Minutes - Planning Commission - 06/21/1995 - Special Meeting

Home

quite congenial and willing to work with him. He added that the golf course is a tremendous benefit to the City of Ramsey and the residents. He suggested that maybe someone from the City, the golf course, and the affected homeowners could sit down and discuss this issue. It appears there has not been a joint effort to work it out before. Maybe the golf course has a valid reason for proposing the building where it did. If all parties work together, maybe a solution could be gotten to that's amenable to ail. Greg Harvey, Boardmember of Golf Course, stated that when the golf course was built, they had an idea that when sewer and water came into the area, they were going to put town homes in. With regard to the maintenance building, the course has been fortunate to have the senior partner's building to use as a maintenance building. However, we have outgrown that facility, plus it's dangerous crossing Highway #47 with the equipment. He explained that this area proposed was not the first area talked about for the building location but it appears to be the best one. "It's not our intention to disrupt the view of homeowners but its the only location we have that will work satisfactorily. We will do everything in our power to blend in with the surroundings. It does not behoove us to make this an eye sore. We will make it as attractive as we can. I have no problem with sitting down with the neighbors to discuss this." He added that this is an intricai part of a golf facility. The overriding concern is the on-going safety of our employees. Bob Schwabolski from Morton Builders stated he looked at three potential areas for the building: 1) the southeast corner; 2) a more centrai location; and 3) alongside Highway #47. The lb'st location costed out was the centrai area. The City said we would have to put in curb and gutter, etc. The problem was that it would be impossible to get sewer and water. The second location checked out was the southeast corner. There is a creek there and the excavating cost ends up being 30 percent of the cost, plus there's a neighbor on that site too. We ended up on Highway #47. The highway's there, the noise is there and we felt this is the best place to put it. There is a right-of-way to the north that stops us from going to far north and there is also a gas line. This proposed location site is based on economics and ease of serving maintenance. Sue Schmidt, 5831 - 164th Lane N.W., Ramsey, stated that they have invested time and money into their home and they take great pride in it. She noted there was no mention of the land to the north of the course. She never dreamed there would be a building developed on the open space. The land is zoned recreationai and their hard work on their home would be ruined. There would aiso be a loss of enjoyment because of activities with this building and the machinery, etc. It would no longer be enjoyable to have coffee on her deck or entertain friends there. There would be a loss of value on their home because this would make it less desirable. She added that three real estate opinions support this claim. Wes Bulen, 16600 St. Francis Boulevard N.W., Ramsey, voiced that the golf course was his dream years ago. It's one of the biggest tax paying employers in the City. The value of the homes around the golf course has gone up. He expressed his pride in the golf course and talked of the enjoyment people derive from it. He felt that a legitimate maintenance shed on that corner is the only place to serve the course. He added that it bothers him when people try to condemn things that are good and he just didn't know how people could knock the course. Mr. Schmidt apologized to Mr. Bulen by stating that he did not come here to condemn the golf course; he came to try to show that the maintenance building is proposed in a wrong location. He continued that Morton Builders talked about the economics of this. They have ten acres zoned commercial and in unbiased opinions, the best place to put the building is to centrally locate it. He suggested putting it on the north side of the club house, it will not affect any homes there and it will have blacktop. It would be set back Planning Commission/June 21, 1995 Page 4 of 10