Loading...
02/20/2001 - City Council Special Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Eagan City Council February 20,2001 Page 1 of3 MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2001 4:30 P.M. EAGAN MUNICIPAL CENTER CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS Present: Mayor Awada, Councilmembers Bakken, Carlson and Fields, City Administrator Hedges, Assistant City Administrator Verbrugge, Director of Public Works Colbert, Senior Planner Ridley, City Attorney Dougherty, Administrative Specialist Hertel. CALL TO ORDER The meeting began at 4:30 p.m. REVIEW CONCEPT FOR TREFFLE ACRES FUTURE DEVELOPMENT City Administrator Hedges gave an overview. Senior Planner Ridley reviewed the current status of the process and requested direction from the City Council regarding the two preliminary options. Mayor Awada asked if the option with two cul-de-sacs allowed for more lots. Senior Planner Ridley answered that it would. Senior Planner Ridley inquired if the Council would like to officially map the area to provide the connection. Councilmember Carlson stated that she favored officially mapping the road; her statement was affirmed by Mayor A wada and Councilmember Bakken. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OBJECTIVES City Administrator Hedges gave an overview of the item, stating that the City Council and the Economic Development Authority are comprised of the same persons, but with different purposes and authority. Mr. Jim Prosser of Ehlers and Associates reviewed the options at the EDA's disposal regarding the TH 149/TH 55 redevelopment district. He stated that the EDA may choose to take any number of actions or choose to not act at all. Mayor Awada inquired about the practical differences of being the Economic Development Authority. Mr. Prosser responded that the difference afforded more flexibility and authority regarding acquisition of property and taking action in redevelopment. Assistant City Administrator Verbrugge stated that the City Council is still responsible for the public hearings. City Administrator Hedges expressed appreciation to Ehlers and Associates for their assistance. Mayor A wada moved, Councilmember Bakken seconded a motion to direct that the Eagan Economic Development Authority be the responsible governmental unit to Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Eagan City Council February 20,2001 Page 2 of3 administer activities and authorizations related to Tax Increment Financing districts and other economic development activity unless determined otherwise by the City Council. Aye: 4 Nay: 0 REVIEW CEDARV ALE DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTS City Administrator Hedges gave an overview. Mayor A wada inquired if Cedarvale North was included in the redevelopment area. Mr. Jim Prosser of Ehlers and Associates stated that it had not yet been considered, but that in general it would be better to designate larger parcels and only redevelop smaller ones in the long run than to designate areas that are not comprehensive initially. Mayor Awada requested that Cedarvale North and the vacant residential properties be included in the area and stated that the are needed to cash flow. She asked for a clarification of special areas versus the redevelopment district. Mr. Prosser stated that the option to include the additional areas would be explored and stated that the special area designations must be consistent with the Comprehensive Guide Plan a the time the district is adopted. Councilmember Bakken asked if the final district must be contiguous. Mr. Prosser stated that it must be contiguous. Assistant City Administrator Verbrugge clarified that the Council was considering the area plan, of which the nF district is one part within the plan. Mayor A wada stated that she believed the area should be renamed Cedar Grove. She reviewed the history of the area as a one-time heart of the city and that it deserves to retain that place into the future. She further stated that Cedarvale is the name of the mall, which may not exist in the redevelopment. Ms. Doris Dahline, a resident of the redevelopment area, stated that she thought the name Cedar Grove was more respectful of the area and its history than Cedarvale. She also reminded the City Council that if a public transit stop would be incorporated, it might be called Nicols Station, after the old stop in the area. Ms. Mary Ramneri of3785 Nicols Road stated that she attended the November 28, 2000 Open House and was told at that time that her property would not be considered as part of the redevelopment area. Senior Planner Ridley clarified that her property was in a special area, but not designated as part of the redevelopment study area. He went on to say that perhaps it should be included even if action is not taken. Ms. Ramneri stated that they were considering subdividing. Councilmember Carlson advised that the Council may choose to not allow subdivisions in the area due to expected increases in airport noise and the impact of possible future redevelopment. Ms. Ramneri asked for assurance that her property would not be taken. Councilmember Carlson stated that while her property was not currently part of the redevelopment, it is impossible to know what future Councils may decide or what opportunities developers may offer to residents for property. Mr. Mark Hanson asked if the area called Cedarvale South would extend east to include the vacant pocket and if the Highlands were part of the study. Assistant City Minutes ofa Special Meeting of the Eagan City Council February 20, 2001 Page 3 of3 Administrator Verbrugge stated that the areas had not been identified as part of the redevelopment. Ms. Dahline asked ifher property could be included in a special area. Assistant City Administrator Verbrugge stated that her property may be appropriately designated special area, but clarified that being a special area had to do with particular zoning and guiding regulations and did not afford additional protection in light of the redevelopment plans. Senior Planner Ridley stated that the special area designation could be included as part of the official action at the regular meeting. Mr. Jim Schoen inquired about the transit station. Mayor Awada stated that it would be similar to the site in Burnsville. Assistant City Administrator Verbrugge stated that it was still in discussion and would require further review; he also commented that the timeline was aggressive, with a building deadline of summer 2002. Mr. Dan Schoelseth inquired about the impact to Superior Collision and his options as a business owner. Mr. Prosser stated that business owners would be best served by staying involved with the process, beginning to proactively explore options, including relocation and, if absolutely necessary, cities have occasionally offered redevelopment assistance. He acknowledged that redevelopment is an extremely disruptive process. Mayor A wada stated that the Council needs to address the question of the auto mall concept soon. She summarized that the additional parcels should be included in the study, that the name should be changed to Cedar Grove and that the changes to the Comprehensive Guide should be made to reflect the intention of the Council. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m. Date City Clerk If you need these minutes in an alternative form such as large print, Braille, audio tape, etc., please contact the City of Eagan, 3830 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55122, (612) 681-4600, (TDD phone: (612) 454-8535). The City of Eagan is cornmitted to the policy that all persons have equal access to its programs, services, activities, facilities and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status or status with regard to public assistance.