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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 13, 1999 0 0 r-'\ CITY of ANDOVER v 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.w. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 . (612) 755-5100 Economic Development Authority Meeting - Tuesday, July 13, 1999 ¡ Call to Order - 7: 00 PM Approval of Minutes 1. Discussion of Andover Station 2. Approve Plans & Specs/98-11A/Jay Street NW/Landscaping 3. Other Business Adjournment ,,' 0 ! I I 0 0 0 C) CITY of ANDOVER ANDOVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING JULY 13, 1999 - MINUTES A Meeting of the Andover Economic Development Authority was called to order by Mayor Jack McKelvey on July 13, 1999, 7:03 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. . Present: Councilmembers Don Jacobson, Julie Johnson, Mike Knight, Ken Orttel; Resident members Bill Hupp and Robert Nowak Absent: None Also present: Community Development Director, Dave Carlberg City Administrator, Richard Fursman Others APPROVE PLANS AND SPECSIIP98-11A/JAY STREET NWILANDSCAPING 0 Mr. Carlberg noted the plans and specs were approved by the City Council at their July 6 meeting. Motion by Orttel, Seconded by Jacobson, to so move. (Resolution EDA-006-99 approving final plans and specifications and ordering advertisement for bid for Project 98-11A for Jay Street NW landscaping improvements) Motion carried unanimously. DISCUSSION OF ANDOVER STATION Rick Collins, Rebecca Yanisch and Randy Danielson represented Ryan Companies US, Inc., and Michael Lander represented Town Planning Collaborative. They discussed uses on the Andover Station site with the EDA, after which they will develop a final site plan, determine pricing, etc. Ms. Yanisch explained they have done partnering when doing redevelopment projects where a professional facilitator is used to discuss and brainstorm different views and ideas in a noncontroversial way. It helps them think outside the box, and she suggested the EDA consider a partnering session. Mr. Lander presented the concept of a town center approach to this development. It is a concept that is used to develop a distinctive focal point for the community that does not have a traditional down town. He then presented slide images of uses, including retail centers and office buildings as well as noncommercial and public aspects of lakes, streets, trails and multifamily housing units. In Ü Andover Station the lake with public frontage and a trail system would be a focal point. Another concept is to provide greens as public places with the buildings around them. They will also work with the stand of trees on the site. Other kinds of noncommercial uses to consider may be a library, 0 0 C) Andover Economic Development Authority Meeting Minutes - July 13, 1999 Page 2 (Discussion of Andover Station, Continued) post office or community center. Parallel or angled parking on the streets can be used instead of having large parking lots. In town planning, most neighborhoods can sustain a variety of different uses. A church may be a good use, possibly on the corner of Martin and Commercial Boulevard. It is a good use to share parking facilities because its needs are at different hours than commercial, plus it also draws people to the center at other times of the day. The idea is to have a variety of uses to have activity during as many hours as possible. Mr. Lander pointed out that nationally only 25 percent of households are the traditional family of husband, wife and children. There is an increasing demand for alternative housing types. He thought it makes sense to provide higher density housing in the downtown center. Any housing in the center would have to be very well designed and organized to support the activities in the center. A suggestion is to provide density housing in the small area south of Commercial Boulevard. The intent would be to get as much mass early in the phasing, within the first 18 to 24 months to create a sense of place. 0 The EDA had a concern with including housing in the commercial area, especially since Andover has such a limited amount of commercial property available. Mr. Lander explained in town I planning, one thinks of not only office and retail, but town center activities such as a church, library I and post office. He showed slides of housing across the street from retail in other developments to indicate density housing could fit nicely in the downtown center. This might be one place to consider locating the population that is less mobile where they could come to socialize and access those services without using their car. It could be the senior population or the young wanting to remain in the community. Councilmember Jacobson asked if they would consider apartments above the first floor of the retail buildings instead of constructing three-story apartment buildings. Mr. Lander stated there is a new wave of mixed use buildings, but it is difficult to do because the development industry has demanded the two uses be segregated. It is more difficult to develop and finance. Mr. Collins stated they are not focused on a particular age. The objective is to understand why density housing is something to consider. Ryan would team partner with someone for housing if that is something the EDA felt is desirable. In developing Andover Station, the lowest risk would be the standard retail strip mall, but that is not what they understand the City wants. When looking at other risks, there is no office market in Andover or any of the surrounding communities. When thinking of Andover as 95 percent residential today in terms ofland area usage, the 40-acre Andover Station is large if they focus strictly on office and retail. They look at this as an opportunity to tie in the reconstruction of Bunker Lake Boulevard with the trail system and focus around the "lake", 0 which is why they hope to create as opposed to a storm sewer pond. They are trying to create a 16- hour day use in the center as opposed to the eight- or nine-hour, 8 to 5 work day. That is why they are asking the City to look at some clustered density housing that would not impact the single family residential areas. In addition, they want to create a nice public common area which then needs to 0 0 , Andover Economic Development Authority Meeting ; 0 Minutes - July 13, 1999 Page 3 (Discussion of Andover Station, Continued) be maintained. Because they don't want all retail and can't use all office, the multiple housing could be used to increase the density on the site and to help maintain the facility. They are also looking at what uses would share parking, which is why a church is being suggested. Restaurants also provide opportunities for shared parking. They also talked about a health club potentially across from the theater because they are busiest before 8 a.m. and over the lunch hour but not at 10 a.m., so there would be another shared parking opportunity. He didn't know how long it would take to develop only as office, but mixed uses will help with the density, with the accelerated use and amortization of the site and for payment of the maintenance along the way. It is the retail and not the multiple housing that is the driving force of the project. Mayor McKelvey stated the county has just begun constructing a major library facility just outside the City and will be closing its Andover branch. The post office has just built a facility across from the City Hall, so it is unlikely that either one of those uses would be available for Andover Station. Councilmember Knight liked the idea of a boardwalk along the pond and back decks and porches of some buildings on it. He liked the concept of green spaces similar to Centennial Lakes. 0 Mr. Collins agreed, the challenge is Centennial Lakes had a lot of footage to amortize the costs. He showed a proposed sketch of use buildings around green spaces accommodating walking public areas within Andover Station. The problem is convincing retail businesses that double frontage buildings are beneficial. They see this as retail being the focus of the center servicing a three-four mile radius with a grocery store anchor. There would be about 125,000 square feet or less collectively to serve the needs of the people, which could include family restaurants, a bakery, bagel shop, coffee shop, books, videos, gifts and crafts, copying, shopping, florists, and possibly a liquor store. Councilmember Orttel noted the intent is that this area would not be for the box stores, but the housing issue needs to be resolved. Last week the Council turned down density housing adjacent to this parcel at 3'li units per acre plus moved to disallow two-family homes in the single family home area. The residents tell the Council they do not want multiple family housing. It has nothing to do with income but with the lack of mass transit and with the impact on the schools. Also, the ! property is paid for, so there is no big hurry in seeing it fully developed. The problem the City has is once multiple housing is allowed, it will have to allow it everywhere. Ms. Yanisch noted more than half of the households today do not have children. She reviewed the success of similar housing in Minneapolis and those wanting that type of housing. She understood that Andover has only a small portion of property zoned commercial and the introduction of housing seems to be cheating that small opportunity. If housing is introduced as a buffer, a town center can be created with many different opportunities. The goal is to have people working in these buildings. 0 Housing would be provided for the young professionals as well as the elderly. Neither group impacts the schools. She also had several sketches of multifamily units indicating the architecture and construction is significantly different than in the past. The housing doesn't drive the development, but it will help the density and the 16-hour per day use of the area. 0 0 ,.- ~'\ Andover Economic Development Authority Meeting I Minutes - July 13, 1999 .'--.J Page 4 (Discussion of Andover Station, Continued) ¡ Mr. Landero pointed out if the City wants to provide a range of housing, the downtown focal part of the community could be a good place for it. Councilmember Jacobson stated he does not want to see Andover become another Coon Rapids with high density. Andover has unique characteristics, and people more here because of the openness and larger lots. He was negative coming into this, but he would like to be shown more before making up his mind. Councilmember Orttel noted the City has an abundance of housing in the $100,000 range, so affording housing is not the issue. The issue , I is density, and the people do not want high density. It will be a major change for Andover if high i I density housing is allowed to happen. There is no unmet need in the community itself The pressure is from relators and people from outside who want to come into Andover. Mr. Hupp felt a high quality density housing in Andover Station would be a unique situation, feeling there will be a point where the City will be pushed into density housing anyway. Councilmember Knight and Mayor McKelvey both stated the feedback from the residents is they do not want multiple housing. The Mayor noted that the young are remaining in the City because there are single family homes that they can afford. i I I The EDA noted the site plan indicates about half of the site would be parking lot. Mr. Lander ! r', I U explained office and retail need a 5-to-1,000 square feet parking ratio to survive. One of the driving forces behind the idea of mixing units is for shared parking to reduce the amount of parking spaces needed. A church allows the sharing of parking, sharing of economics and creates synergy. It provides multiple reasons to visit, experience and come back. The layout allows for additional buildings if needed in the future where a ramp for shared parking between three buildings could be accommodated. I (Mr. Hupp left the meeting at 8:42 p.m.) Mr. Collins also point out economically ramp parking is too costly, but they are leaving the opportunity open for the future if needed. He also pointed out that it to the City's advantage to place the church on one-half acre in this area with shared parking than to place it in the single family area where it needs 7 to 10 acres to accommodate parking. Councilmember Orttel felt the church is a i i great idea because they do so much more for the community. i , Mr. Lander felt multiple housing would be attractive here, and a variety of uses would provide something for everyone in the family to do. He encouraged the EDA to brain storm about other noncommercial uses that might be appropriate in there. In this project they are aspiring to creating a public area around the lake where people would want to hold their weddings or have family reunions. Councilmember Knight liked the idea of a fitness center. 0 Mr. Collins stated the one building shown on the lake was an idea to provide an opportunity for the community to have a meeting space, a small community center. The City would need to do the scheduling ofthat facility. At the moment, however, they do not know enough about whether the pond will simply function as storm water retention or if it can be developed into a lake. They are 0 (J --. , Andover Economic Development Authority Meeting ) Minutes - July 13, 1999 ,,_./ Page 5 (Discussion of Andover Station, Continued) looking at the lake with a public area along it and businesses backing onto that public area. The EDA liked the idea of a small community center. Mr. Collins then stated they will continue to work with Mr. Pursman and Mr. Carlberg and come back to the EDA with other ideas and suggestions in their pursuit of arriving at a final plan. They would like further input from the EDA on uses other than retail and office, especially something that would share parking. Motion by Jacobson, Seconded by Johnson, to adjourn. Motion carried on a 6- Yes, I-Absent (Hupp) vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m. I ! ! ! Respectfully submitted, i (~ '.. i , ' n~l,,"~(,c c~L .'"~~ Marcella A. Peach Recording Secretary ,"- '--J