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

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under the threshold of needing an environmental assessment, w~ich she strongly urged the City to complete before approving the development. ~t:~:.:. Dresel, 14540 Iodine Street, Ramsey, stated that three are several children that live along lodine Street and she has a problem with the stamment that was made regarding the additional five [o ten more cars going through their neighborhood because of the development. She felt that that number would be much higher. Beth Alto, 5540 145th Circle, Ramsey, stated that the corner of'her lot would be impacted by the townhome development. She explained that she moved into a single family home development so that she could be by single family homes and having that many townhomes next to her concerns her. Ms. Alto stated that she specifically bought their lot because it was flat and did not have water around it and now they are proposing a drainage pond behind her house and she has several small children. She expressed concern over the lack of green space being proposed as part of the townhome development. She also noted that she felt that traffic would increase dramatically along Iodine Street where there are a lot of young children. Bruce Iverson, 14301 Neon Street, Ramsey, stated that he owns the property directly across from the peninsula. I--Ie stated that his primary concerns have to do with the environmental impact the development will have on the area. He encouraged the Commission to assess the properties :that. currently abut the wetlands because most of those lots average in size from ~ acre to 1 ½ acres in size. When the developers speaks of tree preservation it will be challenging to do so on a lA acre to ½ acre lot. He stated that he understands that development will happen in the area, but thinks that the City has a great opportunity to control the size of the lots along the wetlands. He stated that it is not possible to place a house of today's values on a ~A acre lot and preserve trees. Mr. Iverson suggested that the City require a percentage of trees be preserved as well as requiring certain setbacks. He also recommended that an environmental assessment be done as part of the development. Shannon David, 14560 Junkite, /Larnsey, stated that everyone of his concerns have been addressed. He thanked Mr. Black for highlighting the neighborhood concerns. He stated that he does tNnk that Mr. Black is interested in working v~ith the neighborhood, but his main concern has to do with the trees and the wetlands, lie stated that if' he would have known the higher density would be going in, he would have not purchased his lot. He stated a formal tree preservation plan needs to be put in place by the City and would like to see the retention pond relocated because his neighbor has spent over $20,000 to create the landscape around his house and now he would have a drainage pond abut it. I-tis last concern had to do with the small lot on the peninsula. He stated that the quality of the homes in the beginning of this development were good quality, but the smaller lots brought small homes and many of those people do not maintain their properties. John Strommen, 14546 Krypton Street, Ramsey, stated that he moved to Ramsey this year for the trees and wetlands. With a lack of a buffer between the houses and wetlands they will have a' green smelly mess because of the fertilizers that drain into them. He stated that he hoped that -34- Planning Commission/June 5, 2001 Page 12 of 28