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Workforce Housing Development Project

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1-7-2011

Help protect our neighborhood

Ron Clark, developer of Trout Run in Savage, MN, submitted an application to the City of Savage for development of a housing project for the 14 acre property behind Rainbow foods in Savage (off Hwy 13 and County Rd 42).    This application requires the land to be re-zoned from commercial to mixed use allowing for an 8 acre high-density residential housing complex, termed “workforce housing.”  THE RON CLARK APPLICATION WILL BE APPROVED UNLESS YOU GET INVOLVED AND VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION.What does this mean to our community and your family?Changing the zoning of this property from commercial to mixed-residential raises a number of issues that are of concern: 1.  The 14 acre site behind Rainbow, which the City had previously designated as Savage's "prime commercial corridor" will be rezoned to accommodate the proposed 3-story apartment complex.   2.  The zoning change will foreclose further retail development in this "prime commercial corridor”, a serious blow to our community’s future tax base and economic prosperity. 3.  The City is ignoring three (3) other locations in Savage already zoned for "high density residential" which are more logically positioned for this type of project. If the City's "prime commercial corridor" can be rezoned at the whim of our elected officials, what zoning changes will they make next to accommodate other special interests? 4.  The re-zoning and construction of the proposed 3-story, high density apartment complex towering over the surrounding homes in the neighborhood will potentially reduce already suppressed property values. 5.  The proposed high density apartment complex could potentially add 120 children to Glendale Elementary School, exceeding the school's capacity by over 70 students. What’s next?  On February 10th at 7:00pm the Savage Planning Commission will vote on whether to approve Ron Clark's application (City Council Chambers, Savage City Hall, 6000 McColl Drive, Savage MN).    All indications are that the Commission will simply rubber-stamp the application, UNLESS YOU SHOW UP AT THE MEETING TO VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION. If the Commission approves the application, the City Council will vote to approve the application at its next meeting onFebruary 22nd at 7:00pm (same location at City Hall).   The City Council meeting is open to the public and this will be our LAST shot to convince our elected officials to deny the application. We MUST have your representation at the City Council Meeting...a “packed house” full of community members in opposition will be the only way to convince our elected officials to deny the application.  We need your help:  We have retained attorney Jim Susag of the Larkin Hoffman law firm to help us in our efforts and to speak on our behalf at the upcoming Planning Commission meeting and City Council meeting. Jim is a resident of Savage, he was involved with the original zoning plan that the City is now trying to change, and he personally knows and has worked with many of the City Council and planning commission members. We need your financial support to help pay for the legal representation. Without an experienced attorney speaking on ourbehalf that knows the legal issues involved and who can articulate the arguments clearly and succinctly against therezoning and this proposed development, our chances of success are greatly diminished. We anticipate legal expenses to be around $7,000. To date, our alliance has raised only $1800. We are asking all thecommunity members opposed to the project to contribute a minimum of $100 toward the legal expenses. If you arefinancially unable to support the cause in the amount of $100, please consider giving any donation that fits yourmeans. Make your check payable to Larkin Hoffman and mail it to: Larkin HoffmanAttn: Thomas Oppold1500 Wells Fargo Plaza7900 Xerxes Ave SouthBloomington, MN 55431Memo Line: NW Savage Alliance  LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD NOW: Please email each member of the City Council to voice your opposition immediately.  It is imperative that your voice is heard by the voting members of our council.   Mayor Janet Williams:  jwilliams@ci.savage.mn.us; Council Member Gene Abbott:  gabbott@ci.savage.mn.us Council member Christine Kelly:  ckelly@ci.savage.mn.us ; Council Member Al McColl: almccoll@ci.savage.mn.us Council member Jane Victorey: jvictorey@ci.savage.mn.us Mark your calendars now! It is essential that you attend the upcoming meetings on February 10th and 22nd. Let your voice be heard!  Let’s keep our neighborhood the community it was intended to be and the community we thought it was going to be when we purchased our homes. Kind Regards-

NW Savage Alliance

 

11-16-2010

City Hall Neighborhood Meeting November 30, 7PM at the Savage City Hall.

Please note our attorney will be speaking on our behalf.  Please attend and show support for your NW Savage neighborhoods. 

11-11-2010

Ron Clark Development received Federal Funds to rezone and redevelop the GLC Property. 

We as the NW Savage Alliance team held a very successful meeting last night.  We feel very strong in our rights as citizens of NW Savage to take the following course of action in order to prevent the rezoning of the GLC property.

 
  1. Our approach is to oppose the attempt to re-zone the 13 acres located behind Rainbow Foods (referred to as the ""Golf Leaning Center Property" or GLC Property) from commercial to residential. This zoning request is to accommodate the development of a proposed 156+ unit apartment complex for subsidized housing or "workforce housing" being planned by Ron Clark Development (the property owner) and the City of Savage.
 
  1. We are hiring an attorney to prepare a letter to the city expressing our opposition to the proposed re-zoning and the amendment to the city and county 2030 Comprehensive Plan.  The letter will also request that the city provide us with the following information from city records:

·         the number of requests made to the city in the past 10 years seeking to rezone an area and the reasons and the basis for those rezoning amendments being granted or denied

·         the number of requests made to the city and county in the past 10 years seeking to amend the 2030 comprehensive plan and the reasons and the basis for those amendments being granted or denied

·         all records pertaining to any previous applications to develop the GLC property

·         all studies conducted pertaining to affects on traffic congestion and local schools if the "high density" apartment complex was permitted

·         all records pertaining to other subsidized housing/work force housing projects in Savage, including but not limited to:

·         vacancy or occupancy rate

·         public transportation accommodations

·         all reports on the number and location of police calls in the city for the past three years

·         any legal opinions the city obtained pertaining to the proposed project and "spot zoning"

·         documents relating to the financials of the builder (Ron Clark Development)

·         any other information relating to the GLC property or the proposed project

 
  1. Attached is a petition we ask that you sign. Also please canvas your neighborhood to get as many signatures as you can from any of your neighbors that are opposed to the project.  The name and address of each person signing the petition must be filled out.  You can drop your form, bring with you to the City Hall meeting on Nov 30th,  or mail to:
 

Joel & Cindy Hillyer

13954 Aquila Court

Savage, MN 55378

 
  1. To cover legal fees for the attorney to prepare the letter to the city, to appear on our behalf at the November 30 public meeting, to review the documents requested from the city, appear at future meetings, meet with council members, etc., we need to build up a "war chest."  We are asking everyone who opposes the proposed zoning change to contribute $50 to the war chest which will be held in a retainer account by the attorney's law firm under the name "Northwest Savage Alliance."  If you are financially unable to support the cause in the amount of $50, please consider giving any donation that fits your means.  Make your check payable to Larkin Hoffman Law Firm and mail it to:

Larkin Hoffman

Attn:  Thomas Oppold

1500 Wells Fargo Plaza

7900 Xerxes Avenue South

Bloomington, MN 55431

 

The money in the retainer/war chest will be applied to the legal fees as they are incurred.  The attorney will send a monthly invoice to the Northwest Savage Alliance (attn: Joel Hillyer). 

 
  1. It’s imperative that you attend the Nov 30th meeting at city hall with our council members. We need a large crowd at the meeting showing support for our position.  Please invite your neighbors.  A time has not been set.  I will provide updated information when received. 
 

Note – At this meeting our attorney will be speaking on our behalf.  Therefore we ask that you refrain from speaking to the city council. The attorney will know what to say and the proper approach to the council.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions.  

We greatly appreciate your support.  Feel free to contact your neighbors so we are all informed.  

 

Thank You.

 

The NW Savage Alliance Team.

__________________________________________________________________________

6/2/2010 - UPDATED INFORMATION

A meeting has been scheduled with the Mayor, city council members, and Mr. Ron Clark for Weds June 9th at 7 pm at the Savage City Hall - 6000 McColl Drive.  The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

 7:00: Meeting Kick-Off (Joel Hillyer)

• Re-cap of the current situation as we know it
• Actions taken by the neighborhood
• Historical perspective on the land
• Similar Ron Clark construction in IGH
• Current Situation (where we are at in the process)
• Purpose of today's meeting

7:15: Guest Speaker's (Mayor Williams, Councilmember Jane Victorey, City Administrator Barry Stock and Senior Planner Brian Tucker)

• Timing of process (zoning change application, builder proposals, etc)
• How the process works (steps required by builder, city, etc)
• Benefits of the zoning change - WFH concept? (How does the City benefit? How does the builder benefit? Land Owner?)
• The responses to initial concerns as identified by the neighborhoods

7:30: Solutions Discussion (ALL) - Hillyer to lead

• Why do we as citizens of Savage & neighbors want the land to remain zoned commercial
• Whiteboard discussion on options/brainstorming.
• Thought / Ideas from NW Savage Alliance:
„X Bowling Alley
„X Change to Zone C-3 for medical/office
„X Chip & Putt golf course
„X Gander Mountain/Cabala's
„X Movie / Dinner Theatre
„X Park/Community Pool
„X Restaurants
„X Senior Living/Assisted Living (similar to Inver Grove Heights Development
„X Trader Joe's
„X Technical College/Satellite campus
• Are the solutions discussed viable? How can we get involved?

7:50 Questions and Answers - (All)

• What are the next steps

8:00 Adjourn

We need a strong showing so please attend!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

* Look for an article in the Savage Pacer on our efforts to stop the rezoning of the GLC property.  Expected publication 5/28/2010. 

* A meeting will be held at the city hall 6/9/2010, @ 7 PM.  We have asked several city officials to attend  We will discuss the current situation, and alternatives for the property. More information will be posted on this site and in the Savage Pacer.

* Continue to let our city leaders know you oppose the rezoning change, and want to work with them on an alternate plan.

* I will be building an email distribution list., continue to send me an email if you would like to be added. 

Thanks, Joel H. Smile

 joelhillyer@yahoo.com

______________________________________________________________

Attention all NW Savage Homeowners – as printed in the Savage Pacer

5/1/2010/ - The City of Savage received a proposal from Ron Clark Contraction to build a 156 unit Apartment complex on the 14 acres behind Rainbow foods. The proposal for “Workforce Housing is in its preliminary stages. However steps are being taken by the builder and architect that include:

1.      The units would be built and access granted on the northern 8 acres along Connelly Parkway. This equates to 19.5 units per acre, thus considered a high density complex.

2.      This development requires a zoning change from Commercial to mix, which is a combination of commercial and residential.  This parcel of land was planned in the City’s Comprehensive Zoning Plan to 2030 as Commercial.  Thus this would be a deviation from the city’s original plan.  .

3.      The intention is to offer a subsidized lower income housing complex that is intended to serve those entering the workforce, hence Workforce Housing. As described to the City this would be available to those local entry level employees, such as teachers, policemen, bank tellers, etc.

4.      A zoning change, tax credit & permits are in process with the City of Savage, and Scott County Community Authority. Various approvals & plan completion would be issued sometime this fall / winter with construction starting about one year from now.

5.      Specific development plans are to be presented to the Planning Commission in November. 

6.      4 of the 12 acres would be used for additional commercial development, located on the south side of the property.

We are forming a consolidated neighborhood team to oppose the zoning change & this development.  We need your help.  We have created a website for you to go into and register your opinion / opposition to this plan.  The site is: http://nwsavage.freehosting.net/  Also on this site is updated information, upcoming meeting notices, and contacts.  Please visit the site, register, and let us know your opinion and any assistance you can provide. We need to get organized; the time to act is now!

Here are some of the questions, comments, and concerns from the area residence:

1.      Why would the city change the zoning plans and approve development other than commercial when families moved into this area knowing that this parcel is planned to 2030 as commercial?

2.      This concept conflicts with the original intent of the City of Savage, which is to provide residents with spending options in our city.  The per capita income of Savage residence is very high. Let’s use our spending $$ here in Savage instead of those $$ going to other areas.

3.      The neighborhoods are very interested with working with the city and developer towards the commercial development options.

4.      Why develop a low-income high-density housing complex in a single family neighborhood?

5.      How does the developer know that entry level employees are renting in this housing complex?

6.      Is this section 8 housing such as the Winfield Estates in Savage on Glendale and CO Rd 42?

7.      With occupancy so low in south Metro apartment complexes, why is this needed?

8.      What is the impact to our property values, crime, and overall neighborhood conditions?

9.      Is the city willing to take the risk that potentially lowers property values as a result of this project which could have a negative impact on property taxes? Has this impact been calculated?

10.  How much more traffic would Connelly Parkway, Boone Ave, and Highway 13 experience?  

11.  Has a study been completed related to cost of infrastructure changes, additional police / fire coverage, and other various city services? 

12.  What’s the impact to our schools?

 

Please visit the website and register, voice your opinion, and provide assistance with maintaining our neighborhoods as we and the city intended them to be.  Thank You, from the NW Savage Alliance.