1985-07-23 Joint Council-Planning Comm minutesPage No. 2308
July 23, 1985
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Joint Meeting
Held Tuesday, July 23, 1985
A joint workshop meeting between the City Council and Planning Commission was
held at 7:00 P.M., at City Hall, 750 South Plaza Drive, Mendota Heights,
Minnesota. Members present were Mayor Lockwood, Councilmembers Blesener,
Cummins, Hartmann and Witt, and Planning Commission members Kruse, Burke,
Henning, McMonigal, Morson and Stefani. Commissioner Frank had advised the staff
that he would be unable to attend the meeting.
Mayor Lockwood opened the meeting at 7:06 o'clock P.M. for the purpose of
discussing a preliminary report on the South East Area Study, which had been
prepared by Dahlgren, Shardlow, and Uban, Inc.
SOUTH EAST AREA STUDY Planner Dahlgren noted that he and Phil Carlson and
Elizabeth Morson of his staff were present to offer
information pertaining to the preliminary study.
Mayor Lockwood noted for the audience that the study
area is bounded generally by the Friendly Hills area on
the north, by 1-494 on the south, by Delaware on the
east and by a portion of land lying westerly of Dodd
Road, at 1-494.
Planner Dahlgren noted that his staff had contacted a
majority of the homeowners in the area and that the
information received from the homeowners was very
helpful in preparing the report. He noted that the
results are preliminary at this time. He then turned
the meeting over to his assistant Phil Carlson, who then
gave a _ slide presentation, going over the
drawings and proposals that were contained in the
preliminary study.
Planner Carlson noted that there were four basic land
use concepts that were put together.
Concept A showed the area in its existing zoning. He
noted that this concept contained the lowest intensity
for development, but felt that having single family
homes adjacent to 1-494 would not be an appropriate use
for the area.
Concept B showed apartments all along the southern
boundary of the freeway, with a small number of
townhouses in the southeast corner of the area. This
concept contained single family development north of
Mendota Heights Road.
Page No. 2309
July 23, 1985
Concept C showed a small office development west of Dodd
Road and a mix of apartments and townhouses east of Dodd
to Delaware. He felt that this concept made good
planning sense.
Concept D showed office use, with possibly 500 - 900,000
square feet of office space west of Dodd. East of Dodd,
Tandem Corporation was proposing a small neighborhood
business/commercial use for residents of Mr. Riley's
proposed apartments and townhouses. He noted that
townhouses were proposed for Mr. King's property and
northerly of the King property, Tandem was proposing
single family development.
Mr. Jack Anderson, a traffic engineer commissioned by
Dahlgren, Shardlow and Uban, spoke noting that the
traffic estimates were prepared on the entire study area
and that traffic volumes were based on full development.
He noted that 10 trips per day per dwelling were
projected for the Decorah/Dodd, Pagel Road/Doddoand
Huber Drive/Delaware area. He also noted that in the
year 2000, 50% of the trips in the area would travel
south to 1-494. At present, 78% travel northerly to TH
110.
Planner Carlson then noted that the traffic volumes
could be compared with the four basic concepts with more
intense development generating greater traffic
generally.
Planning Commission Chairperson Kruse asked what the
current traffic numbers were. Planner Carlson
apologized for not including them in the report, but
noted that traffic counts were taken at peak morning
hours of July 9, 10, and 11 at the corners of
Decorah/Dodd, Keokuk/Dodd, and Huber/Delaware. He noted
that there were no counts taken on the interstate yet.
Mayor Lockwood asked what is the traffic count in the
morning hours at Dodd and South Plaza Drive. He felt
that this information should be included in the report.
Councilmember Cummins noted that he would like to see
sets of numbers both actual and anticipated on Dodd Road
in addition to what is there now.
Planner Dahlgren noted that 10,000 vehicles are proposed
on Dodd in 1995, with full development as the land is
presently zoned. He was asked if additional stop lights
would become necessary at Dodd/South Plaza Drive,
Dodd/Mendota Heights Road, or Dodd/Decorah.
Page No. 2310
July 23, 1985
Planning Commissioner Stefani expressed concern over
future drainage within the development.
Councilmember Witt noted that ithad been the Counil's
preferencethat there be no commercial development east
of Dodd Road, and she hoped that Tandem didn't get too
comfortable with their project as proposed in Concept D.
She also noted that the City is undertaking a master
park plan study and felt that the Park and Recreation
Commission should conduct a joint meeting with the
Planning Commission regarding the proposals presented.
Mayor Lockwood asked what plan should be preferred.
Councilmember Cummins noted that he favored Concept B
with a change to commercial development west of Dodd
Road. City Administrator Frazell felt that this plan
may possibly reduce traffic northerly on Dodd Road.
Councilmember Blesener asked what would happen to the
medium density residental on the northeast corner of
Dodd and Mendota Heights Road.
Councilmember Hartmann asked if single family
development is prohibited in Airport Zone 3 south and
west of Dodd and Mendota Heights Road.
Mayor Lockwood thanked Planner Dahlgren and his firm for
their work on the preliminary report and noted that
before any changes were made, public hearings would be
conducted regarding any rezoning. He invited interested
residents to call City Hall or submit letters regarding
any concerns they may have and thanked them for their
presence at the meeting.
Mr. Charles Mertensotto asked what are the City's
objectives for rezoning this area and what is the
financial impact on the City's services.
Mr. James Losleben stated that he is disappointed that
the City is in such a rush concerning this land. He
felt that the City should move slowly and take its time.
Dr. Ted Owens noted that moving slowly is what destroyed
the Amesbury project a few years ago.
ADJOURN There being no further business to come before the
Council, Mayor Lockwood adjourned the meeting.
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 8:48 o'clock P.M.
Page No. 2311
July 23, 1985
a„,J
Mary nn DeLaRosa
Deputy Clerk
ATTEST:
Robert G. Lockwood
Mayor