IV. 1. Minutes of the August 28, 2018 Planning & Zoning Commission UNOFFICIAL
Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, August 28, 2018 – Page 1
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
August 28, 2018
A regular meeting of the Hopkins Planning & Zoning Commission was held on August 28, 2018, at
6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Hopkins City Hall. Present were Commission Members
James Warden, Emily Wallace-Jackson, Kristin Hanneman, Samuel Stiele, Elizabeth Goeman and
Gerard Balan. Commissioner Laura Daly was absent. Also present was Bolton & Menk Senior
Urban Planner Haila Maze and City Planner Jason Lindahl.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Warden called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ADOPT AGENDA
Commissioner Balan moved, Commissioner Hanneman seconded, to adopt the agenda. The motion
was approved unanimously.
OPEN AGENDA – PUBLIC COMMENTS/CONCERNS – None.
CONSENT AGENDA
Commissioner Wallace-Jackson moved, Commissioner Stiele seconded, to approve the minutes of
the July 24, 2018, regular meeting. The motion was approved unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Planning Application 2018-10-AMD Draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update – Cultivate
Hopkins
Mr. Lindahl gave an overview of this item stating that the draft plan is the culmination of over two
years of planning, engagement, research and community conversation on a broad vision for the
community. The Planning Commission was asked to review the draft plan for completeness and
consistency with the previous discussions that have taken place, and to recommend the City Council
release the draft plan for the six-month review period required by the Metropolitan Council.
Haila Maze, Senior Urban Planner for Bolton & Menk (the City’s consultant on the project),
presented to the Planning Commission a summary of the draft comprehensive plan.
After Ms. Maze’s presentation, Chairman Warden opened the public hearing.
Peg Keenan, Executive Director of ICA food shelf, came forward to address the Commission. Ms.
Keenan questioned the intersection between affordability in Hopkins and keeping older buildings up
to date. Renovated properties may increase in rent/value therefore making them less affordable. The
plan should acknowledge the challenge in balancing these priorities. Ms. Keenan also stated that
55% of the ICA food shelf’s clients come from Hopkins (ICA also serves multiple communities
between Hopkins and Shorewood), which means around 17.8% of Hopkins residents at least
occasionally use the food shelf – though not all are regulars. Ms. Keenan also highlighted the way
renters are considered versus homeowners. Renting is sometimes viewed as temporary or a stepping-
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Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, August 28, 2018 – Page 2
stone but in Hopkins, many renters are here and continue to rent for many years because they are
committed to this community.
Also coming forward to address the Planning Commission was Larry Hiscock, a six-year resident of
Hopkins who also participated in the advisory committee for the comprehensive plan. Mr. Hiscock
stated that the region has entrenched racial and economic disparities, which reflect past actions by
cities – who in turn have a responsibility to address them. Mr. Hiscock also stated that the
comprehensive plan generally reflects the ideas, suggestions and values around equity and disparities
that were discussed by the advisory committee, though the plan may need stronger language in terms
of policies and more clarification as to roles and responsibilities. Policies should reflect that 66% of
housing in Hopkins is currently rental, so rental-related policies benefit the majority of the
community. Mr. Hiscock suggested the plan needs more clarification in terms of new public sources
for preserving existing housing stock and policies for new housing such as inclusionary zoning and
right of first refusal.
With no one else coming forward to speak, Commissioner Wallace-Jackson moved, Commissioner
Hanneman seconded to close the public hearing. The motion was carried unanimously.
Chairman Warden led the Planning Commission through each section of the comprehensive plan
for discussion and comment.
Comments and suggestions from the Planning Commission included:
• Table of Contents: add page numbers
• Land Use (page 28): include reference to the fact that the land use approach is different than
in other communities, and add percentages of land use acreages (note: this information is in the
appendix and can be brought forward to the main document to make it more visable).
• Land Use (page 31): du/ac should be spelled out as “dwelling units per acre”
• Land Use (page 36): clarify policy on preserving and enhancing existing housing units to
make it clear it is not intended to imply direct City subsidy
• Transportation (page 45): add transit policy language that supports the development of a bus
circulator route between LRT stations and Downtown; also clarify the definition of demand
responsive transit and include examples
• Housing (page 55): clarify that enforcing housing and yard maintenance is not intended to
represent a change in practice that is more proactive than the current system; also clarify
what it means to protect single family neighborhoods from “encroachment” – ensure that
new description references specifically development
• Quality of Life (page 69): do not specifically call out affordable housing for artists; artist
housing is not consistent with racial equity goals due to typical tenant mix; if it is included,
emphasize need for diverse residents; in general, focus should be on affordable housing for
everyone; counterpoint: artists bring vibrancy and unique perspectives that add value to the
community so should still encourage artists to live here
• Natural Environment (page 74): need to define how “environmentally sensitive” areas are
determined (note: some of this information is in appendix and can be brought forward to main document)
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• Economic Environment (page 94 and others): since the city does not directly benefit from
adding jobs, need more emphasis in this section on tax base, including specific goals around
creating sufficient value to sustain public infrastructure and system. In addition to growing
the tax base, should also emphasize using limited resources and infrastructure more
efficiently; also ensure this is reflected as possible benchmark value in the implementation
element
• Downtown (page 100): move “remaining unique” to the top of the list; this is very important
and a key differentiator for Hopkins; central social district is also very important. Should
indicate that the unique downtown is an important marketing tool for Hopkins – and it
keeps getting nicer
• Implementation (page 106): move parking requirements study to short term; any zoning
related items should be in the short term too
• Implementation (page 113): move affordable housing implementation steps into the short
term timeframe, rather than medium term – these are high priorities.
After the Planning Commission finished their discussion and provided comment, Commissioner
Balan moved, Commissioner Wallace-Jackson seconded, to adopt Planning Resolution 2018-10,
recommending the City Council accept the draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update – Cultivate
Hopkins and authorize its release for the statutorily required six-month review period. The motion
was approved unanimously. Mr. Lindahl stated that this item will be presented to the City Council at
the Tuesday, September 4, 2018 meeting.
OLD BUSINESS – None.
NEW BUSINESS – None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
During the announcements, City Planner Jason Lindahl updated the Planning & Zoning
Commission on the following items:
1. Previous items before the Planning & Zoning Commission:
• Planning application 2018-07-RZ & SP 65 – 7th Avenue South site plan & first reading of the
rezoning ordinance was approved by the City Council at their Tuesday, August 21, 2018
meeting. The second reading of the ordinance will go before the Council at their next
meeting on Tuesday, September 4, 2018.
• Planning application 2018-08-CON R-1-C Minimum Lot Size went before the City Council
at their meeting on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. Similar to the suggestions by the Planning
Commission, the City Council ultimately recommended the applicant complete a variance
application, which the applicant has since submitted. The variance application will go before
the Planning Commission at the September 25, 2018 meeting.
• Planning application 2018-11-VA Gambucci Setback Variance was denied by the City
Council at their meeting on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 after taking into consideration the
recommendation from the Planning Commission and comments from the public opposed to
the variance request.
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ADJOURN
Commissioner Wallace-Jackson moved, Commissioner Hanneman seconded, to adjourn the
meeting. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Courtney Pearsall