11-28-2000 PC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning Commission Minutes November 28. 2000 Page 7 . Concept 2 was a proposal for residential intensification and mixed use including high and medium density residential development. High density residential development included apartments and condos at approximately 30 units per acre, with medium density development defined as 8-12 units per acre. Mr. Scheib stated that good design can alleviate or even eliminate traditional concerns regarding apartments of crime, graffiti and other unsafe conditions. The third concept presented by Mr. Scheib was that of the transit village which included a balanced mix of commercial, business park and housing. He again stressed the need for good pedestrian connections. Commission Baker stated that he would like to make the depot site successful by incorporating transit-oriented design into the development. Commissioner Pederson stated that he would like to see the City pursue affordable housing for this site. He defined affordable housing as that level of housing which could be afforded by persons making $10 to $12 per hour. He stated that there is a group working with the legislature to mandate that in certain size subdivisions, 15% of the housing units would be considered affordable. He stated he liked Concept 3. Commissioner Chambers stated that he liked the buildings fronting the street with the de-emphasis on parking lots. . Commissioner Schuster stated that the development should not create ridership and that the train should have adequate ridership on its own merits. He stated that the City should not force development in one direction or another. Commissioner Kuester stated she preferred Alternatives 1 and 3 as presented by Mr. Scheib. She stated that she agreed with the need for affordable housing within the community. Commissioner Kuester stated that she would like to review this site in the larger city-wide context in order to evaluate whether the site should be all business park or if there should be some mix of uses. Ms. McPherson reviewed the need to update the Comprehensive Plan to address transit-oriented development and to guide this site appropriately for future development. She stated that at a minimum, this area needs to be brought into the urban service district in order to support higher density uses with municipal utilities. Chair Mesich stated that he would like to draw workers to the City, although he felt that this area would be a good place for higher density successful residential development. He stated that it was important to provide affordable housing that was well-designed and that residents could be proud to live in. . The Commission reviewed a presentation by John Peterson, Oakwood Development and Mark Putnam, of Putnam Design. for the Eull property. Mr. Peterson stated that his development group was under contract to purchase the remainder of the Eull property surrounding the Northstar Corridor depot site. He stated that the group is interested in a mixed use development (commercial, office and residential), but would not be interested in doing an all-industrial development.