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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.11.08 Work Session Minutes Council Workshop Minutes February 11, 2008 Mayor Soderberg called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Present: Mayor Kevan Soderberg, Councilmember Fogarty, Councilmember McKnight, Councilmember Pritzlaff, Councilmember Wilson Peter Herlofsky, Lisa Shadick, Randy Distad, Lee Smick, Tony Wippler, Tina Hansmeier, Lisa Dargis, Cynthia Muller Ken Stewart, John Franceschelli, David McMillen, Beverly Preece, Ed Samuelson, Robert Vogel, Gil Anderson, Charles Weber, Nancy Anderson, Dawn Johnson, Aaron Fitzloff, Todd Larson, Dirk Rotty, Geoffery Stokes, Todd Arey, Erik Starkman, Chad Collignon Audience: Kris Akin, Nick Schultz, Jeff Thelen, Leon Orr, Michelle Leonard The purpose of the workshop was to delineate the proposed downtown commercial district. Staff provided a map with a proposed boundary from 2nd Street to 4th Street and from the river to Walnut Street with an extension down 2nd Street. This area was chosen because of its history, streetscape, and high density commercial uses. Staff asked for feedback on these proposed boundaries from Council and Boards and Commission members. Comments included wanting the area with the creamery, bowling alley, and the flower shop included. If the purpose is for redevelopment, some felt it should include Elm Street to TH3 and 1 block north and south of Elm Street. Some felt once they come over the bridge and hit Division Street they are in downtown. There are 119 acres vacant for commercial property and another 106 acres are added in the 2030 comprehensive plan. Opportunities for development include the City Hall site, old liquor store, McVicker lot, Duebers building, and Riste building site. The EDA has contracted with private developers for developing some of these areas and the contracts have lapsed. They entered into a contract 10 years ago for redeveloping the Exchange Bank building and that is still in process. Business owners in attendance were asked what brought their business to Farmington. It was the architecture of the buildings and the quaintness of the downtown. But they did not realize how slow business is. The Downtown Business Association delineates the area where people can park their car and walk on a sidewalk without going through a residential area as downtown. Council Workshop Minutes February 11, 2008 Page 2 Dakota County Technical College is considering leasing space in the new City Hall for evening classes. This should bring some traffic to the downtown. In the summer there could also be a farmers market, the Downtown Business Association plans activities for weekends, all these things enhance the small town feel and bring people downtown. Many people living on the north end do not know where downtown is. When events take place, there should be mailings, flyers, ads in the newspaper, etc. The best advertisement is word of mouth. Council and Boards and Commission members should talk to their neighbors about events going on, or what is available downtown and where it is located. Some were concerned with creating a definite line. Something could happen with a property just outside the line and it would not fall in the downtown category. Design standards were discussed. Design standards would include a look that fits with the rest of downtown. A consensus was reached that the downtown area should include the river to the north, Walnut Street on the south, 4th Street on the east, and 1st Street on the west. The southern tail along 2nd Street should not be included. Staffwill bring this to the public in early March for buy in. The Heritage Preservation Commission has been working on a Neighborhood Preservation Overlay District to protect the historic area. The City would need 50% buy in from the residents in this area for the overlay district to occur. This would mean ifthere were to be demolition, new construction, or moving existing buildings, it would need to be approved by the HPC. This would not include additions, remodels, decks, porches, etc. unless it is a heritage landmark property. This designation would control massing (size and shape) of buildings rather than the architecture. It preserves the neighborhood's stability and fills a gap not satisfied in traditional zoning. This would start with the downtown area. The workshop adjourned at 7:56 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~...~/77~ tCynthia Muller Executive Assistant