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1987-02-24 Planning Comm Minutesr�� � ���) CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA FEBRUARY 24, 1987 -7:00 P.M. ENGINEERING CONFERENCE ROOM, 214 1. Pre-Gommission meeting with City Council. 2. Adjourn to regular meeting in Council Chambers. ------------------------------------------------------------- 7•30 O'Clock P.M. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call. 3. Introduction of New Member, Burt Anderson. 4. Election of Officers, Ghairman and Vice-Chairman. 5. Approval of Minutes, January 27, 1987. 6. Presentation from Dick Putnam, Tandem Corporation, on Southeast Area Plans. 7. Verbal Review. 8. Adjourn. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, FEBRUARY 24, 1987 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Planning Commission was called to order by Chairman Morson at 7:48 o'clock P.M. The following members were present: Morson, Duggan, new member Burt Anderson, Henning, Krebsbach and McManigal. Burke had notified the Commission that he would be absent. Also present were Planning Consultant Howard Dahlgren and Public Works Director Jim Danielson. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 . ...� . � � �,1 ia _ Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 Commissioner Duggan moved to re-elect Jerry Morson as Chairman and Stu Henning as Vice-Chairman. Commissioner McMonigal seconded the motion. Minutes of the January 27, 1987 meeting had been submitted previously, except Commissioners Henning and McMonigal stated they did not receive a copy. Commissioner Henning moved that approval of the minutes be tabled to the next meeting. Commissioner McMonigal secanded the motion. PRESENTATION Mr. Richard Putnam was present to explain Tandem BY TANDEM CORP.and Centex Corporation's proposal for development in the southeast area of the City. He began by discussing the proposed noise ordinance and its impact on the proposal. He then discussed the history of the southeast area comprehensive plan amendment. He then explained his proposal by first addressing park schemes for the development. He noted that there will be two new neighborhood parks and a trail system throughout the development. Mr. Putnam explained that he has been conducting neighborhood meetings to present his plan to affected neighbors, and that he has modified h.is plans to address their concerns. In particular, he has addressed the concerns of the Patrick's who purchased the Pierce Butler residence and residents of Sunfish Lake who desire to have single family homes along their border on Delaware. Mr. Putnam explained that an Environmental Impact Statement is mandatory for the Centex site and that that process takes from 4-6 months. They plan to begin the EIS process immediately and hope that City approvals could be sought concurrently and be made contingent on successful completion of the EIS. Mr. Putnam then described and presented drawings of the various building types, including single family homes, townhouses, manor homes, condominiums and 1 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, FEBRUARY 24, 1987 apartments. He noted they would be built in a wide price range from starter homes to more expensive townhouses. He then presented his commercial proposal for development at Dodd Road and Mendota Heights Road. Commissioner McMonigal asked where the pipelines are that run through the property and what problems they could cause. Planner Dahlgren noted that despite the recent accident in Mounds View, the pipelines really are a very safe way to transmit volatile liquids. Commissioner Krebsbach asked what kind of market study has been dane and Mr. Putnam responded that no matter what a market study says, there is a great risk in single family development, however, Centex is completing a market study at the present time. Commissioner Duggan expressed concern about traffic on Mendota Heights Road. Mr. Putnam referred to the traffic study that was done for the southeast area. Commissioner Duggan then expressed concern over the density. Mr. Putnam explained that the density was established with the southeast area study and the reason he made the preliminary proposal to the City Council is to reaffirm their committment to the Comprehensive Plan change. He does not want to fight the battle of the guide plan change over again. Commissioner Duggan then asked what will happen if the Metropolitan Council continues to hold up development. Mr. Putnam responded that he will go to the Metropolitan Council and the Governor if needed, to get the Metropolitan Council to "stop holding Mendota Heights hostage." Planner Dahlgren noted that Tandem would have good cause to go to the Governor because this hold up has been excessively long and totally unreasonable. Mr. Dahlgren went on to say that densities for the southeast area are really very low by other communities standards and that Mr. Putnam's proposal is lower than planned for in the southeast area study. He also stated that there will not be a traffic problem on Mendota Heights Road. This was pointed out by Traffic Consultant Jack Anderson, in the southeast area study. The road system has been well planned to handle traffic in the area. Commissioner Krebsbach asked about having noise Fa CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, FEBRUARY 24, 1987 walls installed along 494. Planner Dahlgren responded that Mn/DOT will not construct noise walls after the fact. The homes must already be in place at the time of roadway construction to have a wall installed. Commissioner Duggan asked that if the southeast area is not acceptable for single family dwellings, why is it wise to put in more residential units? Mr. Putnam responded that it is wise for two reasons: 1. The people who live in multi-family homes have a different life style than single family dwellers. a. � They are not outside as much. They want to be where the action is, close to freeways, so they can be more mobile. 2. People would not along a freeway, as single family, development. build as expensive a h.ome so if the area were developed it would be a lower class Planner Dahlgren stated that the best use for the site would be commercial and that is what Eagan has done on their side of the freeway. After Mr. Putnam left the meeting, there was a continued discussion among the Commission members with member Duggan generally speaking against the development. He ultimately stated that he realized that high density residential development would be approved for the area, but that he was going to continue to press for higher quality and lower density development. VERBAL REVIEW Public Works Director Danielson gave a verbal review of cases that had gone before the City Council. MISCELLANEOUS Chairman Morson stated that he had noticed that the remaining Strub property was for sale and asked what could be done with the property. Planner Dahlgren explained that the Strub site was lacated within an approved PUD area and if the property was not to be developed according to the approved plan, it would need to have a totally new PUD approval process. ADJOURN There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner McMonigal moved that the 3 Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, FEBRUARY 24, 1987 meeting be adjourned. Commissioner Duggan seconded the motion. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 10:10 o'clock P.M. 4