 00:49:02,690 --> 00:49:03,110 help us. 523 00:49:03,110 --> 00:49:11,070 Okay. Go. Perfect use of it. Yes. Thank you. Yes. There were some other questions too that we had been. 524 00:49:12,430 --> 00:49:21,130 You know, going back and forth on kind of state statute waivers to fees. We do have an exemption already as a waiver in our code. 525 00:49:21,790 --> 00:49:29,990 So it we need to look at that and see if we would even include, you know, the wording for affordable housing like. 526 00:49:29,990 --> 00:49:39,130 But typically when you have a project that's already kind of in that affordable range, 527 00:49:39,430 --> 00:49:45,150 they're asking for other financial tools from the city, right? 528 00:49:45,330 --> 00:49:50,030 They're looking at tax abatement, they're looking at TIFF, they're right. 529 00:49:50,210 --> 00:49:56,030 So there's other mechanisms there that would also help pay for that, 530 00:49:56,030 --> 00:50:04,080 that at the overall cost of the development and thought there, but now it's escaped me. 531 00:50:05,040 --> 00:50:10,040 We do offer reductions for like sewer and water availability charges for affordable 532 00:50:10,040 --> 00:50:17,380 units and I want to say there's another exemption there too to help with those costs. 533 00:50:17,620 --> 00:50:22,540 So some of those are already baked into this, which I'll be sure to highlight next month. 534 00:50:27,600 --> 00:50:28,260 Thank you. 535 00:50:28,260 --> 00:50:28,320 Thank you. 536 00:50:29,240 --> 00:50:32,160 Did you have anything else on your report? 537 00:50:41,300 --> 00:50:47,840 Nothing really new on the arch—well, I guess the archer project, City Administrator 538 00:50:47,840 --> 00:50:54,980 Ben Marteg is moving ahead with extending the TIFF agreement for that property. 539 00:50:56,520 --> 00:51:01,080 So that's just kind of coming up on the agenda for Council to consider. 540 00:51:03,020 --> 00:51:05,920 We are still working through with their financial security. 541 00:51:06,480 --> 00:51:09,840 Hopefully we are wrapping that up in the next month or so. 542 00:51:11,980 --> 00:51:19,120 And then staff is still working with post and getting the contract finalized. 543 00:51:19,260 --> 00:51:23,600 And I'm not sure actually on the total status of that I know there's been back and forth. 544 00:51:25,480 --> 00:51:26,900 And that is all I have. 545 00:51:27,160 --> 00:51:27,460 Thank you. 546 00:51:30,370 --> 00:51:32,330 Anything else from anyone? 547 00:51:32,330 --> 00:51:42,710 commission homes. I have recently found out that it's Mathias' birth date today. So just wanted to 548 00:51:43,800 --> 00:51:49,750 go on the record for all of us to wish him a happy birthday. There is no singing 549 00:51:50,780 --> 00:51:52,450 commission meetings however. 550 00:51:55,820 --> 00:52:00,740 We all share the greetings. Yeah, it's in there somewhere. 551 00:52:03,240 --> 00:52:03,680 There's always 552 00:52:03,680 --> 00:52:04,280 the first time. 553 00:52:09,000 --> 00:52:13,700 If there's no further business coming for the group do we have a 554 00:52:13,700 --> 00:52:23,600 motion to adjourn? So moved. All in favor please say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Stand adjourned. Thank you all. 555 00:52:24,680 --> 00:52:28,780 Happy birthday. Put me down as a second on that if you want if you need a second. 556 00:52:30,800 --> 00:52:32,760 I was like, I had it, I was like, say, yeah.