2005-10-05 City Council MinutesPage No. 1
October 5, 2005
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
Held Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the City Council, City of Mendota
Heights, Minnesota was held at 7:30 o'clock p.m. at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights,
Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Huber called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. The following
members were present: Mayor Huber, Councilmembers Duggan,
Krebsbach, Schneeman and Vitelli.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council, the audience and staff recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA ADOPTION Councilmember Duggan moved adoption of the revised agenda for
the meeting.
Councilmember Krebsbach seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilmember Duggan moved approval of the minutes of the
regular meeting held on September 20, 2005 as amended.
Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
CONSENT CALENDAR Councilmember Duggan moved approval of the consent calendar for
the meeting, revised to move items 6, , to the regular agenda, along
with authorization for execution of any necessary documents
contained therein.
a. Acknowledgement of the Unapproved Minutes from the
September 27, 2005 Planning Commission Meeting.
b. Acknowledgement of the August 2005 Building Activity Report.
c. Acknowledgement of a memo recognizing recipients of the
Fourteenth Annual Fire Safety Awards.
d. Acknowledgement, with regret, of a letter of Retirement from
Firefighter Tim Oster, effective August 20, 2005.
e. Authorization for payment of the $10,000 MHAA contingency to
the Mendota Heights Athletic Association .
f. Authorization for an expenditure of up to $1,200 for the Annual
Halloween Bonfire.
Page No. 2
October 5, 2005
g. Authorization for the Code Enforcement Officer to issue a permit
for parking lot replacement at Brown College.
h. Approval of the reappointment of Councilmember Schneeman as
the city's Gun Club Lake WMO Board Member.
i. Resolution No. 05-87, "A RESOLUTION APPROVING A
MINOR AMENDMENT TO THE PLANNED UNIT
DEVELOPMENT FOR TEMPORARY SIGNAGE FOR THE
TOWN CENTER REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT," for
Fantastic Sam's.
j. Adoption of Resolution No. 05-88, "RESOLUTION CALLING
FOR THE REDEMPTION OF OUTSTANDING GENERAL
OBLIGATION BONDS OF 1997, DATED DECEMBER 1,
1997."
k. Approval of list of contractor licenses dated October 5, 2005.
1. Approval of the list of claims dated October 5, 2005, and totaling
$61,456.94.
Councilmember Krebsbach seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
BOND SALE Council acknowledged a memo from Finance Director Schabacker
regarding the sale of $790,000 improvement bonds for the 2005
street improvements project. Mr. Mark Ruff, from Ehlers&
Associates was present for the discussion.
Mr. Ruff presented and reviewed a tabulation of bids received for the
bond sale. He informed Council that Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. has given the bonds a rating of Aa2, which is an excellent rating
for a city this size. He recommended that the bid be awarded to
Miller Johnson Steichen Kinnard for its low rate of 3.9059%.
Councilmember Vitelli moved adoption of Resolution No. 05-89,
"RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE AND SALE
OF $790,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION IMPROVEMENT
BONDS, SERIES 2005A, PLEDGING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
FOR THE SECURITY THEREOF AND LEVYING A TAX FOR
THE PAYMENT THEREOF," awarding the bid to Miller Johnson
Steichen Kinnard.
Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
BID AWARD, TRAIL Council acknowledged a memo from Operations & Projects
OVERLAY PROJECT Coordinator Kullander regarding bids received for the trail overlay
project. Mayor Huber informed the audience that the bids that were
Page No. 3
October 5, 2005
received were all over the budget and staff has recommended that the
j bids be rejected and that the project be re -bid this winter for spring
construction.
Councilmember Vitelli moved to reject the bids and direct staff to
rebid the project this winter for construction in the spring.
Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
CASE NO. 05 -42, SCHUSTER Council acknowledged an application from Mr. & Mrs. Joseph
Schuster for a preliminary plat to create two additional lots at 1900
Wachtler Avenue. Council also acknowledged associated staff
reports and letters from Mr. & Mrs. Patrick McQuillan, Mr. John
White, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Vince, Mr. John Sander and Mr. Mike
Williams.
Assistant Hollister informed Council that the Schusters have applied
for subdivision of their existing single family lot into two additional
lots. They propose to create one lot to the north of their exiting
home and one to the south. The city planner reviewed the
application and found their plan to meet city requirements. The
Planning Commission also recommended approval. Council can
adopt the commission's recommendation or, alternatively, Council
can choose to deny the application and direct staff to prepare a
resolution with findings of fact for the next meeting. A third option
would be to table action to the next meeting for further deliberation
and research. Responding to a question from Mayor Huber, he stated
that Council will be conducting a joint workshop with the Planning
Commission on November 2 and one of the topics of discussion will
be infill development. Council could continue this matter pending
the outcome of the conversation at the workshop. The current 60 day
review period expires on October 22, and the city can extend that for
an additional 60 days, to December 21.
Councilmember Duggan informed Mrs. Schuster that about a year
ago Council received a subdivision proposal for the Fink property on
Alvin Court. Based on the discussion then and concern for potential
future development requests, Council retained the city planner to
prepare a study on infill development, and that study will be
considered at the workshop. This is not something that just suddenly
happened. The workshop will be a public meeting and people can
attend to listen to the discussion.
Page No. 4
October 5, 2005
Councihnember Krebsbach stated that she is interested in the
workshop and looking further at this particular neighborhood and
other neighborhoods before taking action.
Councilmember Schneeman stated that the issues before Council
area difficult and Council wants to do the best it can for everyone.
Mrs. Schuster stated that they are requesting subdivision of their
property into one lot of 21,249 square feet with 158 feet of frontage.
The lot their home sits on would be 22,773 square feet with 151 feet
of frontage, and the third lot is 16,475 square feet with 110 feet of
frontage. They would like to build a new home on that lot. She
stated that she understands there would be two connection charges of
$14,015 each and two park contributions of $2,700 each. There will
be drainage and utility easements along the lot lines. She stated that
they started improving the property about 30 years ago by getting rid
of the brush along Hilltop and planted about 90% of the trees on
their lot. They put the trees in an area where they would not interfere
with houses going on the new lots. In 1992 they did extensive
modeling which improved the lot considerably and improved the
value of their home and the properties in their neighborhood. It
takes a lot of work to maintain the property. They put bluebird
houses in about five years ago and have had two bluebird families
there each year.
Mayor Huber responded that the Schusters have done a great job
with their yard, which is beautiful, and everyone has commented on
that.
Mr. Paul Schuster stated that he is a bit skeptical about the workshop
magically solving this issue. He asked if the Schusters much come
to the workshop and then come back at the next Council meeting.
Mayor Huber responded that the workshop is not intended to solve
any issues. Council has been noticing increasingly over the past
several years is more and more desire to split lots. The issue of lot
size in Mendota Heights goes back as far as Mendota Heights goes
back. In the early 1960's people did not want lots to be less than an
acre. Most of the lots that have gone for subdivision have typically
been more than 5 to 7 acres and were divided into six to eight lots.
People knew that sooner or later they would be developed. Council
is now starting to see situations like the Schusters where people who
look at the property have viewed it as always being single family lot.
Council has been seeing more requests in the last few years to split
40,000 to 60,000 square foot lots. In response, Council has decided
Page No. 5
October 5, 2005
to take a look at this because neighbors are concerned. Council
needs to sit down and understand what a city can or cannot do.
Council must look to see what cities are empowered to do and look
at established neighborhoods to see what can be done in terms of
what other cities have done. Council must explore its options with
staff and the city planner and planning commission. The workshop
will raise the level of information Council has.
Mr. John Schuster agreed that Council should have policies in place.
He asked if he must still come back and argue this again after the
workshop.
Mayor Huber responded that they should come back. Council may
table this issue tonight and will let the Schusters and the neighbors
know when the matter will be on Council's agenda. Council would
not want to rehash information it has tonight but rather would review
new information and the things that come out of the workshop.
Mr. Schuster stated that he is here tonight on behalf of his parents to
represent them and help them understand the process. They have
been through this twice before and did not really understand what
was happening. He informed Council that he does not have any
personal interest in the lot split. The neighborhood was developed in
the 1950's. Their lot is 1.4 acres and is beautiful because it has been
maintained well Mrs. Schuster has unproved on it continuously for
the last 30 years and people do not want it to go away. Even though
some people want to keep the lot in its current state, the Schusters
have the right to pursue their plan to divide the lot as long as it meets
the city's codes. He lives in a neighborhood in Eden Prairie that is a
mix of old and new houses. The original houses are about the same
age as the original homes in Somerset Hills. When the new houses
started being developed, the existing neighbors were not happy about
losing the open space and their views of the river bluff but they did
not try to stop the development. They just asked that the new homes
be kept as low as possible so their views would not be blocked and
everyone respected that. To this day, the original neighbors and the
new neighbors get along well and property values have increased for
everyone. Sometimes people only consider the negative side of an
issue and not the positives. He asked that people consider the
possibility that their property values will not be adversely affected
and that the new people moving in might end up being their friends.
The Schusters attempted to subdivide their land in 1978 and again in
1984. In September of 1978 the Planning Commission and Council
denied the subdivision because the most northerly lot would be in
violation of a setback requirement. Since there was neighborhood
Page No. 6
October 5, 2005
opposition and the Somerset Hills deed restriction had only just
expired, his parents decided to honor the decision of the Council and
not pursue it further at that time. In 1984, the Schusters saw other
lots being subdivided in the neighborhood and nice houses going up
and they revised their proposal to require that the future homes face
Wachtler to alleviate the 1978 issues. The Planning Commission
recommended approval with a 3.7 foot front yard setback variance
for the existing house because they thought the house was 3.7 feet
closer to Wachtler than the minimum requirement. The Council
denied the request based on the setback for the northerly lot. Since
the same neighborhood opposition existed, the Schusters decided not
to pursue it further. Since 1984 they have extensively remodeled
their house to better fit in with the subdivision potential. They
moved the front of the house back from Wachtler about 11 feet and
the need for the front yard setback was eliminated. They have also
planted many trees on the parcel, away from the center of the new
lots where they would have to be removed when the new houses are
built. The current proposal was unanimously recommended by the
Planning Commission. The planner report states that the parcels
meet the city requirements for lot width and area and they will have
adequate building area for new homes without the need for
variances. The proposed subdivision is completely legal and the
only thing against them is neighborhood opposition. They
understand they must submit a revised preliminary plat showing the
location of structures and setbacks and easements, that they must
submit grading and utility plans, they must satisfy park and trail
dedication requirements and they must enter into a development
agreement and pay all applicable fees. The Schusters are not here to
subdivide and cash in and move out of Mendota Heights. They
moved here in 1976 and love Mendota Heights and the
neighborhood. His brothers and sister and their families live here as
well as many family and friends.
Mayor Huber asked about the status of submitting a revised
preliminary plat.
Mr. Schuster stated that he has an unofficial drawing and they have
not had time to have an official survey done for tonight.
Mayor Huber stated that staff is working on getting the record of the
Schuster applications in 1978 and 1984 put together for Council
review. He then asked for questions and comments from the
audience.
Page No. 7
October 5, 2005
Ms. Carol Weisbecker, 695 Wesley Court, the Schusters' daughter,
} stated that she and her mother walked the neighborhood this
weekend to talk to people and see how they felt about the proposed
subdivision. There were six people against it and nine approve of
the subdivision and nine were neutral. Those nine just did not want
to be bothered and they did not want to argue against it.
Mr. Jim Weisbecker stated that it is a beautiful lot and the Schusters
clearly have room on both sides for houses. It looks like there are
holes in the neighborhood now. He stated that he has seen many lots
divided and developed over the years and he has even come and
voice concerns. There was a house built on Wesley Lane a year ago
you cannot tell. It filled a hole in the neighborhood. What the
Schusters are planning will fit in and be an asset to the
neighborhood. The Schusters are aging and this is causing lot of
anxiety for them. He asked Council to approve the subdivision this
evemng.
Mayor Huber responded that this is not something Council wants to
drag on for months. There needs to be a conclusion for all
concerned. Council must carefully consider the options because the
decision will affect other areas as well. Something may work well in
one area but not in another. Council feels they really need to do an
infill study and needs to make sure it has all the facts so that Council
does not start approving or disapproving lot divisions without having
all the facts.
Mr. Weisbecker responded that there have been a lot of divisions
approved over the years and what the Schusters are proposing is fully
in line with the city's ordinances. He asked that Council not
postpone this but rather at least consider looking at this and ask
themselves if the infill study is going to change the rules and
regulations for subdivisions. If the answer is no, he thinks Council
should approve the subdivision now.
Mayor Huber responded that the workshop was originally scheduled
for late September but it had to be postponed because several people
could not attend. Had it been held in September, Council could have
applied the information from the workshop to this application this
evening.
Councilmember Krebsbach stated that the infill study has been on
Council's list of things to do for a long time. Everyone is impacted
by a scattered approach to lot divisions. Council considers the
workshop a high priority meeting.
Page No. 8
October 5, 2005
Councilmember Duggan stated that at the time the workshop was
scheduled, Council was not aware of the Schuster's desire to
subdivide. He stated that there will not be any change to the
regulations at the workshop. Also, he did not think that after the
workshop Council could change any laws that would be deleterious
to the Schuster application. Council needs a sense of what direction
Council wants the city to go in and what reasonable control Council
can impose. In this case, it is not enough just to create two lots.
Council also needs to know what impact the housing style will have
on the neighbors.
Mayor Huber stated that Council does not know what may come out
of the workshop. What comes out of the workshop could
conceivably impact this application. This Council does a good job of
researching issues and doing things thoroughly so as to get things
right and engage a lot of people in the discussion. There are a lot of
people who have property like the Schusters and they are going to be
keenly interested in what comes out the workshop.
Ms. Greta Wenzel, 784 Hilltop Court, stated that she and her
husband are not looking at this situation as looking out her kitchen
will change in twelve months. She is looking at this as how it will
impact the whole city twenty years from now. She wants to make
sure there is careful consideration with respect to long range
planning and thinks it would be prudent to wait for the infill
workshop. She has done quite a bit of research on neighborhood
infill recently and thinks not only infill but also redevelopment is her
concern. She can see a house fitting on the north lot but cannot
handle the idea of a developer coming in and buying a block of lots
and where there are three houses today there will be ten in the future.
There are neighborhoods where the current policies are applicable
but some where there are not. There is such a variety of lot sizes
and neighborhood styles and ages in the city and she does not know
how one policy can serve all of those neighborhoods. The city
planning is moving from development to redevelopment and infill.
She wonders that just because something is permissible by law that it
should be automatic. She stated that she hopes Council considers the
possibility and not the certainty of the subdivision and hopes a vote
is delayed until after the workshop. This is a change that cannot be
undone once it is decided.
Mr. John White, 1897 Wachtler, stated that the Schusters bought in
1975 and in 1978 the covenants were dropped and they fully
expected to make three lots. He moved in 1984 and Mr. Schuster
Page No. 9
October 5, 2005
came directly over to him and told him he wanted to divide his lots.
When the Schusters added onto their home, they needed a variance
and needed the signatures of the neighbors. The neighbors signed
their approval so they could remodel, however the Schusters did that
with the explicit idea that they would now have the ability to break
up the lots. His biggest concern is that there has been a tremendous
increase in children in the neighborhood and the children are on their
bikes and scooters. The neighborhood is strange in that it is
landlocked on the west side and the south side. The neighborhood
can only be entered on four streets. He stated that he has just over an
acre and would have the ability to split his lot. He has noticed an
increasing amount of car traffic coming across from Market Street
onto Ridge Place because it's the only place one can cross over Dodd
Road from Town Center. Now people have found that if they take
Hilltop from Marie and over to Ridge Place the miss the Dodd and
Marie intersection. There are several large lots in the neighborhood
and many people who would like to sell their homes and divide there
lots. There could theoretically be ten more homes and thirty three
more cars that can't get out west or south. Added to that, in 1998
new streets were built. At that time the neighborhood asked the city
to make some of the streets narrower to avoid trees. Wachtler is 8
feet narrower than a normal street. If there are 33 more cars and
fifteen to 20 new children in the neighborhood and cars funneling
through the neighborhood from Town Center, Council needs to give
this much more thought. This is one of the original neighborhoods
in the city and it was thought out when it was put in.
Mrs. Maureen Vince stated that she lives next door to the Schusters
and would be the most impacted. She and her husband have also
spent a lot of money improving their home and lot over the past 19
years. She loves bluebirds too and has bluebirds on their lot. Once
people start chopping up the lots there will not be bluebirds there any
more. There will be houses right on top of each other and people
will not have the benefit of the big lots. What is good for new
developments in lot sizes is not good for established neighborhoods
that have the same size lots and similar homes.
Mr. Bob Vince stated that before they moved to Mendota Heights, he
called City Hall and talked to Paul Berg and Administrator
Danielson and asked if there was any future development or any
increase in density proposed. He was told that the Schusters had
tried to subdivide their property and were not successful and there
was no reason to believe anything had changed. He checked with the
city again in 1991 and spoke to Mr. Berg. That was after Mr.
Schuster came to his home and told him he was going to subdivide
Page No. 10
October 5, 2005
his property and asked what he thought. When he called the city he
was told the same thing. When the Schusters increased the value of
their house by remodeling it, they had to get a variance. He signed a
letter for the Schusters for the variance. He stated that all the lots in
the neighborhood are about the same size and some are larger than
the Schuster lot. Anyone could subdivide their property if they want
to but he would be very strongly opposed to it. If this is approved,
his will be the only house in the neighborhood that has five houses
adjacent to it. He would like to see some type of delay so he can
have some time to evaluate the impact this would have on his
property. He has not had time to prepare anything since the Planning
Commission meeting and would like to have time to have a study
done on the situation and perhaps even give some suggestions at the
infill workshop.
Ms. Lorraine Wilkie, 781 Ridge Place, stated that she was here a few
years ago when her neighbor at 790 Ridge Place wanted to subdivide
his lot and build a new home. She told Council she was opposed to
the subdivision and that if Council approved the subdivision there
would be a line of people wanting to subdivide their lots. Since then
another lot has been divided.
Mayor Huber responded that two lots have been subdivided and this
is the fourth request in the neighborhood and it was the Ridge Place
subdivision that prompted Council look at an infill study.
Ms. Wilkie stated that she knew she would lose some trees and some
property when the streets were done and Council listened to them
and decided to keep the streets around 22 feet to preserve the
character of the neighborhood by keeping green space and trees. In
the beginning Town Center was a very dense development and she
was not happy with it. Now there is more green space than in the
original proposal. The owners of the Par 3 Golf Course want to sell
the property for development and she knows Council was against the
idea because they wanted to preserve green space. She asked why
Council would be so willing to take away green space from this
neighborhood and asked Council to look at this neighborhood as
being unique and that its character should be preserved.
Mr. John Van Bogart, 1920 Wachtler, stated that while he also
agrees that the country atmosphere of the neighborhood is
wonderful, when he moved here in 1997 just before the street project
and did not know until the day after they moved in that they would
be losing the country style road. He was not happy that 8 feet of his
lot was taken to preserve some 40 to 50 foot pine trees — many of
Page No. 11
October 5, 2005
them are now dying. There is an old oak that was preserved and it
looks great. There has been a lot of talk in the neighborhood about
traffic but he cannot attribute the traffic just to Town Center. Most
of the traffic he sees coming out of Town Center does not go through
his neighborhood to get to Marie. It might be that some traffic
coming from Marie to go to Dodd and T.H. 110. Since he moved in,
he has seen many of the young children in the neighborhood grow up
and get cars, and a lot of the increased traffic is teenagers going in
and out. There are many more young families who have hectic
schedules and are coming and going more. He did not see how two
more houses in the neighborhood would add noticeable traffic.
There is some much more traffic at the intersection of Ridge and
Dodd from Town Center and the only thing that would help that
intersection would have been to put a light in to mitigate the
problems at high traffic hours. The other thing that has been brought
up is neighborhood change. The original 1947 plat showed that
Somerset Hills II was not around then, nor were any of the streets
that go around Valley Curve. It was just an empty field. Now there
are many more houses in the neighborhood than there were 40 years
ago. The city has already made the decision that dividing these lots
into smaller lots and allowing people to build more homes to
enhance the value of the properties and help provide tax dollars is
permissible. All the proposed lot division will do is add more tax
dollars to the city and be within the legal restrictions of the city.
Fifty years ago there were more lots than there are today. Not only
were there lots divided, there were lots consolidated. He respects the
Vines desire not to be surrounded by five houses. They are the
most impacted and he is next. He does not want to see a three story
house on the new lot next to him. He would like Council to approve
the subdivision but to put in some restrictions that the houses could
not be greater than one story, for example, and that there be certain
feature requirements. He does not think Council should wait until
the eleventh hour when his neighbors have known for twenty years
that the Schusters planned to divide the lot.
Ms. Jenny Robinson Kluse, 1817 Valley Curve, stated that the
Schusters legally have a right to subdivide. The question is whether
the community has any rights. She stated that hers is one of the
families that has been affected by the recent subdivision to the south.
It was their legal right to obtain a variance and sell their lot, but she
will be here for the next 30 years and is very concerned about what
this will turn into. She would like to actively participate in the
planning meeting in November. If Mendota Heights is going to
change it will be because of the cumulative effect of lot divisions.
Page No. 12
October 5, 2005
Ms. Bev Bayless, 821 Hilltop, stated that she has lived in her home
for 30 years and it is a wonderfully unique neighborhood and she
really hates to see any of it change. Mrs. Schuster has created a
beautiful piece of land. If the property were in disarray, people
would be overjoyed that something was going to go in there. She did
not think that putting houses on such a big piece of property will ruin
the neighborhood. The perfect solution would be for the neighbors
who benefit the most from Mrs. Schuster's park to consider buying
the lots if the property is subdivided. The city planner and city
attorney have said the subdivision is legal. If this is legal, she
supports it. She understands that if Council approves this there will
be many more requests for subdivision, but she is confident after
watching Council all these years that Council deals with each request
on a case by case basis. She trusts that Council will deal with this
request in the same way and as fairly as Council has done for the past
30 years.
Mrs. Betty Schmidt, 780 Hilltop Court, stated that there are two
issues, an objective one and a subjective one. The city attorney has
stated that this is legal. She heard Mayor Huber state earlier that the
city cannot deny what it does not have the right to deny. She stated
that she hopes to divide her property also. They would like to build a
new house on their lot. They did not buy their house because of the
lot. They bought because of the schools and the proximity to the
cities. Her children did not benefit more because it was a big lot.
She supports what the Schusters want to do.
Mayor Huber stated that Ms. Schmidt raised a good point — there is
no lot in the city that was not once divided.
Ms. Susan Vince, 1397 Cherry Hill Road, stated that she is speaking
as a concerned citizen of the city. She is concerned about the density
and things are changing a lot in Mendota Heights. When they chose
to live in Mendota Heights because of its charm and. it is not so
dense and there are no traffic problems. They have lived in their
home seven years and there have been two to three new houses on
Emerson in the last three years. That has affected traffic. She has
noticed a significant increase in traffic just from a few houses. She
spends a lot of time on Hilltop and her children play in their
grandparents' yard. She would hate to see a chain reaction of
subdivisions changing the community.
Ms. Debra Weisener stated that she is against the lot division
because of the domino affect it could have. She asked Council to
revisit the lot size issue and give this serious thought.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
Page No. 13
October 5, 2005
Mayor Huber responded that one of the reasons to revisit the lot size
issue is that no one wants to see Council start to have inconsistent
conclusions on applications that seem similar. This is an opportunity
to try to get some consistency and some airing of thought so that all
applications are dealt with as consistently as possible and with some
basis of recent conversation amongst Council, the Commission and
staff. The conclusion that comes out of the workshop may be that
the current rules be left in place.
Councilmember Vitelli stated that he thinks this is a prime example
of why Council decided several months ago that it needs an infill
study. Mendota Heights has a lot of large lots and so far it has been
consistent from neighborhood to neighborhood. The issue has to be
addressed as some of the senior citizens who have larger lots decide
to move or to make room for children and make requests for
subdivision. The lot size in the inunediate area is an average of
54,000 square feet. What is being proposed is to insert three lots that
on average are 19,800 square feet. That is a major change in the
look and feel of the area. This is not going to be unique to this
neighborhood and will continue to happen. This will happen over
and over again and that is why Council decided it needed to take a
look at the issue. Council has discussed infill for over two years and
finally came to the point of meeting to discuss it.
Councilmember Duggan suggested tabling the discussion until after
the workshop to give Council the ability to snake a better decision.
Mayor Huber stated that Assistant Hollister will send a letter to the
Schusters to formally extend the review period for 60 days. That
second 60 day period will end on December 21.
Councilmember Krebsbach felt that the discussion should be
continued to December because there may be something Council
wants in terns of additional information that Council wants to
consider after the workshop.
Councilmember Duggan moved to table further discussion to
December 6.
Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion.
Mayor Huber stated that the workshop will be a public meeting and
everyone can attend, but Council practice at workshops is not to take
public comments. Council does not engage the public in workshops.
Page No. 14
October 5, 2005
CASE NO. 05-43, BUEGE Council acknowledged an application from Mr. Troy Buege, for a
conditional use permit and setback variances for replacement of a
detached garage and driveway at 600 Valley Lane. Council also
acknowledged associated staff reports.
Assistant Hollister briefly reviewed the application and the Planning
Commission recommendation.
Responding to a question from Councilmember Duggan, Mr. Budge
stated that his Bobcat will be housed in the garage when it is at his
home.
Councilmember Vitelli moved adoption of Resolution No. 05-90,
"A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
AND SETBACK VARIANCES FOR A REPLACEMENT
DETACHED GARAGE AND DRIVEWAY AT 600 VALLEY
LANE."
Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion.
CASE NO. 05-44, OLSEN Council acknowledged an application from Mr. David Olsen for a
conditional use pen-nit for a 1355 square foot attached garage at 2540
Arbor Court. Council also acknowledged associated staff reports.
Councilmember Vitelli moved adoption of Resolution No. 05-91 ,
"A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
FOR A 1355 SQUARE FOOT ATTACHED GARAGE."
Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
CASE NO. 05-46, HAGGERTY Council acknowledged an application from Ms. Maureen Haggerty,
for a conditional use permit and wetlands permit for a fence at 790
Ridge Place. Council also acknowledged associated staff reports.
Councilmember Vitelli moved adoption of Resolution No. 05-92,
"A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
AND WETLANDS PERMIT FOR A FENCE AT 790 RIDGE
PLACE," as amended.
Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
Page No. 15
October 5, 2005
CASE NO. 05-47, BALER Council acknowledged an application from Ms. Alice Baier for a
conditional use permit for a fence at 741 Mohican Court. Council
also acknowledged associated staff reports.
Councilmember Vitelli moved adoption of Resolution No. 05-93,
"A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
FOR A FENCE AT 741 MOHICAN COURT."
Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
CASE NO. 05-48, CINA Council acknowledged an application from Mr. Rod Cina fourteen
foot side yard setback variance for an attached garage at 1281
Delaware Avenue. Council also acknowledged associated staff
reports.
Councilmember Duggan moved adoption of Resolution No. 05-94,
"A RESOLUTION APPROVING A FOURTEEN-FOOT SIDE
YARD SETBACK VARIANCE FOR AN ATTACHED GARAGE
AT 1281 DELAWARE AVENUE".
Councilmember Vitelli seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
CASE NO. 05-49, DYRHAUG Council acknowledged an application from Mr. Timothy Dyrhaug,
on behalf of Mr. Alan Landreville, for a critical area permit and three
foot height variance for a fence (driveway gate) at 1010 Sibley
Memorial Highway. Council also acknowledged associated staff
reports.
Councilmember Vitelli moved adoption of Resolution No. 05-95,
"A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CRITICAL AREA PERMIT
AND THREE-FOOT HEIGHT VARIANCE FOR A FENCE
(DRIVEWAY GATE) AT 1010 SIBLEY MEMORIAL
HIGHWAY."
Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
CASE NO. 05-50, FRYKLUND Council acknowledged an application from Mr. Lawrence Fryklund
for a two foot sideyard setback variance for a replacement driveway
at 1240 Dodd Road. Council also acknowledged associated staff
reports.
Page No. 16
October 5, 2005
Councilmember Schneeman moved adoption of Resolution No. 05-
96, "A RESOLUTION APPROVING A TWO-FOOT SIDE YARD
SETBACK VARIANCE FOR A REPLACEMENT DRIVEWAY
AT 1240 DODD ROAD."
Councilmember Duggan seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
CASE NO. 05-52, ST. PETER'S Council acknowledged an application from Mr. Chuck Hall on
CHURCH behalf of St. Peter's Church for critical area permit, preliminary and
final plats, conditional use permit and variance for modifications to
an existing vacant house at 1405 Sibley Memorial Highway.
Council also acknowledged associated staff reports.
Councilmember Schneeman moved adoption of Resolution No. 05-
97, "A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CRITICAL AREA
PERMIT FOR MODIFICATIONS TO AN EXISTING VACANT
HOUSE AT 1405 SI13LEY MEMORIAL HIGHWAY."
Councilmember Duggan seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
CASE NO. 05-53, HINSON Council acknowledged an application from Dr. Ernest Hinson for a
29-foot front yard setback variance for a replacement monument sign
for the Mendakota Animal Hospital, 1938 Dodd Road. Council also
acknowledged associated staff reports.
Councilmember Vitelli moved adoption of Resolution No. 05-98,
"A RESOLUTION APPROVING A 29-FOOT FRONT YARD
SETBACK VARIANCE FOR A REPLACEMENT MONUMENT
SIGN AT 1938 DODD ROAD."
Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
CASE NO. 05-54, CITY OF Council acknowledged an application from City Engineer Sue
Page No. 17
October 5, 2005
MENDOTA HEIGHTS McDermott on behalf of the City of Mendota Heights for a wetlands
permit and critical area permit for a sanitary sewer protection project
on Kingsley Court.
Councilmember Duggan moved adoption of Resolution No. 05-99,
"A RESOLUTION APPROVING A WETLANDS PERMIT AND
CRITICAL AREA PERMIT FOR THE SANITARY SEWER
PROTECTION PROJECT AT KINGSLEY ESTATES."
Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
COUNCIL COMMENTS
ADJOURN There being no further business to come before Council,
Councilmember Duggan moved that the meeting be adjourned.
Councilmember Vitelli seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:48 p.m.
Ka&een M. Swanson
City Clerk
ATTEST:
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