2019-01-29 Council Work Session PacketCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
AGENDA
January 29, 2019
12:15 pm
Mendota Heights City Hall
1. Open Session--Call to Order
2. Discussion Topics
A. Follow-up From City Atty regarding The Village at Mendota Heights
Mortgage
B. Concept Discussion for Village Lots Request for Proposals
C. 2019-2020 Goals and Objectives
3. Adjourn
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Mark McNeill, City Administrator
Subject: Village at Mendota Heights Mortgage
Date: January 29, 2019
Comment:
City Attorney Andy Pratt will be in attendance at the January 29th workshop to conduct a follow-up
discussion on the mortgage issue which was first brought before the Council on January 7th.
He will be looking for guidance on possible next steps.
Mark McNeill
City Administrator
page 2
City Council Workshop Memo
DATE: January 29, 2019
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Mark McNeill, City Administrator
Tim Benetti, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Undeveloped City Owned Lots at The Village [Town] Center
Introduction
At a January 29th workshop, the City Council is asked to provide staff with feedback as to what type of land
use it sees as being appropriate for the Village lots.
Background
The original and approved Planned Unit Development (PUD and Master Plan for the Mendota Heights
Town Center (now known as The Village of Mendota Heights) included a mix of retail, office and
residential uses. The Village PUD is now substantially complete, with the exception of the last phase,
which is referred to as the “West Neighborhood”. That originally called for 14 residential townhomes and
5 home-office style townhomes, which were called “hoffices”.
The zoning and comprehensive land use guidance, which is in place for these parcels allows for any
residential or commercial uses, other than industrial.
As part of a foreclosure proceeding a number of years ago, the City acquired the ownership rights to the 4
parcels originally intended for this last development phase. The subject parcels consist of 0.79 ac., 0.48 ac.
0.45 ac. and 0.95 ac. respectively, or 2.67 acres of total land area, and are generally located at the northeast
corner of Dodd Road and Maple Street, bounded by Linden Street to the east (refer to attached map).
In early 2017, the City received a proposal from Trammell-Crow of Chicago, IL to develop a 5 story, 150
unit senior apartment building with high-end/on-site amenities. That proposal was later reduced in height
to a 4 story, and then again to a 3-story building, but all the while retaining the 150 living units. After much
debate, the Council elected not to proceed with a proposed Letter of Intent to purchase, and T-C withdrew
their request to purchase/develop this site.
Since then, due to a strong economy and the interest in multi-family housing developments in the Twin
Cities region, staff has fielded a number of inquiries and requests from various developers wanting to either
buy or develop the city-owned lots. General concepts received so far include a 3-4 story market-rate
apartment building; a 3-4 story senior residential (cooperative) apartment building; a several proposals with
2-3 story row-house buildings; detached townhome “villas”; and a single 12,000 sf. commercial pre-school
facility. While not submitting true “concept plans”, a majority of the other developer groups have expressed
similar ideas related to multi-family residential developments.
page 3
The City Council has expressed general interest in seeing these lots develop, most recently at the January
7th Goal Setting workshop In response, staff is seeking feedback and direction from the Council as to what
“concept” or type of development the Council sees as the highest and best use – or best fit--for these parcels.
The Council will be asked to review and give general consideration to five concept plans. Identifying
information will have been redacted and made “anonymous” in order to provide starting points for the
discussion, and direction on what type of “development” the Council deems best for this site.
If a consensus can be reached on what type or style is favored, staff will begin preparing a Request for
Proposals (RFP). That would include detailed instructions or guidance of what the Council would like to
see developed on the parcels, which could include such things as preferred architectural treatments, selling
price, schedule, etc. There would then be a call for developers to submit an official concept plan(s) to the
city, whereby later the concept plans will be reviewed, judged and scored by the staff and Council. After
scoring, the Council could choose to either interview one or more of the developers, or simply choose to
partner with or sell directly to the preferred developer.
As part of your continuing review, staff has included a draft RFP and Letter of Interests, both of which were
prepared by city staff a number of years ago, but were never distributed or sent out (per the direction of the
Council at that time).
Recommendation
The City Council should give careful consideration of the general concepts plans to be presented at the
workshop. It could then direct staff to prepare a follow-up Request for Proposals (RFP) document. That
would then be brought back to the Council for final review/approvals; and mailed out to the development
groups thereafter.
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1960
700
702
750
1925
699
720
755 745
1933
1938
1944
1887
1899
697
1894
1888
698
1937
1941
1883
730
765
696
764
1882
740
776
772
693
780
692
689
698DODD RDLINDEN ST
MARKET ST
HILLTOP RD
MAPLE ST
MAIN STOAK STHWY OAK STVALLEY CURVE RDMULLBERRY LNRIDGE PL
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Dakota County GIS
City-Owned LotsVillage at Mendota Heights2.67 Ac. (total) - Zoned MU-PUD
City ofMendotaHeights0180
SCALE IN FEETDate: 1/15/2019
GIS Map Disclaimer:This data is for informational purposes only and should not be substituted for a true title search, property appraisal, plat,survey, or for zoning verification. The City of Mendota Heights assumes no legal responsibility for the information containedin this data. The City of Mendota Heights, or any other entity from which data was obtained, assumes no liability for any errorsor omissions herein. If discrepancies are found, please contact the City of Mendota Heights.
Contact "Gopher State One Call" at 651-454-0002 for utility locations, 48 hours prior to any excavation.
LAND USES
City Lots
Condominiums
Senior Housing
Row Houses
Office-Retail
Office
Retail
Park
0.79 ac.
0.45 ac.
0.48 ac.
0.95 ac.
page 5
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MENDOTA HEIGHTS TOWN CENTER
STATE HIGHWAY 110 & DODD ROAD MARCH 26 2002
MASTER
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,r---------1 Ne1·1ghborhood L ____ J __ .. (co dominium flats)
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CONCEPT
MENDOTA HEIGHTS , MINNESOTA
THE PLAN
The Mendota Heights Town Center will be located on a 23 acre redevelopment
site at the northeast corner of Dodd Road and Highway 110. This corner is
historically significant as the site of the original Mendota Town Hall.
COMMERCIAL/RETAIL
The retail and office space lines the gently curving frontage road, leading to the
"town square". Retail uses should include a mix of neighborhood convenience
(baken;, pharmaCJ;, grocen;, bank, dnJ cleaners), specialty (_florist, art gallen;), and
destination uses (restaurant, deli, coffeehouse) . The buildings which form a
backdrop for the town square will be 2 story, with retail on the street level, service
office space above, and parking underground. Several single story retail sites
are located on the frontage road or near the square, appropriate for destination
uses. The design and layout will be both auto and pedestrian friendly, with
adequate parking to be shared by the various uses.
The plan includes:
HOUSING
RETAIL
OFFICE/SERVICE
50,000 SF
41,000 SF
The town center includes a range of life-cycle housing, including senior hous-
ing, one and two story townhomes and condominiums . All resident parking is
underground to minimize paving. The senior housing building is 3 stories high
and set in the center of the site. The building is being developed by the Dakota
County Community Development Agency, as rental units, affordable to low and
moderate income seniors. Two townhome neighborhoods are planned. The
West Neighborhood will offer five live/work option (HOffice) townhomes, fac-
ing the central commercial area . The HOffices have the option of a street level
office space and additional front door. The East Neighborhood offers 1-2 story
units overlooking the village green. All of the townhomes will have front doors
or porches facing the street, with on-street guest parking. The North neighbor-
hood includes two 2 story, mansion-style buildings, all resident parking under-
ground. Guest parking will be provided in a central courtyard .
WEST NEIGHBORHOOD
EAST NEIGHBORHOOD
NORTH NEIGHBORHOOD
SENIOR HOUSING
CIVIC & GREEN SPACES
TOWNHOUSE
H0FFICE (LIVE-WORK OPTION)
TOWNHOUSES
CONDOMINIUM FLATS
APARTMENTS
14 UNITS
5 UNITS
20 UNITS
36 UNITS
60 UNITS
135 UNITS
The town center is organized around a network of green spaces, interconnected
by pedestrian sidewalks and bicycle paths. These spaces include:
-the "welcoming green" with a pond, arbor and dedicated trail parking
(informal , natural design);
-the "town square" which is the primary civic space for the Center, designed
around an urban garden with a fountain and flagpole defining each end
(more formal, annual & perennial gard ens),
-the "village green", with meandering trails, larger open spaces, and a pond
linked with swales or raingardens which link the neighborhoods to the town
square, and provide recreational space and a green transition from commercial
to resi dential uses. (informal, includes both recreational and natural areas)
These civic open spaces are further enlivened with interpretive elements
describing the history and geology of this area. The City has set a goal for
25% of the site to be retained as open space, and to provide trails through the
site connecting to the existing Big Rivers Regional Trail system and the
Mississippi River.
StudioWorks + LANDFORM
ARCHITEC lURE, C IVIL ENGINEERING li URBAN DESIGN
page 6
VILLAGE LOT DISCUSSION
General Concept Plan Proposals
CC Workshop Meeting
Jan. 29, 2019
0.95 ac. = 41,380 sf.
0.79 ac. = 34,400 sf.
0.48 ac. = 20,900 sf.
0.45 ac. = 19,600 sf.
141,000 sf. or 3.24 ac.
VILLAGE LOT DISCUSSION
Next Steps:
Council establishes site development parameters
(type, density, scale, architecture, etc.)
Request for Proposals
Letter of Interest for Development Partners
Letter of Interest – Village at Mendota Heights Page 1 of 2
Request for Letter of Interest for Development Partner
Village at Mendota Heights – City-owned Parcels
Objective
The City of Mendota Heights is seeking a real estate development partner to collaborate on a plan to develop the last
remaining vacant parcels on 1.72 acres within the Village at Mendota Heights mixed-use development. It is important to
the City and community that the parcels be developed in synergy with the existing development while being positioned
for success in the current marketplace.
Background
Mendota Heights is an inner-ring suburban community located in northern Dakota County along the bluffs surrounding
the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers which features high-quality residential and commercial developments. The City is
well-positioned just minutes south of both downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis with convenient access to the regional
highway system and MSP International Airport (see Exhibit A).
The Village at Mendota Heights is an award-winning 23-acre mixed use development located at the northeast quadrant
of the intersection of Dodd Road (State Highway 149) and State Highway 110. The development contains the following
uses and amenities (see Exhibit B):
Diverse mix of retail/office space (single and two-story)
On-street and underground public parking facilities (approximately 400 spaces)
36-unit condominium units (2 buildings)
20 row homes (3 buildings)
60-unit senior apartment building (owned and operated by the Dakota County CDA)
Market Square Park (0.24-acre open space with fountain)
River to River Greenway Trail connection (regional trail)
The Final Planned Unit Development (PUD) Plan was approved in 2003 and constructed in phases. The city-owned parcels
were designated as “row homes” with underground parking in the Final PUD (see Exhibit C) and include the following:
Parcel ID Plat Description Size (acres)
27-48335-03-020 Lot 2, Block 3 0.79
27-48335-03-010 Lot 1, Block 3 0.48
27-48335-02-010 Lot 1, Block 2 0.45
The entire Village at Mendota Heights development is zoned Mixed Use-PUD. The City is open to considering a change in
use or density from the approved plans, which will require an amendment to the Final PUD Plan in compliance with Title
12, Chapter 1, Article K of the City Code and approval by the City Council. As part of the original approval, design guidelines
were also established for the entire area, and should be considered as part of any proposed development.
page 7
Letter of Interest – Village at Mendota Heights Page 2 of 2
Development Vision
The City Council has informally discussed the intended vision for development of the city-owned parcels at recent
workshops. At this time, the City is soliciting interested development partners for the following development scenarios:
1. Townhome/Row Home Units (owner-occupied)
2. Condominium Units
3. Apartments
4. Office (single or multi-tenant)
5. Mixed Use
Submittal Requirements
Interested partners should submit a Letter of Interest (10-page limit) including the following information:
1. Name, address, telephone number, and email addresses of the project team.
2. Brief resumes and roles of key personnel, including relevant experience partnering with government agencies.
3. Project examples, preferably demonstrating successful public/private partnerships.
4. General statement of interest in a partnership with the City to implement a shared vision.
5. Concept Plan that identifies a preliminary site layout based on the intended use of the parcels.
6. Preliminary work plan that outlines key steps and timelines in the development process.
7. Any additional information that should be considered in evaluating the proposal.
An electronic copy and ten (10) hard copies must be submitted by 4:30 PM on Friday, August 26, 2016 to:
City of Mendota Heights
ATTN: Nolan Wall, City Planner
1101 Victoria Curve
Mendota Heights, MN 55118
nolanw@mendota-heights.com
Selection
All complete submittals received prior to the deadline will be reviewed by the City Council. Submittals will be evaluated
based on professional capabilities and demonstrated experience partnering with local governments to develop successful
projects based on a shared vision. The City will determine which respondents, if any, to invite for follow-up interviews
and presentations before the City Council in a timely manner.
The City intends to select a “Development Partner” for the parcels and enter into a pre-development agreement to
negotiate the terms and sale price as soon as possible thereafter to begin the development process.
Terms
The request for Letters of Interest in no way obligates the City to enter into a contract with any respondent; nor does it
limit the City from entering into a contract with an entity that does not respond to this request. Furthermore, the City
may pursue discussions with one or more respondent to this request, or none at all, and reserves the right, without
prejudice, to reject any and all responses and at any time without notice and without cause. The City will not reimburse
the respondent for expenses incurred in response to this Letter of Interest.
Questions regarding this Letter of Interest can be directed to Nolan Wall, City Planner at 651.255.1142 or
nolanw@mendota-heights.com or Mark McNeill, City Administrator at 651.255.1153 or markm@mendota-heights.com.
page 8
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Mark McNeill, City Administrator
Subject: 2019-20 Goal Setting Discussion
Date: January 29, 2019
Comment:
Introduction:
At the City Council workshop on January 29th, if time permits the Council will have an opportunity to
discuss further the Goals which were identified at the January 7th Goal setting session.
Background:
On January 7th, the City Council and staff met to discuss Goals and Objectives to pursue in 2019 and
2020. That facilitated meeting allowed for the Goals to be suggested, which have since been placed into
categories of similar themes. Once the City Council is comfortable with those, staff will then take those
Goals, and identify “Action Steps”—which is what is needed to be accomplished to attain the goals.
Responsible parties, and proposed timelines would also be assigned.
The final document would be brought back to the City Council for its approval. Once adopted, updates
would be given every 90 days, and posted on the City website.
Goals:
There are 51 “ideas” listed on this summary document, which have been grouped into one of four large
over-arching goals:
Enhance Governance
Enhance Community Assets and Services
Enhance Internal City Services
Enhance External City Services
There were also a handful of other ideas coming from the Workshop, which, while worthwhile, did not
easily fit into one of the above categories or are specific to a particular person or department; (i.e., the
adoption of a specific new software). Some of these are listed in “Other Tasks”.
There were also ideas which were suggested at the January 29th workshop which are not listed here.
Those might appear in the future as an Action Step to support a larger goal. An example is “Establish a
junior City Council”, which would support “Strengthen Youth Understanding of Government”.
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Similarly, “Protect Surface Water Quality” will likely have the following Action Steps to support it, all of
which were proposed at the Workshop:
• Move to street sweeping three times a year
• Implement best practices in snow plowing and snow removal
• Reduce the use of salt
• Participate in any class action lawsuits regarding coal-tar byproducts
The 51 ideas showed good thought on behalf of the Council and staff. However, given that that number
is almost twice the number of goals in the 2017-18 Goals and Objectives, we should talk about some
sort of prioritization at the Workshop meeting. My preference would be to briefly examine each of the
goals, and determine how widespread is the support for each. The Council could then establish which
are of the highest value to be pursued over the next two years. The concern is that if there is not some
sort of ranking, we might not accomplish those which are of the highest overall importance.
Action Required
The Council should review, and identify the Goals. Staff will then take them back for further review.
Mark McNeill
City Administrator
page 10
Preliminary 1/29/19
2019-2020
City of Mendota Heights
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
ENHANCE GOVERNANCE
City Council
• Update and implement Council rules to improve meeting efficiency and effectiveness.
• Increase civility at Planning and City Council Meetings.
• Strengthen Youth Understanding of Government
• Conduct a community wide survey
Boards and Commissions
• Update process for City Council interaction with Commissions
• Explore creation of an IT Commission
• Explore creation of a Natural resources commission or committee.
• Consider establishment a junior parks and recreation commission
ENHANCE COMMUNITY ASSETS AND SERVICES
Community and Economic Development
• Consider implementation of a hotel lodging tax for business development
• Develop and agreed upon vision for key development/redevelopment areas
Village Lots
Bourne site
• Conduct a business retention survey
• Implement Comp Plan 2040 Update local zoning and subdivision ordinances.
• Prepare for 2020 Census, and findings.
• Address lack of cell coverage in the City of Mendota Heights
Develop a Sense of Community
• Develop new opportunities for residents to get together and congregate.
page 11
a. Investigate an expansion of previous or existing events:
Spring—Park Celebration
Summer--Expand Nite to Unite to be a City-wide event
Autumn—Halloween Bonfire
Winter—Holiday lighting events
• Research city participation in and designation as a Yellow Ribbon city/program
• Work with the newly formed Mendota Heights Foundation.
• Plan regular communications with public and private partners
• Seek additional partnerships with other jurisdictions
ENHANCE INTERNAL CITY SERVICES
Human Resources
• Audit personnel files and establish file checklist and order for records requirements and
access to information.
• Review and update personnel policies
Public Safety
• Conduct emergency operation center drills –table top exercise
• Conduct active shooter training with the Fire Station, PD and school.
• Develop process for citizen input in the PD activities, initiatives and goals
Enhance Parks and Recreational Opportunities
• Reimagine park space to maximize usage.
• Improve offerings of adult summer activities in the summer time.
• Review annual maintenance and improvement package for Skate park
• Create additional athletic fields
• Explore establishment of a regional sporting venue—include green space
City Facilities
• Conduct a formalized space needs assessment for the Police Department
• Conduct a formalized space needs assessment for upstairs of City Hall
• Develop a plan for renovation and updating of City Hall equipment and space.
• Explore changing business hours at City Hall.
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ENHANCE EXTERNAL CITY SERVICES
Transportation
• Plan and Implement Regional solutions for Dodd Road and Delaware
• Examine Dodd, Wagon Wheel Trail and Pagel Intersection
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability
• Update the Natural Resource Plan.
• Join Green Steps cities and consider first requirements to achieve status
• Protect Surface Water Quality
• Educate Residents About Airport Noise
OTHER TASKS:
• Improve Internal Technology
• Develop Fire Station Community room and City Hall meeting room reservation policy
• Implement Rec on the Go programming in partnership with the City of West St. Paul
• Provide quarterly reports from fire, police and public works on needs and concerns.
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