Richfield City Council — Transcript
Monday, February 23, 2026
Annual Organizational Business
Bylaws Review and Amendment
Annual Meeting Rescheduling
Liaison Reports
Penn Avenue Corridor Planning and Land Use
2050 Comprehensive Plan Update
Votes (5)
Election of Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary
Moved by Commissioner Hoie [0:04:15] · Seconded by Unknown Commissioner [0:04:30]
The commission held its annual elections for leadership positions. Mr. Holig Johnson was re-elected as Chair. For Vice Chair, Commissioner Hoie and Commissioner Charlesson were nominated, with Commissioner Charlesson ultimately elected. Commissioner Surma was elected Secretary without contest.
Liaison Appointments for City Council, Community Services Advisory, Housing and Redevelopment, School Board, Transportation, Chamber of Commerce, and Sustainability Commissions
Moved by Commissioner Canaly [0:09:47] · Seconded by Commissioner Charlesson [0:09:50]
Commissioners expressed preferences for various liaison roles. There were some shifts and confirmation of existing roles, including the Chair switching with Commissioner Kakowski for Chamber of Commerce/City Council, Commissioner Walsh taking School Board, and Commissioner Hoie taking Housing & Redevelopment. One vacancy in Community Services was noted.
Review and Amendment of Bylaws
Moved by Commissioner Charlesson [0:12:15] · Seconded by Commissioner Surma [0:12:18]
Staff presented a recommended amendment to the bylaws to standardize the order of agenda operations to align with the City Council's procedures, following the adoption of new agenda building software (Civic Plus). There was a brief discussion about the recent changes to the bylaws, but no strong opposition.
Annual Meeting Rescheduling Discussion
Moved by Unknown Commissioner [0:13:50] · Seconded by Commissioner Surma [0:13:57]
Staff recommended rescheduling the May meeting due to Memorial Day and the December meeting for end-of-year travel, a traditional practice. The May meeting was proposed for Wednesday, May 27th, and the December meeting for Monday, December 14th, both two weeks earlier than their original dates.
City Planner's Report and Presentations (Penn Avenue Corridor, Comprehensive Plan Update, Project Updates)
Planner Crosby delivered a comprehensive report covering the Penn Avenue corridor, including its history, current challenges with zoning (Mixed-Use Community and Overlay districts), and future development potential. She discussed the 2008 revitalization plan, the 2021 corridor study, and the tension between commercial and residential uses. The report also touched on the Penn Station project and the upcoming 2050 Comprehensive Plan update. A significant portion of the discussion revolved around balancing redevelopment with reinvestment in existing structures and the implications of on-street vs. on-site parking strategies.
Notable Quotes (7)
In an effort to make the agendas more consistent, uh the commissions are adjusting their order of operations to better align with city council agendas. Therefore, we're proposing um changing the order of operations to match the city council with the approval of the agenda going first, then approval of the minutes and the open forum thereafter.
This year, the May meeting falls on Memorial Day. staff recommends rescheduling the May meeting to Wednesday, May 27th. 27th, which would be the next date that the chambers are available. Um, and we also recommend moving the December meeting... We recommend rescheduling the December meeting to two weeks earlier, Monday, December 14th.
There has always been a tension between the busier commercial corridor on the north side of 68th which is shown in the aerial photo here and the quieter more residential leg south of 68th. the commercial portion. Um the parcels as you can actually see here the parcels on the east side which is um the bottom are um yeah below the um the roadway uh are uh quite small really uh and especially when compared to the parcels on the west side.
The Penn Avenue corridor overlay district impacts the underlying district by usually modifying it in some way. So, it's going to add something or remove something. Um, in this case, such modifications include prohibiting auto repair and detailing. The twotory minimum require building height requirement is waved. In other words, one story is allowed and maximum building heights are reduced from 12 stories to eight and a mix of uses is not required.
There's definitely a desire to balance keeping open the possibility for redevelopment um while encouraging reinvestment in the interim. And that's that's a tricky that's a tricky balance.
Met Council is looking for increased density along transit corridors and Penn Avenue is a transit corridor. However, um the current comprehensive plan already calls for 25 to 100 units per acre in this area. So, um the 20 the minimum 25 is what the Met Council was looking for and and we've already we're already um calling for that.
And just as a side note, I mean, I'd be curious, you know, for the city to explore with on street parking, hopefully when things become dense, the idea of paid parking and how the idea of metered parking might encourage walkability and actually would encourage turnover, which would be really great.
Ordinances & Resolutions (11)
The current meeting's agenda
Minutes from the previous Planning Commission meeting
Requires annual review of bylaws by the Planning Commission
Historical planning document for Penn Avenue, assumed significant redevelopment which proved impractical
Describes Penn Avenue corridor as 60% residential, 40% retail/business/recreational; calls for 25-100 units/acre in this area
Study interrupted by COVID, accepted but not adopted; introduced 'vignettes' concept for parcel amenity sharing
Underlying zoning for the Penn Avenue commercial area, encourages vertical mixing of uses
Modifies the underlying zoning, prohibiting auto repair, waiving two-story minimum, reducing maximum height, and removing mixed-use requirement
Ongoing effort to update the city's comprehensive plan, with RFP out for consultants and a deadline of Dec 31, 2028, for final submission to Met Council
City program to assist businesses/property owners with sprucing up older buildings (30+ years old)
Document seeking consultants for the 2050 comprehensive plan update