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Special HRA Minutes Page 2 June 30,2003 • 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 4-0.04. 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 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 III 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