Minutes - Council Work Session - 05/30/2006 - Ramsey Town Center

Home

After a brief discussion, it is the consensus of the Council to not allow for a conditional use for a drive-thru window. 6) ACCAP Liner Housing On May 9, 2006, the City Council informally reviewed the proposal submitted by ACCAP to develop a housing/retail concept in front of the municipal parking ramp. One of the things that were mentioned, but not thoroughly discussed was the use of TIF within the project and the reduction of some City fees. Jeff Johnson, consultant representing the ACCAP project, reviewed as part of the process of developing an affordable project, the developer estimates the development costs of the project and determines likely sources of funding. Mr. Johnson provided the projected statement of sources and uses. The process of developing affordable housing involves applying for numerous grants, loans and financial participation in both private and public sector. The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) is the primary source of the public participation with an allocation of federal low income housing tax credits being the key source of funding. The project is making a request for the MHFA funding later this year. As part of that grant process, the agency needs certain commitments in order to receive a higher ranking to become eligible for the grant funding. While the City Council is not prepared to grant the financial participation at this time, it was the consensus to request $400,000 from the County HRA program from a previous senior project as part of the application process. Staff was directed to work with the consultant in making the application for the $400,000. 4) Medical Facilities Update Perhaps the second major anchor to the entire Town Center project is the medical facility, which is proposed to be located on the far eastern portion of the Town Center, just south of Sunwood Drive. The other major anchor is Coborn's Grocery Store on the extreme western side of the Town Center project. Staff has not provided an update of the Medical Facility projects since the summer 2004. The reason for the lack of progress in the development is primarily due to the siting of a new hospital and who will be the possible provider in the Maple Grove project. A new hospital in Maple Grove was approved by the State Legislature during the 2006 session allowing North Memorial Health Care and Fairview Health Services to proceed with the long awaited project. With this decision completed, Ramsey cannot proceed with selection of a medical provider for the facility in Ramsey. Discussions are currently under way with two major health providers for the medical facility in Ramsey. Allina Hospitals and Clinics and Fairview Health Services have both indicated interest in the Ramsey Town Center Project. The Allina project would like the City of Ramsey to revisit a proposal made in 2003 and 2004 by the City for the purchase of the Allina Health Systems Medical Clinic in Ramsey. In 2003 and 2004, the City preferred a proposal that the City would purchase the clinic located on Alpine Drive, west of Highway #47, if Allina Health Systems would construct a new facility in the Town Center to a pre-determined square footage. Staff withdrew the.offer in May 2004 Town Center Work Session/May 30, 2006 Page 3 of 4