New Brighton Residents Pack Midtown Village Development Hearing

May 29, 2019 In the Community

The New Brighton Planning Commission held a public hearing May 21 to discuss the redevelopment of the former New Brighton Elementary School site, ultimately amending and adding suggested conditions to the preliminary proposal before recommending it to the City Council.

The project, dubbed Midtown Village, would include a four-story, 204-unit affordable senior apartment building built by Dominium, and 53 townhomes built by Pulte Homes to the north of Old Highway 8 between Eighth Avenue and the railroad tracks. On adjacent land, south of Old Highway 8, Dominium has proposed a four-story, 154-unit affordable family apartment building.

After presentations by city staff and the two developers, the public hearing was opened and a steady stream of residents addressed the commission for more than an hour. Prior to the meeting, commission members were presented with a file of electronic communications from residents to consider along with the comments given at the hearing.

While multiple faith leaders and social service workers advocated for more affordable housing in the city, many residents who live next to or near the proposed development had concerns. Some also accused the city of moving too quickly, without listening to resident opposition.

At the end of the night, commissioners decided to amend and add certain suggested conditions to the proposal, hoping to increase parking and ease the transition between the higher density development and surrounding single-family homes. They moved to recommend the preliminary plan to the New Brighton City Council for final approval at its May 28 meeting, held after press time for this edition of the paper.