2017-05-08 Council Work Session MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Council Workshop
Monday, May 8, 2017
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a workshop of the Mendota Heights City Council was held at
City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Garlock called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Councilmembers Duggan, Miller, and Paper
were also present. Councilmember Petschel joined the meeting at 2:45 p.m. Staff in attendance
included City Administrator Mark McNeill, Finance Director Kristen Schabacker, Public Works
Director Ryan Ruzek, Community Development Director Tim Benetti, City Attorney Andy Pratt and
City Clerk Lorri Smith.
VILLAGE LOTS
Administrator McNeill provided background on three vacant City-owned lots which are part of The
Village at Mendota Heights development. Representatives from Trammell Crow Company were
present including John Carlson, Principal; Mary Lucas, Associate Development and Investment;
Gretchen Camp, from ESG Architecture and Design. Vern Sling, representing Spack Consulting,
joined the meeting at 2:40 p.m.
Trammell Crow Company has provided the City with a purchase and sales agreement for this
property. Mr. Carlson updated the Council on where Trammell Crow is at with the development of
this site. They addressed the Council's and the residents' concerns of size and scope of the proposed
building, and the impact of additional traffic on Dodd. Representatives from Trammell Crow have
set a meeting with the residents of the Linden Street Homeowners Association to hear their concerns
and answer their questions about the proposed development. The community meeting that was
scheduled for May 15, 2017, has been postponed, and will be rescheduled to a future date.
The site plan for the development was discussed. The representatives presented a change to the
proposed five-story apartment building, and showed how it would look if it were four stories. They
stated they would be willing to pay for or share the cost for a traffic study to be completed on Dodd
Road. The building will have two stories of underground parking available for the tenants and their
guests. There are eleven parking spaces located near the front entrance. The parking ratio for this
development will be 1.3 stalls per unit.
Councilmember Duggan questioned if the developer had considered two buildings, instead of one
large building. John Carlson replied that they did consider this and found that the costs increase
significantly with this approach. He stated that they have found that the vacation of Maple Street
would not have a significant impact on the traffic counts on Dodd Road.
Councilmember Duggan questioned the age restriction for the residents. John Carlson stated that the
residents will be 55 or older.
John Carlson reviewed other changes made to the plan. The building will have approximately 150
units as proposed before, but the units will be slightly smaller. The Councilmembers requested that
the fourth floor units be stepped back from the third floor, to soften the look of the building. Mr.
Carlson said that the average rent will be from $1,800 to $3,000 per month. The elevation of the four
story building will be at 923.5 feet, and that the elevation of the five story building had been
proposed to be at 934 feet. Councilmember Miller requested a drawing of how the four story
building would look from Dodd Road.
The Councilmembers discussed the closing of Maple Street and how the intersection will need to be
controlled. A roundabout was discussed.
Councilmember Petschel emphasized that the Council must find a solution for the heavy traffic on
Dodd Road, and that the City may have to pay for the solution. She questioned if the Council could
consider moving Map1e Street to the north.
Mr. Vern Swing, from Spack Consulting, was present to discuss the preliminary information from a
traffic study that his company was conducting on Dodd Road. He has collected some data at the
intersections in this area. He stated that Maple Street is used mostly as a cut-through for residents to
get to The Village. It is used by approximately 200 cars per day.
He stated that the intersection of Dodd and Market Street may warrant a traffic signal. He stated that
a traffic signal is more manageable than a roundabout. He has a call in to MnDOT to discuss the
possibility of a signal at this intersection.
Mr. Swing stated that it would take approximately three weeks to finalize the traffic study, and if the
City wants to have a peer review of the study completed, that may take approximately one additional
week to do.
John Carlson stated that they realize the project needs to make sense, and Trammell Crow is willing
to get the answers needed for the Council. They hope to have the answers needed before convening a
community meeting.
ADJOI_JRN
Mayor Garlock adjourned the meeting at 3:20 p.m.
Neil Garlock, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Lorri Smith, City Clerk
May 8, 2017 Council Workshop Page 2 of 2