2014-053 Met Council Livable Comunities TOD Program - 8th AveJune 3, 2014 city, offiopkins Council Report 2014-053
Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Transit Oriented Development
Program — 8th Avenue
Proposed Action
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve Resolution 2014-
026 identifying the need for Livable Communities Transit Oriented Development
Funding and authorizing an application for grant funds.
Overview
The Metropolitan Council offers Livable Communities Act (LCA) grant funding for transit
oriented developments that promote moderate to high density development projects
located within walking distance of major transit stops. The program can also be used to
fund capital infrastructure improvements that catalyze transit oriented developments
near transit stations. Eligible project areas must be located within an LCA-TOD Eligible
Area and be within'/2 mile of a transit stop. Station stops along the SW LRT line are
considered within the eligible area.
Staff is proposing to apply for $1.5 million of LCA-TOD funds towards the construction
of the ARTery project as part of a redevelopment of the Johnson Building. The
Transportation Advisory Board granted $6 million in CMAQ funds to the City of Hopkins
for the construction of a park and ride associated with the Green Line Extension on the
Johnson Building site. The City would also like to see significant development wrapping
the park and ride in order make up for lost tax base from the Operation and
Maintenance Facility. In order to attract the right kind of development on the Johnson
Building site, and to connect the future LRT station with downtown Hopkins, the City has
identified a need to reconstruct 8th Avenue into the ARTery, a strong pedestrian and
bicycle corridor that honors Hopkins history and culture in creative and compelling
ways.
Due to the timing of planning for the ARTery, and the likely competitiveness of future
LCA-TOD funding cycles, staff believes that an application this year for funding is most
appropriate. Further, full funding of the ARTery and Downtown Station Plaza will require
multiple funding sources acquired over time.
Primary Issues to Consider
• Does the City continue to support the ARTery concept of reconstructing 8th
Avenue to improve pedestrian connections from the LRT and wayfind from
Excelsior Boulevard into downtown Hopkins?
Council Report 2014-053
Page 2
Supporting Information
• Resolution 2014-026
Meg Beekman
Community Development Coordinator
Financial Impact: $ Budgeted: Y/N Source:
Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.):
Notes:
Analysis of the Issues
Visibility of downtown Hopkins from Excelsior Boulevard has long since been a problem.
With the construction of the LRT, and the placement of the Downtown Hopkins Station,
creating a strong and compelling connection to downtown Hopkins is more important
than ever. The ARTery concept is to create a pedestrian seductive corridor out of 8th
Avenue that draws people into downtown while also providing outdoor community and
gathering space. The project will require multiple funding sources to complete, with
LCA-TOD funding likely to make up a majority of the dollars used to construct the
project.
Alternatives
The Council has the following alternatives:
Approve Resolution 2014-026
Approve Resolution 2014-026 with changes
Deny Resolution 2014-026 and opt not to apply for grant funding
RESOLUTION NO. 2014-026
CITY OF HOPKINS, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT FUNDING AND AUTHORIZING AN
APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS
WHEREAS the City of Hopkins is a participant in the Metropolitan Livable
Communities Act ("LCA") Local Housing Incentives Program for 2014 as determined by
the Metropolitan Council, and is therefore eligible to apply for LCA Livable
Communities Demonstration Account and Tax Base Revitalization Account Transit
Oriented Development (collectively, "TOD") funds; and
WHEREAS the City has identified a proposed project within the City that meets TOD
purposes and criteria and is consistent with and promotes the purposes of the
Metropolitan Livable Communities Act and the policies of the Metropolitan Council's
adopted metropolitan development guide; and
WHEREAS the City has the institutional, managerial and financial capability to
adequately manage an LCA-TOD grant; and
WHEREAS the City certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations
as stated in the grant agreement; and
WHEREAS the City acknowledges TOD grants are intended to fund projects or project
components that can serve as models, examples or prototypes for TOD development or
redevelopment elsewhere in the Region, and therefore represents that the proposed
project or key components of the proposed project can be replicated in other
metropolitan -area communities; and
WHEREAS only a limited amount of grant funding is available through the Metropolitan
Council's Livable Communities TOD initiative during each funding cycle and the
Metropolitan Council has determined it is appropriate to allocate those scarce grant funds
only to eligible projects that would not occur without the availability of TOD grant
funding.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, after appropriate examination and due
consideration, the governing body of the City:
1. Finds that it is in the best interests of the City's development goals and priorities
for the proposed TOD Project to occur at this particular site and at this particular time.
2. Finds that the TOD Project component(s) for which Livable Communities TOD
funding is sought:
(a) will not occur solely through private or other public investment within the
reasonably foreseeable future; and
(b) will occur within the term of the grant award (two years for Pre -Development
grants, and three years for Development grants, one year for Cleanup Site Investigation
grants and three years for Cleanup grants) only if Livable Communities TOD funding is
made available for this project at this time.
3. Authorizes its City Manager to submit on behalf of the City an application for
Metropolitan Council Livable Communities TOD grant funds for the TOD Project
component(s) identified in the application, and to execute such agreements as may be
necessary to implement the TOD Project on behalf of the City.
Adopted this 3'd day of June, 2014.
0
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor
Attest:
Amy Domeier, City Clerk