2024 04 16 CC Work Session MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the City Council Work Session
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Levine
called
the work session
to order at 5:05 p.m.
Councilmembers Lorberbaum,
Mazzitello, and
Paper
were also present.
Couneffmember Miller
was absent.
Other in attendance were: City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Assistant City Administrator
Kelly Torkelson, Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek, Park and Recreation Director Meredith
Lawrence, Finance Director Kristen Schabacker, Community Development Manager Sarah
Madden, City Attorney Amy Schmidt, Planning Consultant Jennifer Haskamp, and City Clerk
Nancy Bauer.
SKETCH PLAN REVIEW —VENTURE PASS PARTNERS
(LOT 4, BLOCK I. NORTHLAND PLAZA)
Community Development Manager Sarah Madden provided background relating to a sketch plan
review for 1178 Northland Drive. There was an inquiry from Venture Pass Partners, LLC to
rezone the parcel from I -Industrial, as zoned in the 2024 Comprehensive Plan, to B-1 General
Business.
The parcel is vacant, and is a 2.22 acre site, located on Northland Drive, east of Highway 55 and
An of 494. It is across the street from the 13-1 General Business zoned lots. The property in
the draft zoning map for the Zoning Code Update shows that the properties across Northland
Drive are General Business zoned and across Highway 55 the properties are proposed General
Business properties.
The developers have been marketing the parcel and are asking about developing an assisted
living and memory care facility. The potential facility would include a 32-units with 20 assisted
living units and 12 memory care units and would employ about 20-25 employees. There would
be low traffic impact to the site.
Staff is seeking direction to include the vacant parcel in the upcoming zoning map revisions, as
part of the Zoning Code Update project. Necessary development applications would be
forthcoming, including a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the Future Land Use Map, and any
applicable minor text amendments associated with that section. Also, included would be a future
Conditional Use Permit application for a "nursing home, rest home, or retirement home."
Apri116, 2024, Mendota Heights Council Workshop Page -1
The 2024 Future Land Use Guide map would include upcoming amendments and would be a
Land Use Map Amendment from I -Industrial to B-Business and could be incorporated into the
City's accompanying application.
The properties surrounding the empty lot regarding zoning and buildings were discussed.
Councilor Mazzitello stated that changing the zoning to Business would make a lot of sense.
It was the consensus of the Council to include the rezoning in the zoning code update and the
City will do the Comprehensive Plan Amendment,
ZONING CODE UPDATE
Planning Consultant Haskamp presented the results of the Zoning Code Open House and Survey.
There was a total of 60 respondents to the survey. A majority of the respondents were residential
homeowners and have lived in the City for more than 15 years. The three main topics that came
out of the survey were 1) Public Semi -Public Overlay District; 2) Impervious Surface Coverage;
and 3) Title 10 - Environmental Title. Other topics that came up in the responses were 1)
accessory dwelling units; 2) short-term rental; and 3) cannabis regulations.
Planning Consultant Haskamp discussed with the council responses regarding impervious
surface standards. Concerns from survey respondents regarding the best management practices
and maximum percentages were raised including how the best management practices would be
regulated and enforced.
Haskamp explained how the percentages for impervious surface were arrived at. She stated that
the parcel analysis for impervious surface standards encompassed the majority of parcels and felt
that that percentages were valid.
The council generally discussed whether or not the percentages should be higher, lower or if
there should be no standard at all. Conversation about impervious surface standards and the best
management practices for the Residential Estate zoning were also discussed. The consensus of
the Council was to use up to 35% with no increase with best management practices for
impervious surfaces for Residential Estate zoning. The rest of the zoning districts numbers for
impervious service would stay in place as drafted. The percentage numbers would be revisited in
one or two years.
The next topic that Planning Consultant Haskamp introduced was for properties platted before
1982. Haskamp noted that the traditional neighborhood overlay was taken out and more general
language was put in place for nonconforming lots that were platted before 1982.
Planning Consultant Haskamp noted that for the Public/Semi-Public Overlay District, there were
five or six comments from the survey and discussion at the Open House regarding this topic.
Aprill6, 2024, Mendota Heights Council Workshop Page -2
The purpose of the Public Semi -Public overlay district on the Zoning map is to geographically
identify the locations of where these uses are today and if you want a Public/Semi-Public use you
have to be within that overlay if you are in a residentially zoned residential district.
Planning Consultant Haskamp outlined the next steps for completion of the zoning code update.
She noted that the initial draft of the Environmental Title (Title 10) will be drafted. Haskamp
estimated that the public hearing for the update will be sometime in June and come before the
council in August.
CITY COMMUNICATION REVIEW
Assistant City Administrator Torkelson reviewed a PowerPoint regarding the city
communications. The various communication methods currently used are the Heights Highlights
(newsletter that get mailed every two months), post cards (2-3 times mailed annually), Fire
Annual Report, City website, Friday News, News from the Nine (golf newsletter - goes out when
relevant), Agenda Packets (emailed out), and Posters. Social Media includes: Facebook (City of
Mendota Heights page, Parks & Recreation page, Police Department page), histagram and
Linked In.
Councilor Mazzitello suggested using Linked In as a tool to promote the business community —
snapshots of our business park of available lots.
Mendota Heights Living magazine was discussed and was noted as not being a city publication.
Assistant City Administrator Torkelson reported that Town Square Television has done a
quarterly parks connection video and recently produced the video for the annual parks report.
Google analytics and social media insights were discussed. There was a communication survey
done in 2021 and 2023 and the 2024 survey results were discussed. The areas of interests for
residents were 1) Public Safety; 2) Road Projects; 3) Community Development Projects; 4)
Recycling; 5) City Council News; 6) City Budget; 7) Natural Sources; 8) Commission
Highlights; 9) Community Interest Stories; 10) Everyday Living/Lifestyle;l1) Non -governmental
Highlights; and 12) Resources for Business.
The statistics of the city website for the past year were reviewed and the most viewed pages on
the website. The average page views were three per user and the average time on the site is one
minute and two seconds. Most viewed pages were 1) Main page; 2) Calendar; 3) Par 3 Main
Page; 4) News Flash; 5) Search; 6) Staff Directory; 7) Golf Rates; 8) Reserve a Tee Time; 9)
Police Department; and 10) Facility Directory.
Social media statistics (Instagram/Facebook and Gov Delivery) for subscribers/followers, annual
reach/impressions, and per -post engagement rate were reviewed.
Apri116, 2024, Mendota Heights Council Workshop Poge -3
Mayor Levine stated that fire sign is also a way to communicate with the community.
ADiki 1RNMENT
Motion to close the meefing was made by Councumember Mazzitello, seconded by
Councilmember Paper. Motion carried.
Mayor Levine adjourned the meeting at 6:51 pm.
ATTEST:
Steph 'e B.'Levine, Mayor
N y Ba er, City Clerk
Apri116, 2024, Mendota Heights Council Workshop Page -4