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Minutes of the MHNA General membership Meeting
October 21, 2008
University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE

1. Meeting called to order at 7:40pm by Vice President Bob Distad.
2. A motion to approve the agenda as sent out (H Johnson) was passed. (Shaun Murphy item was cancelled due to illness.)
3. A motion to approve the June minutes was passed (T Tucker).
4. Tonight’s board actions were reported: Eric Nauman, chair of Safety & Livability Committee, has joined the board filling a seat that ends in June 09.

The Executive Committee approved the expenditure of $4100 in NRP dollars for the party patrols to occur before the end of the year.

The board considered proposed demolition and new construction of a triplex in the R5 zone at 819 11th Ave SE. The Land Use committee opposed the demolition waiver and the board voted to uphold that decision.

The board passed a motion authorizing the negotiating team of Jo Radzwill, Paul White and Arvonne Fraser to hammer out the process for an agreement on the rehabilitation of Florence Court that we can support at the HPC hearing Oct 28 while we continue to work out details with the developer. Plans now include the BP gas station site, rehab of the L-shaped brick building and the single-family houses in the courtyard. New construction will be a 6-story apartment building with underground parking, all to be completed in 2013.

The board passed a motion to send a strong letter urging the city to postpone any decision on the demolition of 1013 and 1019 University, and ask the developer to return to us so we can reconsider the project in light of new information concerning their historic significance.
5. Council Member Diane Hofstede gave a summary of the recently held Third Ward Summit (on transportation). It was a first step at looking at the ward’s overall problems and goals, but more work is needed. Granary Road continues to vex people –  she is tentatively scheduling a meeting November 12 to discuss it. The city’s budget has funding for infrastructure and repair but they are still dealing with the large number of foreclosures.
6. The 15th Ave Urban design Plan was presented by Cindy Harper, Cuningham Architect Group. Ted Tucker gave an introduction, explaining how the 15th Ave plan was an outgrowth of the MHNA Master Plan. This was an effort at being proactive — identifying desired outcomes for development in an “edge site” that can handle higher density. Ms Harper noted that this area is strategically located between two large employment centers; has some older buildings we hope to preserve; presents an exciting opportunity for new development. The plan conforms to our Master Plan’s overall strategy to preserve the lower density core and grow the edges. It includes an urban design strategy, recommendations and shows examples of some urban forms. Questions and comments were heard. The timeline for the 15th Ave SE Urban Design Plan is to present it for MHNA Board approval in November, then send to City Planning for formal adoption in early 2009. (15th Ave Plan can be viewed on our website www.marcy-holmes.org.) A public comment period and hearing will be conducted by the city.
7. A representative for the Minneapolis Public Schools Referendum informed the group about two items on the November ballot- one to increase funding and one to change the makeup of the school board.

8. Cordelia Pierson, MHNA member, presented information on Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment referendum. This would commit permanent funding for clean water, natural resources and the arts for future generations. If you don’t vote on this item, it is counted as a “no” vote.

9. Laurice Jamieson, MHNA member, gave a report on the year’s activities at SEMCOL, SE Mpls Council on Learning. The group is concentrating on increasing availability of books to SE children and getting children and families to read more.

Meeting adjourned at 9:10 pm Melissa Bean, ED

Addendum:
Board Actions since the October 2008 General Membership meeting

November Board Actions

Executive Committee:
Voted to send a letter to HPC re: Florence Court, asking for a delay in decision due to some sticking points regarding the unit count/bedroom configuration. The HPC felt these items were the purview of the upcoming Planning Commission hearing. The results of the 10/28/08 HPC meeting were read. Both the certificate of appropriateness for the new construction (with a few conditions) and the variance to allow two principal residential structures on one zoning lot were approved. The current plans have the BP gas station site as part of the project.

Recommended that the board approve the “Policies and Practices Regarding Participation and Voting at Meetings of the MHNA Standing Committees”, board approved.

Land Use Committee
The Crofts, 729 Eighth St SE: Brad Bellows, owner, gave us an overview of his plan for new construction of 4 1800 square foot units of owner-occupied housing. The emphasis is on green construction. Because of the elevation of the land and the size of the lot, the garage doors face Eighth Street SE. The project would require a conditional use permit to allow for residential units and variances for removing one curb cut and adding 2 curb cuts for the garages. Despite the garages’ location, the Land Use Committee voted to support the project. Tonight the MHNA Board voted to approve the project, provided when we write the letter of support we clarify that this is an illustration of a project whose overwhelming advantages outweigh the negative, and that MHNA can be flexible in the type of projects it supports if there are benefits to the community. In this case, the benefits are:

· The project is an example of modern and totally sustainable (green) housing including geothermal energy, green roofs and solar energy
· The project supports the addition of owner occupied housing units on Eighth Street SE.
· The project increases the buffer between the center of the neighborhood and the industrial zone behind the property.
· This is a demonstration of using industrial design and construction elements for residential needs in a city environment.
· Freund Haus (1013-1019 University Ave. SE): This development went to the city seeking a waiver from the demolition moratorium. At that time, it was pointed out that the property at 1013 University was the site of the oldest single-family residence in the neighborhood and the 1019 (a former sorority house) was an example of arts and crafts design. Because of these issues, the developer, now, must go to the HPC to seek the demolition waiver. The Land Use committee recommended that MHNA ask the HPC to expedite its evaluation of the historic aspects and how this impacts the design guidelines for new structures on these sites.

Florence Court – A partial agreement has been brokered through a 3-member subcommittee of the land use committee. The MHNA Florence Court subcommittee has worked hard to come to a written agreement with teeth that would ensure timely and quality rehabilitation. The agreement tries to pinpoint a timeline and establish an escrow account to renovate the historic building. Several other items, including reporting quarterly to MHNA on the progress; restoring the stained glass windows; staffed onsite management; licensed, insured, bonded contractors; no more than 121 units; agreement on the number of bedrooms per unit; safety/security cameras on site; notice to MHNA if the project is not in compliance; a MHNA tour of the project; and agreement to comply with the U of MN Streetscape plan for University Ave, are part of the agreement. The agreement would become a condition to the project approval. The MHNA subcommittee is committed to reaching agreement with the developer before the Planning Commission meets Dec 8th. The board felt this agreement sets a precedent for other developers when historic properties are considered. MHNA’s goal has always been to save Florence Court and the new construction’s revenue will enable the historic rehabilitation.

15th Ave Plan Now that the neighborhood, developers and property owners have had an opportunity to review and comment on it, the board voted to officially adopt the 15th Ave Urban Design Plan and move to get it adopted by the city was passed.