Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/10/2002

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will be entering the development and 61 vehicles will be leaving the development. Based on their analysis ten percent of the residents from "The Ponds" development would use CSAH #5, 10 percent would use T.H. #47 to the north, 10 percent would use Dyspros!um Street, and the :-'.~:o. iz~,~-~g ¢50 percent would go south on T.H.//47. The proposed conditions at all three locations '...-'outd be an acceptable level of service. Dysprosium would have an additional 30 to 35 trips. during the peak periods and Iodine Street would have an increase of five to ten trips during the peak periods. Mr. Corkle recommended that a westbound left turn lane and an eastbound turn lane be provided along CSAH #5 into the development. Mike Black, Royal Oaks Realty, stated that the property is currently zoned commercial along CSAIt. //5, and the westerly portion of the property is zoned single family. The City's most recent dra~ of the Comprehensive Plan identifies the site as m/xed use. The plan being presented to the Commission was in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan and reflects the "blue print" the City has for the site. Mr. Black also noted that he did meet with the. adjacent neighborhood to discuss the development. The key points that were taken from the meeting were that the area is unique and they .don't want to lose that, they like the linear trails across the property that are currently heavily used. He explained to the residents that the trail system is a big element of their plan and they would like to expand on it, as well as keeping the nature view of the existing wetland. Mr. Black stated that the majority of the neighbors understood that development would occur some day on the property and they are not against the development, but they do want to make sure that it is done right. They would like to see as many trees saved as possible. He did 'discuss the possibility of hiring a tree spade and transplanting as many pine trees to the outer edge of the development. On the upper level of the development most of the trees would have to be removed in order to construct the road way and put in City services. The' neighbors expressed a strong desire to control tree removal around the perimeter, which he has pledged to do. Once they have cleared the right of way for road construction they will take another look at tree preservation. The other area of concern had to do with the increase in traffic. Mr. Black expIained that there would only be one connection to the existing neighborhood to the north. The other main area of concern had to do with the retention ponds. They are currently proposing retention ponds on the site that are required by the water shed district. Those ponds are there to handle run-off from the impervious surfaces. Some of the ponds will be dry ponds and some will be wet ponds. The other area of concern had to 'do with the extension of 145~ Court. He explained that the existing neighbors are very concerned with keeping the natural aesthetics. Mr. Black has indicated to those neighbors that those seven lots would be custom lots,, which means that they will be left. in their natural state and then the developer will decide how to develop the site once they have a buyer. Tom Chesness, 572I 145th Court, Ramsey, stated that he was told that the land across from his home could not be developed because there was not enough high land and now they are being told that it will be developed on. He personally did not think the site was buildable. Commissioner SWeet inquired as to why Mr. Chesness did not think the land was buildable Mr. Chesness replied because it is not a big enough piece of property. He stated that if he would have known that the lot was buildable, he would not have built his home in the location that it is -32- Planning Commission/June 5, 2001 Page 10 of 28