Agenda - Council - 01/18/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Motion by Commissioner Dee~ and seconded by Commissioner Holland to re. corner, end that City Coun~ approve ~e revised pre}imirlary plat for Chesmut Iqill_ Discussion: City F,.ngineer Jankowski stated there is a drainage and utility easement necessary on Lots 3 and 4 in ~e northeast cul-de-sac, Commissioner Deemer stated he was in favor of the second outlet to th8 north. Motion earned, i Voting Yes: Chairperson Bawden, Commissioners Deemer, Holland, Hendriksen, Terry ired Thorud. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioner LaDuc. c.....-'Case #2: Request for Sketch Plan Review of Townhouses of Rum River Hills; cask of Thomas Anderson and Wilbur Dorn Zoning Administrator Pmlik stated the development agreement entered into for Rum River Hills in 1984 specified that~Ouflot C was approved for development with multi-family housing at the time sewer and water became available, but it did not specify to what density. She noted there arc plans on file that indicate, density was proposed at 5-10 units per asre for a total of 18 to 37 unit~. She stated that the deveIopers have submitted a sketch plan for Townhouses of Rum River Hills" which is proposed to r~pla~t Lot 1, Block 2 and Ouflot C, Rum River Hil~, into 12 townhouses lots. The 12 units would be ~,erved by individual on-site septic systems and wells. She stated City Staff is concerned that dis~gard of the 4 in 40 density policy commitment to the Metropolitan Council would jeopardize tlJe City's on-going efforts for a MUSA expansion. She stated that Metropolitan Council feels it is iiaconsistent with the fim~ng and sequencing of public facilities as indicated in Ramsey~s Comprehensive Plan. She added that Metropolitan Council is concerned about an3' pollution problems resulting from development activity or inadequate management of private sewer facilities and woul~l hold the City of R~m~ey fully responsible. Based on these concerns, City Staff recommends ~enial of the proposal to plat town_house units in Rum River ~-~JJls at this time. Applicant Wilbur D~orn stated that the development agreement is nine years old and th{.~ is the end of a 10 year prt, ject. He explained that they agreed to build a golf course and consu-uct roads, donate the golf course to the City rrm~ng rotes accessible to the citizens, and develop outlot C with townhouses when s-~wer and water became available. He stated that the agreement states sanitary sewer and water, 9ct City sewer and water. He stated they are abundantly aware that the neighbors ftc not wgut eondomirfinms or apartments even though the property is already approved for multi-family and that no variance is nee~e& Re explained that as a comprorni~e, they came up with townhomes li~ those in Ham Lake. Th~s will cut back on the density/rom 36 units to 12 units. He stated some neighbors indicated that this is highly preferable to waiting for sewer and water to come in an~ something less desirable is developed. He stated he sharply disagrees with City Ad~n~.~trator $chroeder and feels this was presented negatively to the Metropolitan Council. He stated the Metro .potitan Council is very w~l~ng to work with this idea. He stated Mr. Schroeder has not discussed tiffs with the City lawyer nor has a soil study been done yet. He stated they are aware they can't go ahead with the project until a sewer system is set up, but that the Planning and Zoning Coram~ssion!needs to decide whether this is appropriate usage for thee land at this point in history. He sugges.[ed the Comrn~ssion consider the concept of townhouses subject to certain proposed conditionsi thereby giving the City input into the design and size. He stated that once a sewer system is in ~laee, the Cornm~.~sion could not'prevent a developer from coming in and building apartments ~hen the neighborhood prefers lower.density. He requested the Commission give the concept a cl~uee to go through a public hearing. Commissioner ThorUd stated the Commission received a letter from Ronald A. ;Ierich, dated February 20, 1993 stating he was not in favor of townhouses and that their real estate sign did not show the townhouse'layout when they were selling these other lots. Planning & Zoning Commission/4/6/93 Page 3 of 8 /(,,I