Laserfiche WebLink
councilmember has commented that the park dedication ordinance was not intended the way <br />it is being interpreted and if that is the case, it is Council's responsibility to make sure it's <br />intentions are conveyed to the commissions. <br /> <br />Mayor Reimann noted that 1988 was a busy year for the Planning and Zoning Commission <br />but agreed that when an applicants have gone through the expense to follow the process, <br />they deserve the courtesy of being addressed. Mayor Reimann noted that Council and <br />Commissions have been conducting joint meetings in an effort to improve communications <br />and establish uniform goals toward a better community. <br /> <br />Mr. Johnson stated that chairmans opening meetings by reciting the commission's role will <br />help to discipline the process. <br /> <br />Councilmember Peterson noted that he, as a former Planning and Zoning Commission <br />chairman, and current Chairman Zimmerman made it a policy to inform all applicants that <br />the Commission is a recommending body and that Council makes the final decision. <br />Councilmember Peterson confirmed that City Council, City Staff and City Commissions <br />are now attempting to align their thinking to be more consistent. <br /> <br />Mr. David Schulte reiterated that applicants should be notified of insufficiencies in their <br />application in a time frame that would allow for the issues being resolved by the applicant <br />and City Staff prior to the meeting date to avoid the meeting turning into a study session. <br /> <br />Mr. Peck referred to Northfork 4th Addition which consists of one lot and the park <br />dedication ordinance requires a cash donation of 10% of the fair market value; the lot is <br />being sold for $26,000 and City Staff proposed to base the park dedication requirement on <br />that amount and require a $2600 park fee for one lot; when met with opposition from North <br />Fork, Inc., credit was given for a finished street and the fair market value was decreased to <br />$20,000 and the park dedication reduced to $2,000; these kinds of interpretations are bad <br />politics and have a detrimental affect. No other cities charge such an excessive amount of <br />park fee for one lot. Bloomington has a park dedication ordinance similar to Ramsey's and <br />when tested, the court ruling was that park dedication should be $500/lot. North Fork will <br />be contesting the park fee for Northfork 4th Addition because they feel the City's <br />interpretation of what determines fair market value is unfair. Mr. Peck also stated that <br />North Fork is interested in developing a golf course; the Park Commission is considering <br />applying the park dedication ordinance to the golf course; the golf course is providing for <br />open space and in addition would be required to make a cash donation; these kinds of <br />policies are anti-development but that is the way the park dedication ordinance is being <br />interpreted. <br /> <br />Mr. Arthur Raudio stated that he attended a workshop in Ramsey regarding park dedication <br />at which he did not feel welcome to provide input on a matter that affects him and many <br />others. <br /> <br />Mr. Bauer stated that the City should have a long range Plan for par. ks that a developer can <br />refer to and know whether he will be required to donate land or cash. Mr. Bauer stated that <br />he also feels that the larger, centralized park versus the neighborhood park is more <br />appropriate in rural areas; neighborhood parks are appropriate in urban areas. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley stated that City Staff tries to facilitate the orderly growth and development of <br />the City. To that end, checklists have been prepared in a way to give the developer a good <br />understanding of what the process is and what is required; but no matter how <br /> <br />City Council/April 3, 1989 <br /> Page 4 of 7 <br /> <br /> <br />