September 30, 2024
1) Housing Plan - Implementation
Drew Awsumb responded to Kristin’s letter to the City Manager, stating that the first step to
implementation is for Council to choose one or two of the actions listed in the Plan to
further study. This step needs to be placed on a COW Agenda. Kristin will read/paraphrase
her letter to the City Manager calling for action on this at the 8/19 City Council meeting to
express the urgency of getting started with implementation.
There was a presentation by the City Attorney at the 8/13 PZC meeting about PUDs and the
Public Benefit requirement in the zoning code. The attorney made it clear that anyone can
apply for a PUD if they think that the PUD process will result in a better project than under
the regular zoning code. As far as a public benefit, the question is what do the citizens want
to enhance the community? Alderperson Steinfels relayed that the City Council P&R
Committee has put a placeholder in their issues list for a financial tool to capture any funds
from developers that might go towards a public benefit. It would be creating a new
accounting code in the city’s financials and the rules around how that money would be held
and what it could be spent on. For example, if the city decides to collect tear down fees or
fees-in-lieu for AH units it could be deposited and accounted for and spent on creating AH
or other public enhancements such as murals.
We will continue to monitor City Council and PZC Agendas for housing-related
issues/discussions.
The developer for the Fairview lots has withdrawn his PUD application and will likely plan to
build by right, following the existing codes. Thus he no longer has to provide a public
benefit.
The larger project under consideration by PZC, in discussion stages only, is for 36 and 40
Prairie (site of the Farmers Market and the parking lot across the street from it). The
proposal here is for over 100 units. It is expected to come back for discussion or formal
application in the future.
2) Comprehensive Plan
No recent discussions on the Comprehensive Plan by the PZC.
3) Reach out to local, state, and federal legislators about possible zoning reforms or other
ways to increase AH.
4) Time meeting adjourned: 7:30 pm.
5) The next meeting will be Tuesday,