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News of the December 11, 2007 MHNA Board Meeting

1. A request from the Minneapolis Library Board to extend the length of our
NRP contract was discussed. MHNA had voted 14,200 to go toward library
accessibility (NRP Phase I dollars). The letter asked for an extension on
the date and to change the scope from accessibility to collection
development. After much discussion, it was decided to let the contract lapse
and reconsider the item in 2008 after the Mpls-Hennepin County library
merger is complete. There was no need for a motion

2. The re-allocation of remaining NRP funds to a revolving loan fund for
housing was discussed. For a reallocation of this size ($150,000 with exact
figures to be provided by Stacy Sorenson), a community wide vote with 21
days notice is required. The revolving loan fund will provide income to MHNA
when the loans are repaid. Although the program guidelines will not yet be
in place, it was suggested we have the vote at the Jan 15 MHNA general
membership meeting and have a rep from CEE (Center for Energy & Environment)
present to answer questions about such programs. Input regarding program
guidelines will be sought at the meeting and from MHNA committees. The MHNA
Board will make the final decision after committees have worked out the
details. It was decided to go forward and notify MHNA mailing lists, post
the announcement on MHNA website and in the Jan issue of the Bridge.

3. An NRP owner occupied deferred loan application for 718 7th St SE was
discussed. The owner was recently notified by CEE that her application was
closed because performance time had run out. The applicant had encountered
some delays in getting paperwork in, but still wanted to have the work done
using NRP funds. A lack of communication was the cause and because the board
supported the intent of the improvements, a motion was passed (Bob Distad)
to direct CEE to reinstate the loan application so the loan can go forward.

4. Jo Radzwill started a conversation on the role of committees in our
organization. Committees do the detail work and bring forward
recommendations for board votes. She finds the current situation frustrating
especially because the Land Use items come at the end of board meetings and
adequate discussion time isn¹t always available due to the 7:30 ending time
of board meetings. The concepts of fewer general membership meetings,
quarterly general membership meetings or having them on different nights
were discussed. It was noted that all board and committee meetings are open
meetings. A motion was passed ( Gordon Kepner) to bring to the January
board meeting for a vote: Move to 4 general membership meetings a year,
January, March, June and October. The board can take up in January the
separate discussion of having those meetings combined or separate from board
meetings

5 .Land Use committee Chair Jo Radzwill moved off the table the 1126 6th St
SE item from last month. Since then, Gordon Kepner has talked with the owner
and determined that the property is currently an 8-bedroom rooming house.
Owner Anwar Karim wishes to convert it to four 2-bedroom apartments. The
change does not require a change in zoning as it is already zoned R-5. A
motion passed ( Jo Radzwill) to grant Mr Karim the support he needs for
variances to convert 1126 6th St SE from an 8 unit rooming house to four
apartments.

6. Arrigoni House -508 University Avenue SE: Joe Cuoco appeared before the
Land Use committee to discuss the unusual circumstance in which the facility
finds itself. This facility has been located in our neighborhood since 1982
where it provides supportive housing for chemically dependent men. The
operation is state funded with the county acting as the intermediary (on a
per diem basis). For 11 years the program has been operating 32 beds. They
had received approval for these beds (an increase of two beds) in 1996
through the facility case manager. Apparently this approval had never been
recorded. Arrigoni House is now seeking our support to obtain a variance
from the City of Minneapolis to increase from 30 beds to 32 beds.

The board voted to support the Land Use committee motion in its request for
a conditional use permit to increase the number of beds in its facility from
30 to 32: Because Arrigoni House has enjoyed a harmonious relationship with
their its close neighbors in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood and because its
program has been so successful in its endeavor to assist chemically
dependent men in leading sober, meaningful and productive lives. It was
suggested we add to the letter a request for either a semi-annual report of
their activities or an appearance at a general membership meeting, as we
would like to hear from them more frequently.

7. Andrew Riverside site – A motion to support the Land Use Committee motion
(Jo Radzwill) was made with a friendly amendment ( Gordon Kepner) to specify
that in spite of our strong opposition to spot zoning, we are willing to go
forward with this proposal because it offers
€ the return of a valued historic institution to the neighborhood
€ a highly desirable housing option for seniors as affordable senior rental
is a priority for this neighborhood
Motion passed.

The proposal is for a combination senior rental and church facility in
partnership with Common Bond. This project would consist of 39 units for
independent seniors. There would be 39 parking stalls and on-site
management during business hours. The building would be 4 stories or 56¹ in
height. The rental price would be based on 50% of median area income and
units would rent for approximately $650 and $750 per month. This project
contains more traditional materials than the last iteration and architects
believe it will be more pleasing to the HPC. Specific requests for this
project include:

s Rezoning of the site from R2B to R5
s Conditional use permit for more than 5 dwelling units
s Variances for:
… Front yard setback reduced from 15¹ to 0¹ (Eighth Avenue side)
… Corner side yard setback reduced from14¹ to 0¹ (Fourth Street side)
… Side yard setback reduced from 11¹ to 5¹
… Rear yard setback reduced from 11¹ to 3¹ (parking entry against Andrews
house property)

The board discussed the project and committee recommendation. Architect Tod
Elkins was present to answer questions. The project provides 5,000 s.f.
ground floor space for Andrew Riverside Church and 39 affordable senior (age
55+) apartments. Common Bond would develop, manage and retain ownership.
Andrew Riverside Presbyterian Church would donate the land. It will be four
stories at its tallest point and step down to two stories toward the 5th
Street side. The site is across Fourth Street from current R5 zoning and
the Andrew House apartments on the same block are of similar height and
density. The question of what happens if the church vacates ­ could the
ground floor be turned into commercial use? That would require parking and
an additional hearing. This site was specifically studied in our Master Plan
supplements for redevelopment, then approved by the board and city. A
diversity in population and affordable senior rentals are needed here.
(Affordable to residents at 50% of the median income metro area) They wish
to break ground in spring of 2008. The project needs approvals from MHNA,
Heritage Preservation Commission, Planning Commission and City Council.

8. Flour Sack Flats II ­The motion and letter submitted by the land use
committee at its November 7 meeting was not acted upon by the executive
committee as a majority was not attained. The motion was brought before the
entire board at the November 20 board meeting and defeated. Since there was
no contrary motion at that board meeting and the land use committee feels it
is important to make the feelings and reasoning of the neighborhood known to
the City Planning Commission, the land use committee submits the following
letter noting the action of the board along with an attempt to explain the
logic of the neighborhood¹s actions:

Planning Commission
Re: Flour Sack Flats, Phase II,

At the regular meeting of the board held on November 20, 2007, the
Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association failed to support the land use
committee and developer¹s requests for the following applications:

1. Conditional use permit for additional height to allow the construction f
a 12-story building
2. Variance to increase FAR (floor area ratio) from allowed 3.78 to proposed
5.26
3. Variance to decrease the MLA (minimum lot allowance) to 206 to allow the
construction of 96 units
4. Variance to decrease the parking requirements by 5 stalls.

Reasons for the board¹s action were a genuine concern for the safety of the
neighborhood at the pedestrian level behind the proposed building. As
currently proposed, the building design will create a blind / hidden area
when viewed from Sixth Ave SE.

Further, the neighborhood requested that the southwest side (toward the
river) of the Flour Sack Flats II building align with the existing historic
buildings (W.D. Forbes and the Soap Factory) in the block, thereby
preserving the alignment of the historic buildings and the existing view
corridor.

In addition, the neighborhood has a long-standing policy when considering
variances such as those listed above. Generally, requests for variances and
conditional use permits would be supported by the neighborhood in proportion
to what the development gives back to the street, historic district,
neighborhood, riverfront and city.

While there were aspects of the design that the land use committee liked,
the neighborhood felt that the benefits were not enough to justify the
variances requested.

A motion ( Jo Radzwill) to send the letter passed unanimously.

9. 308 4th St SE / 401 University Ave SE: Although Jeb Robinson reportedly
had new plans for one of the structures in this cluster development and was
scheduled to be on the agenda of the November 7 land use meeting, he did not
show up to show us his new plans. This project was on the agenda of the
Planning Commission meeting of December 3, 2007. At the public hearing, the
chair noted that Mr. Robinson had not appeared before the MHNA land use
committee and also noted that the parking was inadequate to meet the MHNA
master plan requirement of 0.5 parking spaces per bedroom.

Results of the City Planning Commission ruling were to decrease the number
of bedrooms in the plan to 8 bedrooms in the new triplex that was built at
310 Fourth Street SE to more nearly comply with the MHNA master plan. The
cluster development has 7 parking spaces for this building and the building
at 401 University Ave SE (8 bedrooms). According to the MHNA plan the
development is still 1 parking space short for the number of bedrooms (8)
between the two buildings. It was the feeling of the chair that the
reduction in bedrooms is precedent setting ­ at least since the chair has
been in office.

10. Safety & Livability Chair Eric Nauman discussed December committee
meeting. No actions were required tonight. There is some concern about
recent robberies on the far west side of the neighborhoods ­ checking to see
if they are consistent with bar closings along east Hennepin/Central. The
committee supported the concept of establishing a dog park in the
neighborhood, as presented by Melissa Bean.