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I I I Council Meeting Minutes of August 13, 1996 Council Business. continued Williams feels that exempting a proposal requiring rezoning from a study area before Planning Commission review is strange. He does not feel the City should arbitrarily exempt areas before input from the Planning Commission. Benke agrees with Williams. LeFevere said a site plan review should be pertormed before exemption, and if the Planning Commission decides R-3B is appropriate then Council may allow the use. Community Development Director Kevin Locke said rezoning is the most significant action taken during an approval process, and initiates the need for a moratorium. Rezoning should be performed in the context of an overall study to ensure everything fits, and staff has not determined if the Cadwallader proposal is a correct use. LeFevere said the RFP could assign priorities to areas of current consideration so proposals are not delayed longer than necessary. Locke feels the results may illustrate areas for possible rezoning. Jay Cadwallader, developer, has negotiated with the property owners for several months, and one week bet ore submittal he tinds out about the moratorium. He submitted all required paper work and application fees, and the rezoning will be addressed at the August 20 Planning Commission meeting. Benke noted the importance of the Planning Commission review to determine the most appropriate use. Cadwallader is not pushing use density or land coverage, and feels it will make an attractive addition to that area. Mattila noted a site plan was received from COC, and staff is actively working to find an alternate site within the City for COC to build their facility. Williams asked if the City has received any indication from the Post Office wishing to relocate. Mattila occasionally receives requests from the Post Oftlce for improvements, but lot size limits them. Their preference is to stay in New Brighton. Benke noted that the Post Office is in a planning cycle for future replacement or reconstruction. Williams supports COC's efforts to relocate to New Brighton, however, because of the adjacent properties he questions whether an exemption is correct. If the Post Office relocates, this offers one more redevelopment possibility. Ron DeCoux, COC, said the moratorium hits them hard because of their wish to move Spring 1997. Stephen Helgesen, COC architect, said the proposed 30,000 sq. ft. building will include 66 parking stalls, and docking area. Samuelson asked if COC could use the existing building temporarily. DeCoux said a temporary move requires renovation and equipment relocation which is not feasible. COC has tound two interested tenants for the Basic building. Williams asked if COC may consider another site in the City. DeCoux said COC would consider another site if it made economic sense, contained site specifications, and located on the north end. Benke said the building's construction would make it nearly impossible to construct the temporary soccer field, and there is issue with the railroad ROW. Benke is unclear whether an exemption should be granted. He noted the newer buildings in front of Rice Creek Center which now creates obstacles for future redevelopment. Williams views the area from 1-694 to I-35W to the railroad tracks as one valuable development site. He feels they should interview several developers so to give the City the vision needed to assess the possibilities of this area. Gunderman asked if there are vacant parcels available near the freeway. Mattila said there are two underutilized parcels on the north end currently occupied by single family homes, but the owners have not expressed interest to leave. The Robinson Coach site is by all intent fully developed. Locke agreed there is limited available vacant land in the City. Page 5 Council Business Highway 8 Moratorium Report 96-182 Ordinance 623