040996 CC WS Min
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CITY OF SHOREWOOD
COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION
WORK SESSION
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1996
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
7:00 PM
MINUTES
WORK SESSION
1. CONVENE
Mayor Bean opened the meeting at 7 :02 p.m.
Present: Mayor Bean; Councilmembers Benson, McCarty and Shaw;
Planning Commissioners Borkon, Pisula, Kolstad, Rosenberger, and Turgeon;
City Administrator Hurm, Planning Director Nielsen and City Engineer Brown.
Later Arrivals: Councilmember Stover (7:07); Planning Commissioner Lizee (8:20).
Absent: Planning Commissioner Foust.
Mayor Bean stated that the purpose of this work session is to review planning priorities for 1996
with specific emphasis on senior affordable housing. He then turned the meeting over to Nielsen.
2. DISCUSSION
AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING
Nielsen began the topic with a review of past attempts to encourage development of affordable
senior housing, which led the City Council to direct the Planning Commission to consider issues
pertaining to density and incentives. He then introduced a concept that has been presented by an
interested developer (John Blumentritt) to use the Land De Con property and possibly the adjacent
Wagner property to create a senior housing community. This would require changes in density
and height restrictions and a closer look at cost incentives for keeping the price of the units below a
certain level.
Nielsen's question to the Council at this time is if there is willingness to at least consider making
adjustments. This concept would require an adjustment in fees to restrict soft costs to less than
$2500 per unit in order to keep rental/purchase costs within the guidelines set by Met Council
through the Livable Communities Act (Rental - $500 to $525 and Purchase - $100,000 to
$125,000).
Council posed questions about the actual cost to the City for streets, water, sewer, etc. and how to
avoid pitfalls experienced with the Seasons development. It was a consensus that affordable
senior housing is a priority and would be a favorable concept to the community and yet can become
controversial when proposed for a specific neighborhood. In any case, objection will likely
surface on the density issue and on the presence of a 3+ - story structure. There may be public
concern when using the term "affordable housing". This may be resolved by being more specific
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about it's meaning, such as noting the specific rents or sale prices targeted (i.e. at or below
$125,000).
Council indicated overall support of the idea and agreed that the need exists. Some key questions
are: If this is a priority, what is the best time and way to proceed? Is it financially feasible? How
can we ensure that the expected amenities and housing costs will become a reality? The Council
consensus was that setting aside land for affordable senior housing should be moved from high to
low priority.
Suggestions included involving local churches and possibly other communities in support of our
efforts to provide senior housing at varying value and to provide a better mix of housing options to
the community. It was agreed that it would be okay to approach other communities to work with
us to address this South Lake area need, but we need to be prepared to handle it on our own.
Nielsen asked specifically if there is an unresolvable problem, such as the three story building, that
would prevent this from becoming a reality, before suggesting to a developer that they should
pursue the idea. Council expressed willingness to consider higher density if the requirements for
providing amenities and lower pricing are met.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GOALS AND IMPLEMENTATION
Nielsen reviewed priority ratings of remaining task/projects in each of the following areas: Natural
Resources, Land Use, Transportation, Community Facilities/Services. This was generally in
consensus with the Organizational Goal and priority statements as determined by Council. The
item of identifying problem areas of the sanitary sewer system for televising, sealing and repair is
. listed as medium priority and should be given higher priority.
Mayor Bean requested that greater priority be put on addressing the issue of the 18 month water
hook-up requirement. He directed staff to add this to an upcoming agenda.
3. ADJOURN
There being no further business, the work session was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.
James C. Hurm,
City Administrator
ATTEST:
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ROBERT B. BEAN, MAYOR
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C. HURM, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
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