City Council Workshop

SPECIAL WORKSHOP OAKDALE CITY COUNCIL August 17, 2021 The City Council held a workshop on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at the Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale, Minnesota. The meeting began at 5:15 PM. Present: Mayor Paul Reinke Council Members: Jake Ingebrigtson Susan Olson Colleen Swedberg Kevin Zabel Absent: None. Also Present: Christina Volkers, City Administrator Jim Thomson, City Attorney Susan Barry, City Clerk Nick Newton, Police Captain Emily Shively, City Planner GREENWAY STATION BUS RAPID TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT City Administrator Volkers explained that the purpose of the special workshop was to review a proposal to rezone a 2.5 acre parcel to allow for the construction of multi-family housing along Hudson Boulevard in the Greenway Station Bus Rapid Transit Oriented Development (BRTOD) area. She noted that an open house was being contemplated to review the project with the property owners in the area due to the negative comments on social media. Mayor Reinke added that the property owner, United Rental, would like the parcel rezoned and redeveloped. City Planner Shively noted that residential and business owners who attended the August 5 Planning Commission meeting expressed concerns with the proposed land use changes. She further noted the city’s role is circulation and sidewalks and trails. City Planner Shively commented on plans to add a trail/sidewalk on the west side of Greenway Avenue to address a missing connection in that location and answered questions from the City Council on the trail/sidewalk width, location, distance from homes, and on-street parking. Council Members Ingebrigtson and Olson expressed concerns with adding a trail/sidewalk to that section of Greenway Avenue as property owners would perceive a loss of property and also loss of parking area on driveways. City Planner Shively explained that the trail/sidewalk would be placed on public right-of-way. Council Member Ingebrigtson asked that trees not be planted in the boulevard area as they could potentially damage the trail/sidewalk over time. Workshop August 17, 2021 Page Two City Administrator Volkers noted that rights-of-way could be one of the items discussed at the open house. Mayor Reinke suggested the City Council look at other areas in the city where trails/sidewalks have been added in established neighborhoods, such as Helmo Avenue in Olson Lake Estates and along 7th Street. In response to questions from the City Council, City Planner Shively explained that an eight-foot wide trail would be consistent with other trails on Greenway and added that best practices for trails/sidewalks is to provide adequate space between the curb and walkway, especially for snow storage from plowing operations. She also explained that the project engineers would coordinate paving materials transitions of the trail/sidewalk and existing driveways/private sidewalks. City Planner Shively indicated that staff was working with the owners of Harley Davidson on changes that will be needed to the configuration of their parking lot. She explained that early approvals from the City of Landfall allowed the building to be situated in close proximity to Oakdale’s right-of-way and believed that the intent was to have on-street for the building but it became a parking lot. In discussing the proposed multi-family housing, City Planner Shively explained that should the site be rezoned, a four acre site and the adjacent 2.5 acre parcel would need to be assembled, which takes time. She also noted that multi-housing would not adversely affect property values and does not always equate to low income. City Planner Shively offered the following options to the City Council: • Do not rezone the property. • Allow only current uses. • Stipulate allowed uses in new Planned Unit Development. • New commercial uses to follow the BRTOD plans: buildings set closer to roadway with parking in back. City Attorney Thomson added that having specific language included in the code to address what the City Council wants in that area would be preferred over not rezoning the site. City Planner Shively reviewed the process: • Wait to rezone four existing businesses, but rezone one remaining. • Identify preferred uses. • Get everything into place for the five parcels. • Apply standards to the one parcel at this time, to the other four in the near future. In response to a question from Council Member Olson, City Planner Shively explained that United Rental may continue to operate their current business but any changes or expansions would need to conform to city code. Workshop August 17, 2021 Page Three Mayor Reinke supported reguiding/rezoning the 2.5 acre parcel owned by United Rental and beginning to work with the other property owners in that location. Council Member Zabel supported the request based on the variety of land use options available. Council Members Ingebrigtson and Swedberg supported the request. City Planner Shively described the buffer (distance and elevation) between the subject property and the adjacent residential properties. City Administrator Volkers noted that the county assessor would be at the open house to answer property value questions. Police Captain Newton explained that there is no data to show that crime radiates from more densely populated areas or transit lines. He provided statistics for some multi-family areas in the city. City Administrator Volkers recommended also having police personnel at the open house to be available to answer questions. She added that county personnel would be at the open house to talk about the Gold Line transit station. In response to a question from Council Member Ingebrigtson, City Planner Shively noted that the owners of the Regan property, south of 4th Street, were looking at industrial uses. Mayor Reinke commented on the importance of holding an open house. Council Member Olson noted that she would not want a trail put in her yard if she lived on Greenway. City Planner Shively reiterated Mayor Reinke’s suggestion that the city council look at other areas in the city where trails/sidewalks have been added in established neighborhoods, such as Helmo Avenue in Olson Lake Estates and along 7th Street. In response to a question from Council Member Swedberg, City Administrator Volkers indicated that she would respond to letters received from the public. Council Member Swedberg asked that the City Council be copied on the responses. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:14 PM. Respectfully submitted, Susan Barry, City Clerk