1985-09-24 Special Council mtg minutesPage No.
September 24, 1985
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Special Meeting Held
Tuesday, September 24, 1985
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the special meeting of the Mendota
Heights City Council was held at 7:15 o'clock P.M., in the Engineering Conference
Room, 750 South Plaza Drive. Mayor Lockwood called the meeting to order at 7:19 P.M.
The following members were present: Mayor Lockwood, Councilmembers Blesener, Cummins,
Hartmann and Witt. Also present was City Administrator Frazell.
ANNUAL EVAULATION The Council and Administrator Frazell discussed the performance
OF CITY ADMINISTRATOR of the Administrator and City staff over the past year. In
general, the Council expressed confidence in the way the
City is being managed, and Frazell in turn, said that he
felt that he and the staff have an excellent working relation-
ship with the Council. Specifically, it was suggested that
the group review its priority issues which it had identified
at the Council/staff retreat in the spring, and Administrator
Frazell was asked to periodically report to the Council on
progress toward meeting those goals. There was also mention
that the Council would like for each department head to
periodically visit a Council meeting, and make a brief report
on their department.
The Council then convened to the City Hall Council Chambers
for discussion of the South East Area Study.
SOUTH EAST AREA STUDY Mayor Lockwood called the meeting to order at 8:07 o'clock
P.M. Also present for the discussion were Planning Commission
members Kruse, Burke, Henning, Morson and Stefani, as well
as Public Works Director Danielson and City Planner Dahlgren.
Mayor Lockwood informed the audience that the meeting tonight
was an informational meeting, not a public hearing. He asked
how many residents live north of TH 110 and about eigh:responded,
He noted that the majority of the audience lived in the area
south of TH 110. Mayor Lockwood then went on to explain about
the McNulty proposal for development of this area several years
ago. The meeting was then turned over to Planner Dahlgren
who showed transparencies of the area and the various
concepts that had been prepared by members of his staff.
He noted that statistics indicated that there was a 67% - -
increase of residents reaching the age of 75 in Dakota County
during the 10 year period 1970 to 1980. He also noted
that in Concept Bl, there would be a limited business area
south of St. Thomas/Visitation and in Concept B2, a local
neighborhood center would be located east of Dodd Road at
Mendota Heights Road.
Mayor Lockwood then asked for questions or comments from
the audience.
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September 24, 1985
Mr. Bernard Friel, 750 Mohican Lane, presented a petition
with approximately 200 signatures of residents in the
southern area of Mendota Heights who were in support of
the existing Comprehensive Plan. He went on to give
comparisons of home prices in South Ridge, Crown Point, and
along Trail Road, comparing the quality of those homes to
those that could be constructed along 494. He felt that
many of those homes would cost $200,000 or more and that
they were high quality homes. He further spoke of the
negative aspects of rental property, such as rundown
buildings, and transient persons in the City.
Mayor Lockwood read the petition noting that the petitioners
wished to make no change in the Comprehensive Plan which would
alter the existing zoning in that part of the City which con-
sists of a significant portion of the city which consists of
the south east area study.
Mr. James Losleben, 815 Hazel Court spoke next, saying the
Council should look at "good options" for the area. He
expressed concern over increased traffic on Dodd Road, and
said that he felt that good homes would be build adjacent
to the freeways and that airport noise patterns would be
changing in the future. He also presented an identical
petition from residents in his neighborhood. He asked,
"why change a good thing?'
Councilmember Witt asked for comments on Tanden's proposal
for a commercial area on TH 149/494/Mendota Heights Road.
Mr. Putnam noted that this is a 10 acre site, and also
commented that he would not build his project next to 494.
Mrs. Ruth Hipp noted that the Mendota Plaza Shopping Center is
not attractive and felt that there is no need for another one.
Mr. Friel commented that the newer aircrafts have reduced
their noise level, but they have also increased the air
traffic.
Mr. Tom Doyle, resident of Delaware Crossing, asked about the
plan for townhouse development.
Mr.John Edgerton, Delaware Crossing, expressed concern with
the lot size and noted tht he is not interested in townhouses.
He felt that there needs to be middle ground between one acre
lots and townhouses.
Mr. Al Hastings, 2300 South Lexington, noted that he liked
apartment living and was happy that it was available to him
and his wife. They had looked for three years before choosing
Lexington Heights and were very satisfied with it.
Mr. Chuck Gilbertson, 542 Huber Drive, expressed concern with
the lot sizes and the wild setting. He wished to add his
name to the petition for no change in the comprehensive plan.
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Page No.
September 24, 1985
Mr. William King, 2365 Delaware, noted that some of the area
is now zoned R-18, with 30,000 square foot lot sizes, not
40,000 square foot sizes. He felt that Tandem's proposal
makes a lot of sense.
Mr. Dale Glewwe, 720 Mendota Heights Road, noted that his
property is R-1, with 15,000 square feet of area. He again
noted that the entire area is not 40,000 square foot minimum
lot size.
Mayor Lockwood noted that he felt that the petitioners were
more against apartments in the area than they were against
downzoning of R-1A lots.
Mr. Campbell, 2349 Apache Court, asked what type of homes
would be built and if there were going to be any protective
covenants. Councilmember Cummins replied that yes there
would be convenants.
Mr. Campbell also asked about an Environmental Assessment
Worksheet concerning the ponds in the area and if there
was any information available from the Department of Natural
Resources.
Mr. John Moy, 796 Hokah Avenue, felt that apartments might
look good when they are first constructed, but that after
15 •or 20 years, they start to deteriorate and then don't
look so good, and there could be police problems involving
tenants.
Mary Ellen Rabuse, Delaware Crossing resident, felt more
threatened by the higher traffic volumes and the devaluation
of her home from multi-family dwellings in the area than by
the aircraft noise.
There being no further questions or comments from the audience,
Councilmember Hartmann moved that the meeting be adjourned.
Councilmember Cummins seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 10:12 o'clock P.M.
ATTEST:
j44 cLoJ
Robert G. Lockwood
Mayor
Mary Ann DeLaRosa
Deputy Clerk