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<br />Geisler noted the Commission's packet includes the Conclusions and Recommendations section <br />from a study recently completed by Maxfield Research on the need for affordable and senior <br />housing in the City. She advised staff is recommending approval of the request for preliminary <br />site plan approval. <br /> <br />Jeff Johnson stated he is a development consultant that is working with ACCAP on this project. <br />He explained this is a mixed income residential rental development, which means 50% of it will <br />be affordable rental housing and will apply to Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHF A) for <br />loans, grants, and financing to enable the development to be affordable. There is a deadline of <br />June 20,2006 for RFP applications, and four months later they will know if they are successful; <br />if an award is not received from MHF A this project cannot include affordable housing. Mr. <br />Johnson stated there are a number of things in this location to be noted; there are not many <br />suburbs with 5-story buildings, this type of density, and no parking on the site. Those sorts of <br />things will raise some flags with MHF A and the staff report will be very helpful in his <br />application to clarify that the City is supportive of this proposal, and that although there may be <br />some additional information and tweaks, this project is not out of bounds. Mr. Johnson stated <br />this is truly an urban site; Ramsey is unique as a suburb doing something like this. There will be <br />public transportation, medical facilities, retail, paths, parks, and a movie theater. He would like <br />to have a review by the Planning Commission, Staff, and City Council; with this preliminary <br />approval tonight he is seeking acknowledgment that this project is within the boundaries of what <br />the City is looking for on this site. Mr. Johnson replied it is very important to this project that it <br />be tied to the parking with the skyway. <br /> <br />Commissioner Trites Rolle inquired about the ability of emergency vehicles to access the rear of <br />the site. <br /> <br />Mr. Johnson replied emergency staff will need to provide specific input as to what they want to <br />see; if the 20 feet included in the plan is not enough it will need to be dealt with. <br />Associate Planner Geisler indicated Fire Chief Kapler has indicated that 20 feet is sufficient from <br />his perspective; however, he will want to review the cantilever that is proposed for the rear of the <br />building to extend into the 20 feet. <br /> <br />Chairperson Nixt inquired about the process for the mix of the affordable versus the market rate <br />units, and whether the units will be different based on the income level of the occupants. <br /> <br />Mr. Johnson replied the affordable units are generally floated throughout the building and are <br />normally very similar. The issue in this building is that the municipal ramp will create problems <br />with floating the affordable units. Market rate 3-bedroom units will be at $1,500 and affordable <br />rate 3-bedroom units will be at $900. The market rate units will need to overlook the park. <br />There will be the same issue with the 2-bedroom units, which will be at a $1,200 to $1,300 <br />market rate and $800 affordable rate. He explained because this building has an undesirable side <br />some of the affordable units will need to be fixed onto the back side facing the ramp. To adjust <br />for that the units facing that way will turn in on interior balconies. The building will be 5-stories <br />and the ramp will be 3-stories, and the affordable units will be floated to the extent they can be. <br /> <br />Commissioner Cleveland asked ifthe City has a height restriction in Town Center. <br /> <br />Planning Commission/June 1, 2006 <br />Page 14 of 19 <br />