IV.9. Hennepin County’s Transit Oriented Development Program Grant Application Authorization – Shady Oak Station Area; BeekmanFebruary 5, 2018 Council Report 2018-024
Hennepin County’s Transit Oriented Development Program Grant Application
Authorization – Shady Oak Station Area
Proposed Action
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve Resolution 2018-
014 Authorizing Application for a Grant from Hennepin County’s Transit Oriented
Development Program for the Shady Oak Station Area.
Overview
The Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA) is making
approximately $1.7 million available to support public and private multi-jurisdictional
transit-oriented development (TOD) projects located along Hennepin County transit
corridors where transit service is frequent and high capacity. TOD Program funds are
intended to supplement existing private and public resources in support of transit-
oriented development.
Eligible uses of funds must demonstrate a public purpose, and may include installation
of public infrastructure improvements, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities that
improve pedestrian, bicyclist, and transit rider safety and ease of use.
The City would be seeking $100,000 from the program funds for the purpose of
constructing a proposed stormwater pipe under the light rail tracks to allow for a future
relocation of a pond within the Shady Oak Station Area to a site that would not inhibit
development opportunity.
The City previously applied for funding for this project in a previous round, which was
not approved by the County.
Primary Issues to Consider
Does the City support the grant request to Hennepin County TOD for funds to
assist with the relocation of the stormwater pond?
Supporting Information
Resolution 2018-014
Council Report 2018-024
Page 2
___________________________
Meg Beekman
Community Development Coordinator
Analysis of the Issues
With approval of this resolution, the City would be applying for a $100,000 grant from
the Hennepin County TOD fund. The funds would be use to cover a portion of the cost
to construct a stormwater pipe under the light rail tracks at the time of construction of
the tracks. Once the tracks are constructed it would not be possible to locate the pipe
and the pond would not be able to be relocated.
In August 2016, the cities of Minnetonka and Hopkins approved a Master Development
Strategy for the Shady Oak Station Area that calls for significant transit oriented
development around the future Shady Oak Station. While the cities worked with the
Southwest Project Office (SPO) throughout that planning process, the SPO continues to
plan for a large stormwater facility that would significantly impact the development
opportunities around the station area. In order to relocate the pond to a more desirable,
out of the way, location the local jurisdictions would be required to pay the difference in
cost between the planned location and the preferred location of the pond. This cost is
estimated to be approximately $1.5 million. Both cities determined that this was not a
feasible expenditure at thie time, but may be in the future when development is
imminent. The pipe would allow for the stormwater pond to be relocated in the future.
The total cost to construct the pipe is estimated to be approximately $125,000.
Alternatives
The Council has the following alternatives:
Approve Resolution 2018-014
Approve Resolution 2018-014 with changes
Deny Resolution 2018-014 and opt not to support the grant request
RESOLUTION NO.2018-014
CITY OF HOPKINS,MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION FOR A GRANT FROM
HENNEPIN COUNTY’S TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
FOR THE SHADY OAK STATION AREA
WHEREAS the City of Hopkins is eligible to make application for grant funds from
Hennepin County’s Transit Oriented Development Program; and
WHEREAS the City wishes to submit an application requesting grant funds from the
Hennepin County Transit Oriented Development Program; and
WHEREAS the grant funds will be used for certain infrastructure improvements within
the Shady Oak Station Area; and
WHEREAS the Hennepin County Transit Oriented Development Program Guidelines
require approval by the governing body of the City for submission of a grant application
to the Hennepin County Transit Oriented Development Program; and
WHEREAS the City has the institutional, managerial and financial capability to ensure
adequate project administration for any grant funds received; and
WHEREAS the City certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations
as stated in the contract agreements;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, after appropriate examination and due
consideration, the governing body of the City supports the submission of a Transit
Oriented Development Program grant application to the Hennepin County Housing and
Redevelopment Authority for the proposed Shady Oak Station Area and that the City
Manager is hereby authorized to apply to the Hennepin County Transit Oriented
Development Program on behalf of the City of Hopkins as well as execute such
agreements as are necessary to implement the project on behalf of the City.
Adopted this 5th day of February, 2017.
By:
______________________________
Molly Cummings, Mayor
Attest:
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Amy Domeier, City Clerk