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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-26 Council MinutesA CITY OF CORCORAN City Council Meeting Minutes September 26, 2019 - 7:00 pm The Corcoran City Council met on September 26, 2019 at City Hall in Corcoran, Minnesota. Present were Mayor Thomas, Councilor Bottema, Councilor Dejewski, Councilor Keefe, and Councilor Schultz. Also present were City Administrator Martens, City Planner Lindahl, Administrative Services Director Beise, Public Works Director Mattson, and Director of Public Safety Gottschalk. 1. Call to Order / Roll Call Mayor Thomas called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Thomas invited all in attendance to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Agenda Approval City Administrator Martens requested item 7h. Charitable Gambling License be included under the Consent Agenda. MOTION: made by Schultz, seconded by Bottema to approve Consent Agenda as modified with the addition of Item 7h. Charitable Gambling License. Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz (Motion carried 5:0) 4. Commission Representatives Mayor Thomas noted Planning Commissioner Wu and Parks and Trails Commissioner Anderson were present. The Commissioners were invited to speak on items related to their respective commissions. 5. Open Forum Mayor Thomas invited residents to speak. Chuck Grabowski, 6610 Trail Lane, addressed the Council with concerns about contacting residents with future development. Mr. Grabowski brought forward a list of concerns from the Snyder /Dempsey neighborhood regarding the proposed development including the collector road extending across County Road 116 from 66th Avenue; the road tonnage for the collector road; the daily average projected traffic impact; the cost of the collector road with the purchase of properties included. Additional concerns presented were any planned improvements for Old Settlers Road; the needed improvements to Hackamore Road; privacy fencing, noise, and security fencing along 66th Avenue. Mr. Grabowski requested Council not proceed further until a meeting with the neighborhood is scheduled to discuss the possible future development. Dick Millon, 6605 Trail Lane, asked about the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) Process and if the residents in the neighborhood would be included the process. City Administrator Martens explained the proposed development is currently in the concept phase of the development process and the sketch plan phase includes a very general review of neighborhood transportation needs, housing styles, product, etc., includes non - binding feedback by Council to applicant to proceed with the modifications if necessary of the development, and is a requirement in the development process before the concept/sketch plan can move forward into the EAW process. City Administrator Martens further explained the EAW also provides general project information including infrastructure, informs the public about the project, and helps identify ways to protect the environment. City Administrator Martens explained the EAW is not meant to approve or deny a project but acts as a source of information to guide other approvals and permitting decisions. City Administrator Martens stated residents living within the area of the proposed development would also receive a formal notification of the preliminary plat application after the EAW process is completed. Greg Hoglund, 19220 Hackamore Road, reflected on his experience with the process of the Ravinia Development by Lennar Corporation and encouraged residents living near the proposed development to remain involved throughout the process. 6. Presentations/Recognitions No presentations or recognitions were heard. 7. Consent Agenda a. Draft Minutes of September 12, 2019 Council Meeting b. Financial Claims c. Resolution 2019-70 — Authorizing the Towards Zero Deaths Grant Agreement d. Rules of Decorum e. Campaign Sign Enforcement Policy f. NE Trunk Sewer Improvements — Pay Request 8 g. Meyer Lot Line Adjustment and Wetland Delineation Waiver h. Charitable Gambling License Council asked that Items 7c. and 7e. be considered separately. MOTION: made by Keefe, seconded by Dejewski to approve consent agenda items 7a., 7b., 7d7 7f.7 7g., and 7h. Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz (Motion carried 5:0) Council inquired what item 7c. Towards Zero Deaths Grant Agreement encompasses, and if there are any items the City would be held responsible for by participating in the grant. Director of Public Safety Gottschalk addressed Council's question and indicated the grant covers overtime dollars incurred for targeted enforcement such as DUI's and the recent Minnesota Hands-Free Law within the Towards Zero Deaths initiative, and is a collective program surrounding cities participate in. Administrative Services Director Beise further clarified there are several cities that have administered the grant in prior years, of which Corcoran has participated, but as has not recently acted as grant administrator. MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Keefe to approve consent agenda item 7c. Resolution 2019-70 Authorizing the Towards Zero Deaths Grant Agreement. Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz (Motion carried 5:0) Council asked that item 7e. considered separately from the consent agenda. MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Schultz to approve consent agenda item 7e. Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Keefe, and Schultz Voting Nay: Dejewski (Motion carried 4:1) 8. Planning Business a. Preliminary Plat for Rolling Hills Acres at 6730 Rolling Hills Road 2 City Planner Lindahl reviewed the request for a Preliminary Plat for Rolling Hills Acres noting septic system site standards on each lot, compliance with wetland requirements, and compliance with driveway accesses. MOTION: made by Dejewski, seconded by Bottema to approve Resolution 2019-66 Approving the Preliminary Plat for "Rolling Hills Acres" for Phillip Kothrade on the 40.81 -acre Site at 6730 Rolling Hills Road (PID 33-119-23-22-001) (City File 19-004). Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz (Motion carried 5:0) b. Public Hearing — Easement Vacation for "Bellwether" 3rd Addition City Planner Lindahl outlined the easement vacation. Mayor Thomas opened public hearing. No parties came forth to speak. MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Schultz to close the public hearing. Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz (Motion carried 5:0) MOTION: made by Dejewski, seconded by Schultz to approve Resolution 2019-69 Vacation of Drainage and Utility Easements for "Bellwether" 3rd Addition. Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz (Motion carried 5:0) c. "Bellwether" 3rd Addition Final Plat City Planner Lindahl outlined the "Bellwether" 3rd Addition Final Plat noting the 3rd Addition Planned Unit Development was approved but the 3rd Addition was not able to be platted until the Stieg Road construction was complete, and staff will not release the plat until construction is completed which is anticipated for November. Council inquired about the trail within the development and if it was a City trail or a Three Rivers Park regional trail. City Planner Lindahl indicated the trail in the "Bellwether" 3rd Addition is a City trail. Council inquired about the Wenck & Associates' notes on agenda packet item 8c. Public Works Director Mattson indicated the comments are an acknowledgement of the items discussed between Wenck and the developer. Council addressed the name of a half cul-d-sac referenced as Fir Lane on the map, and if the half cul-d-sac area could be renamed as part of Elm Lane to coincide with the City's recent road naming policy. Council also noted for record, Council has viewed the items at length in previous Council meetings. MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Keefe to approve Resolution 2019-68 Final Plat and Development Contract for "Bellwether" 3rd Addition. Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz (Motion carried 5:0) d. Wessel Property PUD Sketch Plan Review and Initiation of EAW for 22020 Hackamore Road City Planner Lindahl reviewed the sketch plan indicating the next steps include the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) process. The EAW will provide information concerning the primary environmental impacts of the proposed project. The project as proposed will require a Comp Plan staging plan amendment and rezoning to a planned unit development. Information was not provided by applicant regarding setback or lot size, but single family and villa homes appear similar to the Ravinia development. City Planner Lindahl reiterated the past comments by Council regarding smaller lot sizes and percentages of garage faces. The project proposal calls for townhomes in the southeast corner of the project 3 site to provide a transition from the traffic, intersection lights and noise to lower density areas of the development. City Planner Lindahl noted there is a 100 -foot setback zoning ordinance from County Road roads and this zoning ordinance was intended to maintain green corridors throughout the City; the ordinance allows a structure setback reduction to 60-feet if significant and additional landscaping is provided adjacent to the roadway. Next steps to be completed by applicant once Council provides feedback to applicant that they are generally on the right track include proceeding to the EAW process. Council cannot grant any project approvals until the EAW process is completed. Once the EAW process is completed, applicant would need to submit applications for a Comp Plan amendment to the phasing plan, zoning map amendment to PUD, preliminary plat and preliminary PUD development plan. The final step would be submission of the final plat and final PUD development plan. Council addressed audience regarding the comment card process. City Administrator Martens introduced Paul Tabone, Lennar, and the Lennar 116 Properties Concept Plan. Mr. Tabone presented the concept plan overview and included the suggested changes by Council regarding acknowledgement of 66th Avenue as an 80' collector road, additional open space with a centrally located park area and 70 acres of passive open space with wetlands, a proposed trail system through the central portion of the development, a range of housing types and lot sizes, home styles and architecture that comply with City design guidelines and standards. Mr. Tabone mentioned homes are subject to change and always dependent on market trends. Examples of twin homes, row townhomes, villas, and single-family units were included in the presentation. Council asked about the appearance of the back side of the row townhomes. Mr. Tabone responded examples are available to share with Council. Mr. Tabone concluded his presentation and asked for questions and comments. Council commented on lot-width deviation and stated that although included in the concept development idea, the collector road extension is not planned for 66th Avenue in the immediate future and is only included to allow for future right-of-way discussion. Council addressed park location and access points for the proposed park. Council offered direction on home style and the current housing designs. Council addressed notification to resident question and reiterated the concept development stage of the project is at the sketch plan stage. Council also provided feedback on setbacks and garage faces aligning with the City design guidelines and zoning ordinances. Council discussed townhomes, acting as a buffer to the single-family homes located further in the development and reminded applicant the location of the townhomes is the gateway into Corcoran at the Hackamore and County Road 116 intersection. Council addressed the sewer and water availability to the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed development and how that impacts surrounding neighborhoods. City Administrator Martens clarified city neighborhoods would have to petition to join the available sewer and water connection, and the City's current ordinance would not force neighborhoods to connect. Council addressed waterline on concept plan coming from Medina. Public Works Director Mattson responded the waterline is for illustration purposes only and looping water routes would be determined in the feasibility study. Council reviewed the importance of residents continuing to stay involved in the process and to continue to communicate with the Council regarding the development and the ongoing process. Council addressed surrounding properties and recognize the property owners who wish to sell their properties. Council discussed the reasons behind utilizing 66th Avenue as a straight collector road rather than a looping road through the neighborhood. Council suggested some of the trails be located between the old and new neighborhoods for access to all in the proposed concept sketch. Council asked applicant about neighborhood M91 notifications for a future meeting and if Lennar would communicate with residents. Mr. Tabone explained Lennar's approach and process regarding neighborhood meetings. Council discussed the Ravinia neighborhood process and referenced the neighborhood meeting at the preliminary plat point in the process. Council noted concerns with the 55-foot lot width and would like to see a different transition from urban to rural, rather grouped townhomes. Council suggested reviewing where trails are located to help with the urban to rural transition. Council indicated spacing seems to change the feel of the neighborhood specifically in the smaller homes, and how twin homes can feel more like a single-family home if the garages are not directly aligned to each other. Council reiterated Parks and Trails Commission input is integral along with communication between Council, Commissions, and residents. Mr. Tabone inquired about the lot widths and requested further clarification. Council and staff discussed not wanting to deviate from the side yard setbacks, dislike of garage forward face units, and aligning to the three units per acre per Met Council standards. Council discussed adhering to specific requirements may equate to smaller width size lots. Council inquired about the on-road trail and if it is encroached within the setback. City Administrator Martens clarified the on-road trail includes a buffer between the road the trail. City Planner Lindahl expanded further, indicating the on-road trails are normally within the right-of-way so the trail doesn't encroach on the setback and the setback is measured from the right-of-way. City Planner Lindahl also referenced occasionally a county road will take less right of way for a trail easement, in which case the trail may encroach on the setback. Mr. Tabone indicated Lennar can review the spacing concept idea as plan design moves forward. Kim Arneson, 6665 Trail Lane, questioned if townhomes are HUD or low income. Mr. Tabone indicated the townhomes are market rate for sale. Ms. Arneson asked if the school district is Rockford and if that would change. Council responded the school district will not change. City Administrator Martens noted the division between Rockford and Wayzata school districts in the proposed development. Gary Myhre, 6507 Elm Street, resident questioned the 66th Avenue location. City Administrator Martens explained the analysis of where a collector road would be needed between Hackamore and Larkin for the benefit of future Corcoran many years down the road. Mr. Myhre disagrees with the collector road placement and explained why he bought the property he did in Corcoran on a cul-d-sac. Mr. Myhre asked for Council to reconsider the collector road placement. Dee Sicora, 6410 Elm Street, feels the residents should have been notified earlier and asked for more communication going forward from Council. Ms. Sicora explained the difficulty with the current intersections and difficulty with accessing roads and expressed traffic concerns of adding additional housing to the area. Ms. Sicora questioned the wetland delineation, maps for the wetlands, and asked what is deemed a wetland. Council explained the process for wetland delineations, where the wetland maps are located on the Hennepin County website, and the reason why a physical wetland delineation is necessary. Ms. Sicora asked when residents will hear again from Council regarding the proposed development. Benjamin McWhite, 6510 Elm Street, referenced the woods near his home with a closed trail and that his neighbors would not like any additional trails, and that he has hunted the wetland property adjacent to his home, and would not like to have the development behind his property, and he would not have any access to the park from his neighborhood. Mr. McWhite would like to understand how the development moves forward and stated it is disheartening. �I Council asked about a woodland quality assessment for this area. City Planner Lindahl referenced the Comprehensive Plan and tree inventory within the proposed development. City Administrator Martens further clarified trees of a certain size would be inventoried so the City would understand what trees are in the development. Council inquired about incorporating as many natural trees as possible within the development. Larry Allar, 6508 Trail Lane, recognizes the urban feel coming to Corcoran. It is Mr. Allar's opinion that national builders will railroad through cities to get what they need done and will bulldoze established wooded areas within the development area. Mr. Allar referenced an area where there is a pond and how it will affect the house located near there, regarding the water table topography. Mr. Allar also referenced the lower priced townhome location by Foxberry Farms. Mr. Allar expressed concern over the construction noise for the next five years within the project and urged Council to review all possibilities with the project such as where collector roads are located, how grading is completed by the builders and impacts to surrounding properties, and added he feels the density of housing is too great. Council addressed the audience noting resident opinions have been heard and would be recorded in the minutes. Council discussed future traffic impacts from development and traffic moving onto County Road 116 and how Hennepin County will need manage and plan for the increased traffic. Council also reiterated the need to plan 66th Avenue as a collector road in the current development plan for future planning only, and again reiterated the Council does not support the paving or creation of 66th Avenue extending through the existing development, but stated again that 66th Avenue needs to be referenced to plan for future roadways in Corcoran 50 plus years into the future. Council directed staff to move forward with the EAW process. Council reached out to audience and encouraged them to talk with each Councilmember going forward if a question or concern arises. 9. Unfinished Business No unfinished business presented. Mayor Thomas recessed the Council meeting at 8:59 pm. Mayor Thomas reconvened the Council meeting at 9:09 pm. 10. New Business a. Hope Center Transfer Brian and Jill Dejewski, 7800 Maple Hill Road, Mr. and Mrs. Dejewski thanked Council and proceeded with a brief outline of the history of Mobile Hope and the importance the Hope Center holds in Maple Hill Estates through programs such as homework help, Taco Tuesdays, Zumba classes, and as a general gathering space for the community. Mr. Dejewski reviewed the City of Corcoran's participation to move forward with Mobile Hope in securing grant financing for the construction of the building and realizing the potential benefits the Hope Center would bring to the community. Mr. Dejewski concluded with attendance numbers of participation at the Hope Center outlining the impact and success of the Hope Center within the community. Council commented on the support for the Hope Center from the Corcoran Police Department, and the City as a whole. City Administrator Martens outlined the action needed by Council regarding the ownership requirement expiration date of September 30, 2019. City Administrator Martens noted the agreement transitions the ownership and removes the City from the process. Staff is requesting Council to approve the agreements and authorize staff to execute the appropriate documents transferring ownership. Council discussed future usage of the Hope Center and who will be able to utilize the space upon transfer of ownership. 0 Barry Hay, owner of Maple Hill Estates, stated he hopes to continue with the services currently provided at the Hope Center and supports the Hope Center and programs 100 percent. MOTION: made by Schultz, seconded by Keefe to approve agreements and authorize staff to execute documents related to the transfer of the Hope Center and land to Maple Hill Estates. Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz (Motion carried 5:0) b. Appraisal for Sewer Extension Project City Administrator Martens directed Council's attention to a request directly related to the proposed project from Lennar Corporation for a sewer extension to be completed at Lennar's expense; and for a motion to authorize staff to obtain appraisal services as necessary, for the trunk sewer extension project, and includes a possible land purchase to extend the pipe. City Administrator Martens stated the project expense would be paid through an escrow fund started by Lennar. Council asked a question regarding the number of homes projected to be built by 2028, and if the sewer fund runs a deficit, would the sewer pipe extension impact the sewer fund. City Administrator Martens indicated the sewer fund would not be impacted as the developer would be funding the project through escrow funds. Council reviewed again the need for Corcoran's own water system and future impacts on costs and decisions of water supplied by a sister city. City Administrator clarified to Council the City does not financially need the proposed 551 development in order to move forward with the water system plan the City is currently pursuing. MOTION: made by Keefe, seconded by Bottema to approve staff to obtain appraisal services as necessary for the trunk sewer extension project. Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz (Motion carried 5:0) c. Tuition Reimbursement Request Administrative Services Director Beise outlined a tuition reimbursement request. Council discussed benefits to the City with the approval of this request. Staff and Council discussed the positive aspects of employees pursuing further education and how the tuition reimbursement is paid. Council discussed changing how the tuition reimbursement is paid and discussed an example of reimbursement percentages based on grades received in the program. MOTION: made by Keefe, seconded by Dejewski to direct staff to incorporate a tuition reimbursement of one class per semester up to three classes in the final 2020 budget, authorize tuition reimbursement request to Joe Rotz for one class per semester in 2020 year, and consider further reimbursement as part of the 2021 budget process. Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz (Motion carried 5:0) 11. Staff Reports a. Active Corcoran Planning Applications; report received. 12.2019 Council Schedule City Administrator Martens reviewed upcoming Council meetings. Council inquired about the test well appraisal item. City Administrator Martens indicated the City will need to purchase an easement to alter the property and would like to have a property agreement with values, as well as an outline of the process, in advance of the well drilling. Council inquired about phone policy and administrative rights to phones. Council challenged what the technology provider, CIT, has indicated with 365 Outlook and what private data can be reviewed with administrative rights. 7 City Administrator Martens will request a fact sheet from CIT explaining the process regarding data privacy and administrative phone rights. 13. Adjournment MOTION: made by Bottema, seconded by Schultz to adjourn at 9:48 pm. Voting Aye: Thomas, Bottema, Dejewski, Keefe, and Schultz (Motion carried 5:0) Meeting adjourned at 9:48 pm. Miche le Friedrich — Deputy Clerk P