An updated drawing of the Pillsbury Commons proposal shows the original driveway moved off of Pillsbury Avenue and apartment entrances facing a parking lot in the rear instead of the street.
Richfield City Council, Planning Commission and residents hear details of workforce apartment project
A packed Richfield City Council chamber was on hand Tuesday evening to hear an hour-long presentation from developer Ron Clark on his proposal to build a 70-unit apartment complex at 77th and Pillsbury.
The special work session also provided an opportunity for City Council and Planning Commission members to pose questions about the affordable-housing development, and several neighbors used the council's open forum afterward to air their views about the plan.
The project started to become controversial when Clark's original plans for a smaller condominium development on the site became an affordable-housing project. In recent months, neighbors have organized opposition to the development, sending letters and e-mails to City Hall and speaking at City Council public forums. City councilmen also voiced reservations about the switch.
Developer Ron Clarkwill host a public meeting Nov. 29 to explain his plans for an apartment development on the old municipal garage site 77th and Pillsbury.
The project, called Pillsbury Commons, consists of 70 units for affordable housing. Four area residents spoke against the $12.6 -million project during last week's Richfield City Council meeting, and two councilmen said they won't vote to help the project get built because of apparent changes in Clark's plans.
Clark made an unscheduled appearance of his own before the City Council on Tuesday night, explaining that the project had applied for and received $1 million a year for 10 years in tax credits that would be purchased by corporate investors.
He also said he would like to slow down the project's application process with the city and work with city staff "so the project can be allowed its due process."
The public meeting to address neighbors' concerns is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Emerson Congregational United Church of Christ, 7601 Girard Ave. S.
The Richfield City Council gave preliminary approval Monday night to changes that will pave the way for redevelopment on the corner of 74th and Lyndale Avenue South.
Three lots that make up the southwest corner of the intersection -- 7421 and 7401 Lyndale and 609 74th Street -- would get new land-use designations and zoning as a result.
Woodlawn Terrace mobile home park, Audio Perfection and a house now sit on the properties.
Mark Nichols of Bloomington is proposing to move his business from Bloomington to the 74th Street lot. His company makes electronic music boxes for ice cream trucks.
Nichols said Monday night the business doesn't have walk-in retail traffic because most of its customers are from out of state.
The council will take a final vote on the land-use changes at its Dec. 13 meeting.
The proposed Pillsbury Commons apartment project hit a bump Monday night when two Richfield city councilmen went on the record opposing it.
Developer Ron Clark won council backing earlier this year for 70 units for affordable housing to be built on the old Public Works Maintenance Facility property at 77th and Pillsbury Avenue.
But at Monday night's Richfield City Council meeting, councilmen Fred Wroge and Pat Elliott said they wouldn't vote to support any zoning or other changes that would help the project move ahead. Wroge explained that the $12.6-million project has changed from the proposal Clark originally submitted.
"Someone's got to stand up and say let's think about this," Wroge said. "I'm just saying, as of now, publicly, I'm not going to support any changes in zoning for whatever's necessary to make this thing happen."
Elliott added that he's "wholeheartedly opposed" to the project as it's currently configured.
Eric Rodel was one of four neighbors who spoke against the project during the council's public forum time at the beginning of Monday night's council meeting. He said he's now gathered 200 signatures from across the city opposing the project.
The City of Richfield's three highest paid employees for 2012: $141,086.40 - City Manager Steve Devich $121,492.80 - Public Works Director Mike Eastland $121,492.80 - Public Safety Director Barry Fritz Source: City of Richfield Website
