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Housing & Redevelopment Authority <br />July 5, 2005 <br />Page 2 <br />Const~zaction Plans/Designs <br />Ms. Mehelich indicated that following the Council's approval of the construction plans and <br />the HRA's subsequent comment on the plans, several Councilmembers received feedback <br />regarding the design of the proposed projects, especially the Bluffs of Elk River. Ms. <br />Mehelich explained that the approval of the construction plans is only a requirement of the <br />Development Agreement and relates only to the conformance with the TIF program and <br />conditions of the Development Agreement and does not constitute review and approvals <br />required by local ordinances. Ms. Mehelich indicated that the Council held a special meeting <br />with MetroPlains on June 27 to discuss the construction plans. She stated that Council <br />directed staff that the HRA review and comment on the designs and any other issues related <br />to the project prior to the issue coming before the Council. She noted that the Council has <br />requested the HRA's attendance at a follow-up meeting with MetroPlains on July 11, 2005 <br />so it is recommended that the HRA call a special meeting for that purpose. <br />Chair Wilson stated that he would like the HRA to receive the plans ahead of time for <br />review prior to the July 11, 2005 Council meeting. Ms. Mehelich indicated that the plans will <br />be available in time to be included in the meeting packet for the July 11 meeting. <br />Ms. Mehelich questioned if the Commissioners had any comments in regards to the revised <br />elevation sketches that MetroPlains presented. <br />Conuzussioner Toth indicated that the drawings presented still do not look like the original <br />drawings submitted by MetroPlains. He stated that the turret's design is very modern and he <br />doesn't believe that it will fit in with the downtown. <br />Chair Wilson stated that increasing the size/height of the turret was discussed at the June 27 <br />Council meeting. He stated that in the original drawings, it appeared to be higher than the <br />rest of the building but MetroPlains indicated that it was a perception that the turret was <br />higher and that it was actually level. Chair Wilson indicated that the Council expressed <br />interest in seeing the turret be higher than the rest of the building. <br />Commissioner Kuester indicated that she believes the building has too long of a look. She <br />questioned how the designs fit into the downtown design ordinance. Ms. Mehelich indicated <br />that according to the Planning Department the designs met the downtown design standards. <br />The ordinance includes standards for requirements to be met and guidelines which are <br />suggested design elements. Ms. Mehelich also indicated that the Director of Planning stated <br />the designs did not meet all of the downtown design guidelines and the two <br />recommendations that were made were 1) in regards to more of a breakup in the mid-section <br />and 2) change of the height and elevations along the width of the building. Commissioner <br />Motin noted that the developer indicated that changing the height and elevations along the <br />width of the building is not feasible as it would not be functional to provide elevator access <br />between the different levels. <br />Chair Wilson indicated that MetroPlains has stated that the original drawings they submitted <br />were cartoon drawings and that they cannot build cartoon drawings and have them be <br />functional. He stated that the attractiveness that was present in the original drawings is gone <br />in the current drawings. <br />Commissioner Motin stated that he did not expect the buildings to look like the cartoon <br />drawings as they were just done to create a feel for what downtown could look like. He also <br />stated that he did not expect the buildings to look like they were built like the original <br />downtown buildings and that the buildings were meant to compliment the downtown and <br />