[00:00:04]
[CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL]
SO WE WILL CALL THE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24 MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO ORDER.SEE, I GOT TO USE THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY ALREADY.
[BACKGROUND] NOW, I GOT IT ON.
SO WE'RE IN SESSION NOW FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24 AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND COULD I HAVE THE ATTENDANCE CALLED, A ROLL CALL?
>> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BEAR WITH ME, JON. COMMISSIONER JEAN OLIVES.
YOU'RE VERY KIND. COMMISSIONER KAISER?
>> WE HAVE TWO COMMISSIONERS ABSENT CURRENTLY; COMMISSIONER NEVISKI AND COMMISSIONER FERGUS.
[APPROVE MINUTES]
>> OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING, THE JULY 5TH MEETING, OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> ALL OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.
WE NEED TO APPROVE THE OCTOBER 3RD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES AS WELL.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE OCTOBER 3RD MINUTES.
>> ANY OPPOSED? WE WILL OPEN UP OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS PORTION OF TONIGHT'S MEETING.
[PUBLIC HEARINGS]
WE HAVE ONE AGENDA ITEM AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.IT IS A ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO ALLOW LIMITED RETAIL SALES IN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL THE I1 AND GENERAL INDUSTRIAL I2 DISTRICTS.
[BACKGROUND] THERE WE GO. SORRY.
> THAT'S FINE. WE'RE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9.11 D AND E, ALLOWING LIMITED RETAIL SALES AS A PERMITTED USE IN THE LIGHT AND GENERAL INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS AND THE SOUTHERN ANOKA COMMUNITY ASSISTANT INCORPORATED SACA OR THE APPLICANTS.
LET'S SEE IF THAT WORKS. AWESOME. PERFECT. SO TIMOTHY LACROIX OF LACROIX LAW, PLLC IS REPRESENTING SACA ON THIS APPLICATION AND THEY HAVE PROPOSED A ZONING TEXTS AMENDMENTS ALLOWING LIMITED RETAIL SALES AS PERMITTED USES IN BOTH THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.
ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO REQUIRED FINDINGS OF FACT AS DESCRIBED IN 9.104 (F).
AND THE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE AS FOLLOWS.
WE WOULD SUPPORT A NEW DEFINITION DEFINING LIMITED RETAIL SALES TO SECTION 9.103.
THE DEFINITIONS PROVIDE CLARITY REGARDING THE SCOPE AND THE INTENSITY OF THE RETAIL SALES WHICH WOULD BE ALLOWED.
NEW AND ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS ARE IN RED AND THAT STAFF HAS HIGHLIGHTED.
WE DEFINE LIMITED RETAIL SALES AS THE RETAIL SALES OF PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED, PROCESSED, OR DELIVERED IN BULK AND REPACKAGED FOR SALE ON THE SITE PROVIDED THAT THE SALE ACTIVITY DOESN'T EXCEED MORE THAN 20% OF THE GROSS FLOOR AREA OF THE PRINCIPLE BUILDING.
AND THAT WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO ADHERE TO ANY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THAT THE ZONING DISTRICT REQUIRES.
THEN THE OTHER TEXT CHANGE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS THE ADDITION OF LIMITED RETAIL SALES AS A PERMITTED USE OUTRIGHT, NOT A CONDITIONAL USE, NOT AN INTERIM USE.
WE THINK THAT GIVEN WHAT IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED IN THE DISTRICT MAKES SENSE TO ALLOW THIS ON A SMALLER SCALE.
[NOISE] BEFORE FINDINGS OF FACT, FIRST IS THAT THE AMENDMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THE AMENDMENT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTERESTS AND NOT SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF A SINGLE PROPERTY OWNER.
WHERE THE AMENDMENT IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF A PARTICULAR PROPERTY, THE EXISTING USE OF THE PROPERTY AND THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION MUST BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE PROPOSED ZONING CLASSIFICATION.
SO THAT'LL BE IF WE WERE DOING A REZONING, THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS.
THIS IS JUST AMENDING THE PERMITTED USES TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL ONE.
AND THEN WHERE THE AMENDMENT IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION.
HAS THERE BEEN A CHANGE IN CHARACTER OR TREND OF THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA IN QUESTION,
[00:05:04]
WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE SINCE THE PROPERTY WAS PLACED IN ITS CURRENT ZONING DESIGNATION, SO THREE AND FOUR DON'T NECESSARILY APPLY HERE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING A REZONING WITH THIS, AND SO IT WOULD BE ONE AND TWO PRIMARILY.WE FOUND THAT THE AMENDMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE GOALS OF THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS, GUIDING FOR A MIX OF LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND VEHICLE REPAIR USES AS AN ACCESSORY USE TO WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION.
THAT'S WHAT SPELLED OUT IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR WHAT THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT IS DESIGNATED FOR.
SACA IS EXISTING AND FUTURE FACILITIES ARE IDENTIFIED BY YELLOW DOTS.
IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SEE ON THIS ONE.
IF YOU LOOK TO THE LEFT, YOU'LL SEE NEXT TO THAT GRAY PARCEL, A YELLOW DOT THERE ON CALIFORNIA'S STREETS, AND THEN ANOTHER JUST OFF JEFFERSON AND 38TH, IT LOOKS LIKE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT ALL THE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES ARE SURROUNDED BY VARYING RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
YOU CAN SEE YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF BUILT AS DUPLEX ZONING, SOME MORE INDUSTRIAL ZONING TO THE WEST.
ALL THE INDUSTRIAL SITES ARE BASICALLY PRETTY CLUMPED TOGETHER, SO THEY DO BLEED INTO THOSE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS BUT THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS SO WE CAN MONITOR IS THIS RISING TO A LEVEL THAT IT'S AFFECTING THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS AND THEIR ABILITY TO ENJOY THEIR PROPERTY? SECOND, THE AMENDMENT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTERESTS AND NOT SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF A SINGLE PROPERTY OWNER.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES, WE FOUND THAT THEY INCLUDE BUSINESS SUCH AS ZUCCARO'S PRODUCT RETAIL, MINNEAPOLIS MAKE, A MANUFACTURING AND RETAIL SERVICE COMPONENT.
RUFF LOVE DOGS, WHICH IS A KENNEL, TOTAL EXPORT INCORPORATED, AND COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RECYCLING.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL USES THAT WE ALLOW ENCODE, SUCH AS FINE.
WE ALLOW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES, AND PART STORES.
WE ALLOW TATTOO PARLORS, PAWN SHOPS, AND UNLIMITED CAPACITY.
SO THERE ARE OTHER RETAIL COMPONENTS AT A MUCH MORE INTENSE SCALE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF A MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS STORE DECIDED TO JUST OPEN UP, THAT WOULD BE A PERMIT USE AND IT WOULDN'T GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND SO WE FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT SINCE WE NEED TWO SITES WHERE THESE CHANGES WERE GOING TO OCCUR, THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 350 FEET WERE NOTIFIED AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEIR FEEDBACK ON IT.
AS I SAID, THE APPLICANT IS NOT PROPOSING A ZONING RECLASSIFICATION BUTTON EXPANSION TO USES THERE ALREADY ALLOWED IN THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AND THIS TEXT AMENDMENT REFLECTS THAT THE USE IS ALLOWED FOR RETAIL SALES OR SERVICES ALREADY EXISTS IN THOSE GREATER INTENSITY THAN WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
THEY WOULD BE LIMITED TO NO MORE THAN 20% OF THEIR FLOOR AREA AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CLEARLY DEFINE BASED ON THE EXISTING FOOTPRINT OF THE BUILDING.
IN THIS REGARD, IT IS THE OPINION OF STAFF THAT LIMITED RETAIL SALES CAN COMPATIBLY EXIST WITHIN BOTH THE I2 AND I1 DISTRICTS WITH CONDITIONING AND THE FOLLOWING ZONING ORDINANCE MODIFICATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.
WE DO RECOMMEND THE ADDITION OF A NEW DEFINITION TO THE DEFINITION TABLE, RETAIL SALES LIMITED.
AS I SAID, IT IS LIMITED TO PRODUCTS THAT ARE MANUFACTURED, PROCESSED, AND DELIVERED IN BULK AND REPACKAGED FOR SALE, AND THEY CANNOT EXCEED THAT 20% GROSS FLOOR AREA.
THERE IS NO CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE IF THEY WANTED TO, THAT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED BASED ON THIS DEFINITION.
THIS IS JUST A FLOOR PLAN OF THEIR EXISTING BUILDING.
I APOLOGIZE, IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO READ, BUT THEIR EXISTING FACILITY ON 38TH HAS ABOUT HALF OF IT BEING A WAREHOUSE.
I'D SAY ABOUT A FIFTH OR SIXTH BEING THE FOOD SHELF AND THRIFT STORE, AND THEN OFFICES, A LUNCH ROOM, AND A COUPLE OF RESTROOMS. THAT BUILDING IS 6,500 SQUARE FEET AND THE THRIFT SHOP COMPONENT IS 950 SQUARE FEET, WHICH IS UNDER THAT 20% AMOUNT.
THEN THIS IS THE SITE PLANNING FOR THEIR FUTURE BUILDING.
[00:10:02]
THEY DON'T ANTICIPATE YOU EXPAND THE BUILDING.THEY INTEND TO BASICALLY USE THAT YELLOW AREA FOR THE RETAIL COMPONENT AND THEN THE OTHER LOWER-LEVEL WOULD BE THE WAREHOUSE, UPPER LEVEL WOULD BE THE BUSINESS OFFICES.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SITE, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY CAN BETTER ACCOMMODATE THE PARKING DEMANDS THAN THEIR EXISTING SITE CAN.
>> NOW WOULD BE AT TIME QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS FOR STAFF AND THEN TO THE PUBLIC IN ATTENDANCE AND OR ON ZOOM AND THEN MOVE THROUGH THESE MOTIONS.
SO NOT QUITE READY TO CLOSE IT, BUT JUST DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CITY STAFF?
>> I GUESS I HAD ONE QUESTION.
THE DEFINITION OF 20% OF GROSS FLOOR AREA OF THE BUILDING.
HOW WAS THAT DERIVED AT THAT PERCENTAGE? AND HOW DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS OF ADDING LIGHT RETAIL INTO THESE ZONES? HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO WHAT OUR SISTER CITIES AND COMMON CITIES ARE DOING?
>> WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY EXAMINE WHAT OTHER CITIES WE'RE DOING ON THIS.
WE JUST LOOKED AT WHAT RETAIL USES WERE ALLOWED AND THE INTENSITIES AT WHICH THEY WERE ALLOWED.
THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMPONENTS WHERE FULL-BLOWN RETAILERS ALREADY ALLOWED IN THE FORM OF SERVICES SUCH AS MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIR, PARTS STORES MOSTLY THAT'S FULL RETAIL.
ANYWAY, YOU CUT IT. LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE PAWN SHOPS, WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY RETAIL, BUT THAT IS A FRONT-FACING OPERATION WHERE PEOPLE GO AND INTERACT WITH THOSE SERVICES AND WHAT WAS YOUR OTHER QUESTION? I APOLOGIZE.
>> THE 20% OF THE GROSS FLOOR AREA.
>> CAN WE PULL UP OUR DEFINITIONS REAL QUICK?
>> YEAH AND JUST TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE COMMENTARY, WE DID LOOK AT THE CITY OF NEW HOPE BECAUSE I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT ZONING CODE IN AND HAD WORKED THERE PREVIOUSLY IN AND THEY HAD APPLIED TO 20% THRESHOLD IN THEIR INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT IN A SIMILAR FASHION SO THERE WAS A LITTLE MODELING THERE.
ONE OF THE REALLY BIG FORWARD-FACING PERMITTED USES IN THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT THAT STOOD OUT TO STAFF, AS WELL WAS THE BREWERY TAP ROOM.
PERMITTED OUTRIGHT, BUT THERE'S A CAVEAT THERE ARE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR BREWERIES AND TAP ROOMS THAT REQUIRE A TRAFFIC STUDY AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN SO THEY'RE NOT A PERFECT COMPARISON, BUT IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE CITY IS AT LEAST OPEN TO INTRODUCING THAT TYPE OF INTENSIVE USE INTO THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT ALONG WITH THE OTHER RETAIL SALES ELEMENTS THAT ANDREW HAD LISTED SO A COMBINATION, LOOKING AT ONE PEER CITY AND THEN ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT OUR INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS ARE EVOLVING.
THIS COMMISSION HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED USES TO THE DOGGIE DAY CARE AND OTHER TYPE OF SERVICE ORIENTED USES IN ENTERING OUR INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS, WHICH ARE RELATIVELY SMALL SITES AND SMALLER BUILDINGS.
I THINK THIS REPRESENTS A CONTINUATION OF THAT EVOLUTION IN STAFF'S OPINION AND STARTING AT WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A LOW MANAGEABLE PERCENTAGE THAT COULD BE RE-CALIBRATED AND ADJUSTED IN THE FUTURE IF FUTURE APPLICANTS WERE FINDING IT HARD TO OPERATE WITHIN THE 20% THRESHOLD.
THAT COULD ALSO BE LOOKED AT AND TWEAKED, BUT CERTAINLY IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR TWO BUILDINGS, IT WAS APPLICABLE AND FITTING SO THAT WAS THE THESIS MORE OR LESS BEHIND THE 20%.
>> WELL, THAT'S COMING UP. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF FROM THE COMMISSION?
>> COMMISSIONER JANINE, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE APPLICANT SPEAK TO THAT MORE DIRECTLY.
I THINK ANECDOTALLY, THE PREVIOUS OPERATION HAD BEEN A NEIGHBOR OF THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS FACILITIES FOR MANY YEARS AND THERE HAD BEEN SOME COMPLAINTS AND COMMENTS FOR
[00:15:01]
A LACK OF PARKING ON THAT SITE AND I THINK AS ANDREW HAD SUGGESTED, THIS SITE EXPANDS THEIR PARKING CONSIDERABLY AND THEY'RE NOT PROPOSING TO DRASTICALLY EXPAND THE THRIFT STORE OPERATION.I THINK IT ULTIMATELY IS GOING TO WORK OUT FINE FROM A PARKING DEMAND PERSPECTIVE AND BE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE CURRENT LOCATION.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK THE APPLICANT ON THEIR PERSPECTIVE AS WELL.
>> WE HAVE GROSS FLOOR AREA AS BEING THE SUM OF THE GROSS HORIZONTAL AREAS OF THE SEVERAL FLOORS MEASURED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE EXTERIOR WALLS SO BASICALLY, THE BUILDING FOOTPRINT IS HOW WE MEASURE THAT.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO JUST ADD IS THAT YOU GUYS ARE LIKE WHETHER YOU APPROVE OR DENY THIS, YOU'RE NOT APPROVING A DEVELOPMENT REQUESTS.
THIS IS A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT SO THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO COME IN FOR BUILDING PERMITS SHOULD THEY DECIDE TO DO ANYTHING TO THE INTERIOR EXTERIOR EVENTS.
THEY'LL BE ANOTHER LEVEL OF REVIEW FOR US TO GO THROUGH.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS NOW.
WOULD YOU HAVE TIM LACROIX WITH LACROIX LAW REPRESENTING SEIKO? IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO [INAUDIBLE] TO SAY SOMETHING
>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSION. FIRST OF ALL, I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE, WHETHER BEING WHAT IT IS AND TRAFFIC LIKE TO HAVE AN OBJECTOR HERE COME AND ANSWER THE QUESTION.
HE'S BEEN A PART OF THE SECOND FLOOR, FOR HOW LONG?
>> ONLY 13 YEARS. YOU CAN SPEAK TO THE TRAFFIC RELATIONS CORRELATIONS BETWEEN THE THRIFT STORE AND FOOD SHELF AND THEN FOOD SHELF EXCLUSIVE.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE TONIGHT.
WE DO APPRECIATE IT. MY NAME IS DAVE RUDOLPH.
I'M ONE OF THE CO-DIRECTORS AT SACA OF FOOD SHELF AND AS TIM SAID, I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT 13 YEARS.
WHAT WE GET IS A LOT OF THE CUSTOMERS THAT COME AND SHOP IN THE THRIFT STORE ARE ACTUALLY COMING TO THE FOOD SHELF ITSELF SO IT'S NOT A CONSTANT STREAM.
WE'RE NOT SAVERS, WE DON'T PRETEND TO BE, WE'RE NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THE MAJORITY OF THEM DO COME IN.
WE DO GET PEOPLE THAT COME AND SHOP SOMETIMES JUST TO COME IN AND SHOP FOR VARIOUS THINGS AS WELL BUT IT IS NOT A LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THAT.
THIS IS REALLY MORE OF A BENEFIT TO THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE FOOD SHELF.
>> BEFORE WE OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE IN ATTENDANCE.
>> WE HAVE ONE PERSON ON ZOOM.
THEY HAVE NOT COMMUNICATED TO ME THAT THEY'D LIKE TO ADDRESS OR ASK QUESTIONS SO IT'S BONNIE STANLEY THAT IS ATTENDING VIA ZOOM.
>> THEN DID WE HAVE ANY EMAILS OR CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE CITY THAT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE PACKET AND AS FAR AS RESPONSES TO THIS?
>> OKAY. WELL, THIS TIME WE CAN OPEN UP THE OTHER QUESTION.
>> WAS JUST GOING TO MENTION. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A SMALL TYPO IN THE RETAIL SALES LIMITED.
IT LOOKS LIKE RETAIL SALES OF PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED IN A MINUTE.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE PROCESSED.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID, ANDREW.
I JUST WANTED TO [OVERLAPPING] MENTION THAT.
WELL, NOW WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION FOR THESE SUBJECTS.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TALKING TO THE COMMISSION, PLEASE LET OUR DATA KNOW HERE AND THEN ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS WHEN YOU COME TO THE PODIUM.
>> IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, THOUGH.
DON'T WORRY. LAURENE, ST. GABRIEL DARGE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO SECA IN MY LIFE. I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT.
BUT I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF NEIGHBORS THAT AFTER TALKING TO ME AND HAVING DISCUSSIONS, I VOLUNTEERED TO COME AND SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF.
THE FIRST THING IS MOST OF THEM DO NOT USE SECA.
THEY LIVE WITHIN A FEW BLOCKS OF THE NEW LOCATION THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MOVING TO.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SECA OTHER THAN IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET FREE FOOD, CLOTHING, THAT SORT OF THING.
THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN PROBABLY A 6-BLOCK RADIUS, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THEM THAT HAVE TALKED TO ME ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS THAT THEY DO NOT WANT IT MOVED INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND SOME HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT EVEN, THIS IS IT I'M GOING TO PUT MY HOUSE UP FOR SALE.
[00:20:01]
THEY DON'T WANT IT IN OUR AREA.I MYSELF, I'M SOMEWHAT ALOOF ABOUT IT BECAUSE I'VE NEVER USED IT, BUT I CARE ENOUGH TO COME AND SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF.
SOME OF THEM SAY THINGS LIKE, WELL, THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO REGARDLESS IF WE'RE THERE AND SPEAK UP WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM.
THEY DON'T WANT IT TO BE MORE OF THERE BECAUSE THEY SAID WHY ARE YOU MOVING IT THERE? WHY ARE WE EVEN CONSIDERING MOVING THE LOCATION IF IT ALREADY WORKS? CAN YOU TELL ME THAT? I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
WHY SECA IS MOVING, AND I'VE NEVER BEEN THERE, SO I DON'T KNOW MUCH.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHY IT'S BEING MOVED AND WHY IT CAN'T STAY WHERE IT IS, WHERE IT'S ALREADY FUNCTIONING AND BEING PRODUCTIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY?
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANTS AND NOT DISLOCATION.
THE OTHER CONCERN IS THEY REALLY THINK IT'S GOING TO BRING MORE CRIME INTO THE AREA.
THERE HASN'T BEEN PROBLEMS WITH CRIME IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
I LIVE THERE. I KNOW ISSUES THAT HAVE GONE ON AND THEY HAVE EXPRESSED TO ME THAT BRING IT UP AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
HAVE THEY THINK IT WILL BRING IN MORE TRANSIENTS, POSSIBLY HOMELESS? MAYBE THEY'LL START PITCHING TENTS AND THE PARK ACROSS THE STREET.
THEY'RE JUST APPALLED AT HAVING IT MOVE THERE.
THAT IS ONE THING I CAME HERE TO SAY THAT IN SOME WAYS I 100% AGREE WITH THEM.
EVEN THOUGH I'VE NEVER BEEN TO SECA, I WOULDN'T WANT THAT COMING INTO THE AREA EITHER BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF NEW IMMIGRANTS COMING LIVING IN THE AREA ALREADY AND THERE'S BEEN PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THEM.
>> DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS SPECIFIC TO THE TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING CODE OF ADDING RETAIL TO THOSE RURAL AREAS?
>> I REALLY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT, SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE I CAN SPEAK TO IT, BUT I AM SPEAKING ON THIS LEVEL ABOUT THIS.
YEAH. IT'S THAT PRETTY MUCH ALL I SHOULD SAY THEN IT SAYS ENOUGH AT THAT POINT.
THEN I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, IF IT'S ABLE TO BE BROUGHT UP HERE.
>> SORRY. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE RELATED TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ONLY.
>> OKAY, BECAUSE I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN OPERATING UP AN ART GALLERY, ART CENTER TO GET SOME CULTURALLY DEVELOPED THINGS IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RATHER THAN JUST DEALING WITH THIS REALLY SUBCULTURE-TYPE STUFF FOR.
>> THE BEST PLACE FOR THAT WOULD BE AT THE PUBLIC FORUM AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AND YOU COULD ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL WITH THOSE IDEAS.
>> I THINK THERE'S A FEW WE CAN DIVIDE THESE QUESTIONS A LITTLE BIT, BUT I'D LIKE SECA TO SPEAK ON THE RATIONALE FOR MOVING IF YOU COULD, AND THEN STAFF HAVE SOME COMMENTS RELATED TO CRIME FEEDBACK FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WE COULD SHARE.
I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE TWO STANDOUT COMPONENTS OF THE COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR COMMISSIONER. FIRST OF ALL, THE PRIMARY REASONS.
SECOND IS MOVING, OF COURSE, IS THE INCREASED NEED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR SERVICES.
THEREFORE, THEY NEED INCREASED SPACE, INCREASED PARKING TO FACILITATE THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
IT'S JUST THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE NEEDS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IT HAS TO PROVIDE AND HELP MEET THOSE NEEDS.
THAT'S THE PRIMARY RATIONALE FOR MOVING FROM THEIR CURRENT LOCATION TO THE NEW LOCATION.
WITH REGARD TO THE HISTORY OF WHERE SECA HAS BEEN OVER THE DECADES, I DON'T THINK THEY'VE EVER HAD A CONSISTENT ISSUE WHERE THERE'S BEEN A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS THAT SECA IS MEETING THE NEEDS OF ARE ACTUALLY WORKING.
THOSE WHO HAVE JOBS WHO EARN A LOWER INCOME, WHO NEEDS SUPPLEMENTAL HELP TO MAKE ENDS MEET OR FIND THEMSELVES IN A PINCH.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN A HISTORY OF ANY MAGNET FOR TRANSIENT INDIVIDUALS IN THE PAST.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK JUST WITH REGARD TO AS ALL THIS RELATES TO THE AMENDMENT, SECONDS BOUGHT THE PROPERTY, THEY'RE MOVING, THEIR CURRENT FOOD SHELF FITS THE ZONING OF THE CURRENT LOCATION.
THERE'S REALLY NOT AN ISSUE THERE.
THE QUESTION IS, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO CONTINUE TO MEET THIS VERY SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE WITH REGARD TO A THRIFT STORE? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE IN THIS LOCATION AND PERHAPS EVEN ANOTHER LIGHT INDUSTRIAL CASES TO HAVE A VERY LIMITED, AGAIN, SINCE IT'S ALREADY BEEN STATED, THERE IS A PATTERN THAT THERE'S THIS LIMITED RETAIL AS AN UNDERCURRENT, AND SOME OF THESE USES AS WELL? I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS BEFORE I LEAVE ON THAT ISSUE.
>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
[00:25:01]
WE HAD A DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE WE HAD PUBLIC WORKS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FIRE AND POLICE ALL PRESENT, AND CAPTAIN.>> HE TALKED ABOUT THE CRIME ISSUES THAT ARE ALREADY PRESENT ALONG CALIFORNIA STREET.
IT WAS HIS PERSPECTIVE THAT THEY WERE MORE CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY JUST BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A TON OF ACTIVITY IN THAT AREA, SO IT'S NOT AS TRAFFICKED.
IT PROVIDES MORE OF A COVER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
IT WAS THEIR OPINION THAT INCREASING ACTIVITY THERE COULD ACTUALLY DECREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR THOSE CRIMES OCCURRING JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT COVER ANY LONGER.
>> GRADE MORE TRAFFIC COMING TO THIS ENCLAVE AS A POSITIVE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ALSO, SOME COMMENTARY ON SYNERGIES WITH THE ADJACENT PARK WERE BORN OUT OF THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN ACTIVATE THAT SPACE BECAUSE IT'S A PART THAT'S TUCKED AWAY AND BRINGING FAMILIES THAT UTILIZE THE FOOD SHELF THAT COULD PERHAPS ALSO UTILIZE THE PARK.
THERE WAS CONNECTIVITY THERE THAT WAS POSITIVE, AND MAYBE WAYS TO ENHANCE THE PARK.
THERE'S ALREADY A SMALL COMMUNITY GARDEN EFFORT THERE, SO THERE'S SYNERGY BETWEEN THAT PARK AND THE PROGRAMMING OF THE FOOD SHELF THAT BRINGS MORE ACTIVITY IN A POSITIVE WAY.
THAT WAS THE PERSPECTIVE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
YOU COULD PLEASE TO THE PODIUM IF YOU DON'T MIND.
>> I WAS AT THAT RECENT SAFETY MEETING IN WHOAMI AKI PARK RIGHT ACROSS FROM WHERE THE NEW SECA LOCATION IS SUPPOSED TO BE.
THERE WERE NUMEROUS NEIGHBORS THERE THAT WERE SPEAKING OUT ON CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON THERE ALREADY FOR YEARS BECAUSE THEY LIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PARK AND THAT SORT OF THING.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT SPOKE UP TO ABOUT HOW THEY DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BRING LESS CRIME WITH MORE ACTIVITY BECAUSE THE ACTIVITY THEY'RE ALREADY HAS GOT SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIORS, VARIOUS THINGS WHERE YOU APPROACH SOMEONE AND YOU TRY TO BE FRIENDLY AND SAY HI AND YOU GET THIS REAL GAMEY THING GOING ON WITH THEM NOT WANTING TO EVEN BE TALKED TO AND NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT THAT MEETING FELT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES ABOUT CRIME AND TRANSIENTS COMING INTO THE AREA.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT IT THAT WE WOULD HOPE IT WOULD BE GOOD, BUT I HEAR A LOT AND NEGATIVE INPUT FROM IT.
THEY FEEL LIKE NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY, THE CITY IS GOING TO DO WHAT THEY WANT ANYWAY.
THEIR LIVES, THEY FEEL LIKE THEIR LIVES ARE BEING IMPINGED UPON, AND WANTING TO PUT THEIR HOUSE UP FOR SALE AND JUST GET OUT OF THE AREA THAT IT'S WRONG MISTAKE.
THAT IT'S A MISTAKE TO DO THIS. THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.
>> DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL?
>> YES. POLY PHILPAD, WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. COMMISSION, I'M SORRY.
>> HI THERE. THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO TALK TO YOU GUYS.
BUT SECA HAS INFLUENCED MY LIFE SO MANY WAYS.
IN OCTOBER OF 2014, I HAD FINALLY COMPLETED A SIX-MONTH CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY TREATMENT PROGRAM.
I HAD A HOUSE IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS.
I WASN'T QUITE READY TO GO BACK TO WORK YET, SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER WITH THEM IN THEIR WAREHOUSE.
I GAINED SKILLS, I GAINED A WORK ETHIC, I GAINED SO MUCH STUFF.
BUT THEN IT WAS TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK.
I HAD GAINED SOME WEIGHT, [LAUGHTER] WHICH HAPPENS.
AT THAT POINT, IT WAS A GOOD THING.
I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR A THIRD PAIR OF JEANS.
I KNEW ABOUT THE THRIFT STORE.
I KNOW THAT DAVE'S RIGHT WHEN HE SAYS THAT THE PEOPLE THAT COME THERE FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE, THEY ARE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO SHOP IN A THRIFT SHOP.
I WANTED TO PAY FOR THE THINGS I GOT.
IT WAS PART OF MY PRIDE, IT WAS PART OF MY SELF-CONFIDENCE.
I WAS ABLE TO BUY A PAIR OF JEANS FOR $1.
[00:30:01]
THEY WOULD HAVE GAVE THEM TO ME.I WANTED TO BUY MY PAIR OF JEANS.
SINCE THAT TIME IN MY LIFE, I NOW OWN MY HOUSE AT 4151 MADISON STREET NORTHEAST.
I OWN A VEHICLE. I WORK, AND I CONTINUE TO VOLUNTEER WITH SECO BECAUSE THEIR GIFT TO ME, YOU SEE, ARE IRREPLACEABLE.
SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK IT'S JUST A PAIR OF JEANS, BUT FOR ME, IT WAS A VALUE [LAUGHTER] CORE TO WHO I AM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE COMMISSION?
>> YOU CAN PROCEED WITH CLOSING THE HEARING.
>> WELL, AT THIS POINT, I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WAIVE THE READING OF DRAFT ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 1690, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
>> ANY OPPOSED? NO? WE HAVE A SECOND MOTION IN FRONT OF US.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE DRAFT ZONING ORDINANCE NUMBER 1690 AS PRESENTED.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTIONS BOTH CARRY.
CAN YOU BRING THE AGENDA BACKUP, PLEASE? THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
THAT WAS OUR ONLY PUBLIC HEARING ACTION ITEM FOR TODAY.
SO WE ARE ONTO OUR NEXT PART OF
[OTHER BUSINESS]
THE COMMISSION MEETING TODAY, THAT'S OTHER BUSINESS.WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 4, THE REVIEW OF PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY AT 3851 CENTRAL AVENUE NORTHEAST.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, AND THE NEXT TWO ITEMS ARE VERY SIMILAR IN NATURE AND ACTUALLY ADJACENT PROPERTIES THAT HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND AS MOST OF YOU HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
BUT FOR JOHN, IT'S CUSTOMARY OR ACTUALLY REQUIRED BY STATUTE THAT WHEN CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ACQUIRES PROPERTY THAT WE ADDRESS THOSE ACQUISITIONS WITH THIS BODY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THE FIRST OF THE TWO PROPERTIES IS 3851 CENTRAL AVENUE.
AGAIN, THEY'RE LOCATED IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ONE ANOTHER.
IN THIS CASE, PROBABLY THE BEST FRAME OF REFERENCE IS THE HEIGHTS RENTAL PROPERTY DIRECTLY TO THE SOUTH OF THE FOLLOWING TWO PROPERTIES.
THE FIRST IS A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME THAT WAS CONVERTED TO OFFICES THAT WERE SERVING THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS BEHIND THEM.
THEN THERE WAS A COMMERCIAL BUILDING NEXT DOOR TO THAT THAT HAD AN APARTMENT ABOVE A COMMERCIAL SPACE, THAT WAS ALSO LIKE THE LEASING OFFICE FOR THOSE APARTMENTS.
THE CITY'S EDA HAS SINCE ACQUIRED BOTH PROPERTIES.
JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE CONSISTENCIES WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, GOALS, AND POLICIES: ENHANCING THE IMAGE AND VITALITY OF THE CENTRAL AVENUE CORRIDOR WHILE PROTECTING AND ENHANCING ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL AREAS; ENCOURAGING INFILL DEVELOPMENT THAT DEMONSTRATES COMPATIBILITY WITH EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTERISTICS IN TERM OF QUALITY, DESIGN, BUILDING HEIGHT, THE PLACEMENT SCALE, AND ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY.
BAKED WITHIN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ARE ALSO THE UNDERLYING THEMES OF THE REMOVAL OF SUBSTANDARD, FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE, BLIGHTED PROPERTIES AND BOTH OF THESE PROPERTIES, ALBEIT RECENTLY FIXED UP A LITTLE BIT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WOULD QUALIFY.
THE CITY'S INTENT OR THE EDA'S INTENT FOR BOTH IS DEMOLITION FOR REDEVELOPMENT.
NO IMMEDIATE PLANS FOR THE CORNER RIGHT NOW.
LIKELY, IT WOULD BE A LARGER LAND ASSEMBLY EFFORT OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS TO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL ADJACENT PROPERTIES, BUT ZONE COMMERCIALLY CURRENTLY SO ITS FUTURE COMMERCIAL REDEVELOPMENT, AND ANOTHER STRATEGIC PRIORITY OF THE EDA'S REMOVAL OF ALL THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES ALONG THE CORRIDOR AS WELL.
WITH THAT, THE STANDARDS FOR BOTH PROPERTIES APPLIED ARE THE SAME.
I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE PROVE THE MOTIONS INDIVIDUALLY, BUT THE SAME PRESENTATION FOR BOTH.
[00:35:04]
>> ARE WE GOING TO LET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE SOME FUN ON THESE PROPERTIES, [LAUGHTER] TOO?
>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
THE INTENT WE'VE JUST ACTUALLY HEARD BACK TODAY FROM THE FIRE CHIEF THAT THEY DO INTEND TO DO A TRAINING EXERCISE ON THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOME THAT'S ON THE CORNER.
IT'S TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.
THEY JUST BURNT DOWN THE HOUSE BEHIND TACO BELL ON THE 7TH, BUT INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE AND WE WANT TO KEEP THEM WITH A STEADY PIPELINE OF PROPERTIES. [LAUGHTER]
>> SO THAT'S HOUSE REALLY? [LAUGHTER]
>> YES, THEY DO. BEYOND JUST THE BURN EXERCISES, THEY'RE USING ALL OF THESE ACQUISITIONS FOR INTERMITTENT STAGING.
NOT FULL-BLOWN BURN EXERCISES, BUT SCENARIOS THAT THEY ROUGH BREACHING, WALL BREACHING, LIGHTING SMALL FIRES AND PUTTING THEM OUT, AND THEN THE CAPSTONE EVENT IS THE BURN DOWN.
THEY ALWAYS LIKE TO DO IT ON FIRE AWARENESS MONTH WHICH IS OCTOBER, OUR FIRE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH.
IT PUTS US INTO A BIND ON THE DEMOLITION, BUT WE'RE ABLE TO PULL IT OFF.
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU.
BECAUSE THE EDA HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED THESE PURCHASES, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEIR PREVIOUS USES HAVE DISCONTINUED AND THE BUILDINGS ARE NO LONGER IN USE?
THEY'VE BEEN VACATED SIMULTANEOUSLY ACQUISITION BY THE CITY, THE OCCUPANTS HAD MOVED OUT, SO NO LONGER UTILIZING THOSE FACILITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE APARTMENTS.
THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS DURING THE PROCESS HAD BEEN SOLD AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? WE HAVE FOUR TOTAL MOTIONS BETWEEN THE TWO PROPERTIES HERE.
>> I CAN JUMP IN WITH A MOTION TO MOVE TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2023-PZ06, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE TO ADAPT RESOLUTION 2023-PZ06 OR RESOLUTION FINDING THAT THE ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN LAND FOR REDEVELOPMENT PURPOSES BY THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS' COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
>> OPPOSED? AARON, DO YOU WANT ME TO INTRODUCE ITEM 4?
>> YOU CERTAINLY COULD JUST FORMALLY, AND THEN JUST MOVED TO THE MOTION PORTION.
>> SURE. ITEM 4 ON OUR AGENDA TODAY IS TO REVIEW THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3853 CENTRAL AVENUE NORTHEAST, AND WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF RESOLUTION 2023-PZ05, THERE BEING AMPLE COPIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
>> ANY OPPOSED? AND ONE LAST MOTION.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION, TO MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2020-PZ05, A RESOLUTION FINDING THAT THE ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN LAND FOR REDEVELOPMENT AND PURPOSES BY THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS' COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
>> ANY OPPOSED? THAT COMPLETES ALL OF OUR AGENDA ITEMS FOR TODAY.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION [NOISE] TO CLOSE TONIGHT'S PROCEEDINGS?
>> [LAUGHTER] I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO [LAUGHTER] ADJOURN FOR THIS EVENING.
>> OPPOSED? 6:40, WE'RE OUT OF HERE.
[LAUGHTER]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.