11-12-19 CC WS MinutesCITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2019 6:00 P.M.
MINUTES
1. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING
Mayor Zerby called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.
A. Roll Call
Present. Mayor Zerby; Councilmembers Johnson (arrived at 6:01 p.m.) Siakel, and
Sundberg; City Attorney Keane; City Administrator Lerud; City Clerk Thone;
Finance Director Rigdon; Planning Director Darling; Director of Public Works
Brown; and, City Engineer Fauske
Absent: Councilmember Labadie
B. Review Agenda
Siakel moved, Sundberg seconded, approving the agenda as presented. Motion passed
3/0.
2. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVISIONS
Bob Kirmis, Northwest Associated Consultants (NAC), stated that he would like to review some
of the planning and engineering issues that were highlighted in the staff report and get feedback
from the Council. He stated that the City received an "incomplete" from the Met Council for the
draft Comprehensive Plan that was submitted. He stated that the Met Council feels that the City
has not provided enough land to take their fair share of the regional population objectives.
Councilmember Sundberg asked if this was a mandatory requirement from the Met Council.
Mr. Kirmis stated that it is mandatory and basically requires a certain number of acres be
dedicated to high density housing. He noted that the Met Council basically has a template that
they apply to all cities and do not take in account he unique situations within each city.
Planning Director Darling noted that the City discussed high density housing options within the
text but did not show it as guided for high density on the maps. She stated that after the maps
show it as guided for high density, the City will need to set up an implementation schedule telling
the Met Council when the land will be rezoned.
The Council discussed rezoning property for high density use and what non - conforming use would
mean to the current property owners.
Mayor Zerby asked if the City had spoken with our Met Council representative, Mr. Ferguson. He
stated that he had spoken with him about the idea of considering Comprehensive Plans city by
city rather than regionally. He stated that Mr. Ferguson seemed receptive to the idea. He stated
that he does not agree with the Met Council using the cookie cutter approach to every single city.
CITY OF SHOREWOOD WORK SESSION COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 12, 2019
Page 2 of 3
The Council discussed the possible land locations in the City that may be able to be used for
higher density housing.
Mr. Kirmis asked if the Council would like to push the issue with the Met Council regarding the
concerns expressed by Mayor Zerby or if the Council wanted to try to respond.
Councilmember Siakel stated that she would like to do a combination and consider some
properties for high density but also to consider the dynamics of the City as Mayor Zerby stated.
Mayor Zerby listed some unique aspects to the City such as having no school district of its own,
no downtown, and no transit system. He stated that the City is having to take a hodge podge
approach to try to find possible areas for high density even if they don't make sense.
Mr. Kirmis suggested setting up a meeting with the Council to make the City's case and have
Mayor Zerby and City Administrator Lerud involved to see what they say.
Mayor Zerby stated that he would welcome the opportunity to have that conversation with the Met
Council.
Councilmember Siakel stated that she feels it is a good place to start
Councilmember Sundberg agrees and noted that changing some of the places in the City to high
density seems fabricated and not built around reality.
Councilmember Johnson asked what the Met Council opinion is on mixed use developments as
a way to get more high- density housing along with retail components.
Mr. Kirmis stated that the Met Council is receptive to mixed use. He stated that most of the non-
controversial issues raised by the Met Council has been addressed and reiterated his suggested
that the housing forecast issue be discussed with the Met Council before anything is changed.
Councilmember Siakel asked for the timeframe and deadline for a response to the Met Council.
Planning Director Darling stated that there is not a hard deadline because it is an ongoing process,
but noted that if the City does nothing the City will eventually get some push back from the Met
Council.
Councilmember Siakel stated that she likes Mayor Zerby's idea of talking with Met Council
because if the City moves forward and just starts choosing various parcels for high density it will
open Pandora's box.
The Council discussed areas such as the Cub Foods Shopping Center area and the Waterford
development and the possibility of changing their designation to mixed use.
City Administrator Lerud stated that he would like to meet with Met Council and explain the City's
position before the Council starts looking at areas to change to high density housing.
CITY OF SHOREWOOD WORK SESSION COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 12, 2019
Page 3 of 3
3. ADJOURN
Johnson moved, Siakel seconded, Adjourning the City Council Work Session Meeting of
November 12, 2019, at 6:30 P.M. Motion passed 4/0.
ATTEST:
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San ie Thone, City Clerk