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I'm on my way to an important meeting about the future of groceries in our community. My trip has been complicated by the bus ceiling leaking all over my tweets. And the traffic light at Lyn Lake is out.
I'm here 
Can you hear the Beach Boys playing?
Ward 12 Council Member Andrew Johnson is here. How many wards are affected by this development? I don't even know where I am right now. I thought this was only Ward 11.
Guy with microphone jokingly threatens to "lock the doors" because "we're not gonna get everybody in here."
Lady says her mom used to say she"wasn't made of shit or sugar" and won't melt. Very down home rain joke.
Andrew Johnson confirms development is happening in Ward 12. Across the street from 11.
You know they're expecting trouble when they pass out the land use application educational flyer.
Andrew Johnson has heard traffic concerns. Says there will be a traffic study. He wants to work with Hennepin county on traffic calming on Cedar. It's not a highway extension, it's a neighborhood street.
He's "very impressed" with tonight's turnout.
He's "very impressed" with tonight's turnout.
The developer rep is named Johnny Carlson. That's one letter away from being named Johnny Carson.
Johnny Carlson: "We love Minneapolis... We really strategically tried to enter this market."
Introducing a guy from Lunds who will be the grocery store as part of this project.
Introducing a guy from Lunds who will be the grocery store as part of this project.
Lunds wants to be a part of the community.
Reading statement from Steve and Marsha Bergan, of Bergan's SuperValu: it wasn't an easy decision after 35 years. We need a new grocer here.
Reading statement from Steve and Marsha Bergan, of Bergan's SuperValu: it wasn't an easy decision after 35 years. We need a new grocer here.
"17.6 years is the average lifespan of a Lunds and Byerly's employee."
Sounds like a hard job.
Sounds like a hard job.
I recognize the strategy here. They're throwing a feel good presentation at this crowd so they don't get upset about traffic and parking later. Everyone loves groceries.
"We would very much like to be your grocer in your neighborhood."
Landscape guy: "There's an opportunity to have some plaza and seating spaces." Make it about people instead of just cars. Garden space, trees, flowers, natural grasses.
Parking
82 surface
25 covered
82 surface
25 covered
Coming up soon: "Beautiful 3d renderings" have be promised.
"Beautiful white brick." Traditional and modern at the same time, says the next guy up.
This 5 story building is golf course adjacent.
Level 2 is the residential parking level. Can't be underground because of flood plain issues. Apartments on level 3, 4, 5.
Traffic study. 75 additional trips compared to status quo. 60 for residential, 15 for grocery.
130 units. 80% 1 bedroom or smaller. 20% 2 bedroom.
Ranging from 447 to 1114 sq ft.
I believe it's a parking ratio of 1 space per unit.
Ranging from 447 to 1114 sq ft.
I believe it's a parking ratio of 1 space per unit.
Question about affordable housing. It doesn't trigger inclusionary zoning ordinance.
(If the crowd wants more affordable they could ask for a bigger building)
(If the crowd wants more affordable they could ask for a bigger building)
Traffic concerns. Guy says he can't imagine this won't intensify problems. Are we increasing transit?
Answer:
Earlier traffic data presented says says they expect 75 additional trips. Not affecting traffic.
Residential enters off Longfellow.
Answer:
Earlier traffic data presented says says they expect 75 additional trips. Not affecting traffic.
Residential enters off Longfellow.
This is "out of character" with the neighborhood says guy. He wants 3 stories.
"I'm going to be in the shadow of this development."
Round of applause for "sacred parkland."
"I'm going to be in the shadow of this development."
Round of applause for "sacred parkland."
Zoning allows this, says developer.
That doesn't make it right, says guy.
That doesn't make it right, says guy.
Parking concerns. Johnny Carlson says nobody cares more about parking than Lunds.
Surprise applause line: guy fed up with parking concerns, says "there's too much!" He wishes the 2nd level was housing and not parking.
Stormwater concerns. Lady recalls a guy who drowned in a basement.
Thanks to Steve Cramer for the holding pond.
Maybe I'm at a different meeting from these people, but I believe they said they're doing a better job with storm water than the existing conditions.
More units and more affordable housing, says next resident.
Council Member Andrew Johnson says a permanent inclusionary zoning ordinance is on the way. Interim ordinance does not apply to this building as proposed.
Council Member Andrew Johnson says a permanent inclusionary zoning ordinance is on the way. Interim ordinance does not apply to this building as proposed.
The building would need to be 60% bigger to trigger IZ.
This meeting isn't quite bad enough to make it fun. Just a slog.
Guy calls Andrew Johnson "alderman."
I think maybe we're witnessing the birth of a rumor. All the talk about tax increment financing has one local man worried this market rate building is going to be publicly financed.
Andrew Johnson now getting into the weeds of TIF and inclusionary zoning.
Developer: "we are not asking the city for anything."
Estimated $6.3 million in additional tax revenue to city over 10 years. Above status quo.
Estimated $6.3 million in additional tax revenue to city over 10 years. Above status quo.
Here's a picture of Jeremy Schroeder feeling grateful they're not building this thing across the street in Ward 11.
"Before you start developing and adding people to our neighborhood" you need to solve "people blowing through stop signs."
3 times in the last year we nearly lost Andrew Johnson to a close call with a car. He feels your pain. (Me too)
He says, this is not exclusive to this site. These are traffic safety issues for the whole city. "We need to address it all over."
He says, this is not exclusive to this site. These are traffic safety issues for the whole city. "We need to address it all over."
Lady brings up the shoreland overlay and precedent and the 2040 plan. Very Ward 7 question.
Andrew Johnson explaining the conditional nature of height limits in the shoreland. Extra height is allowable under certain conditions. It is allowable. That's why they call it a conditional use permit.
Shoreland overlay is triggered because of proximity to the floodplain.
Guy excited to have his neighborhood become "a place that people walk or drive to rather than a place that people drive through."
Rent numbers
Resident says the "White brick overpowers me."
Answer: the rendering doesn't really convey texture.
Answer: the rendering doesn't really convey texture.
April 2021 is when they want to open. Both grocery and residential. (Unless someone throws a lawsuit into the gears of the machinery, God forbid.)
People wonder why transit service isn't so great in this area. Andrew Johnson says it's too low density (meaning we use the power of the law to prevent people from living here). And the state doesn't fund transit.
Oh c'mon guy we already covered the shoreland overlay district.
Johnson, again: "The shoreland overlay is not meant to prevent buildings over 2.5 stories."
Uh oh: "my colleague is on the zoning and planning committee"
Andrew Johnson trying to throw Jeremy Schroeder under the bus. Don't get him involved in your Ward 12 shoreland overlay drama.
Andrew Johnson trying to throw Jeremy Schroeder under the bus. Don't get him involved in your Ward 12 shoreland overlay drama.
Andrew Johnson warns people about public records. If you put "dirty language" in your email input to him we'll all be able to see it. Be warned!
Renderings
Happened to be passing by the site.
