Minutes - Council - 04/26/2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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whether the Council wanted to respond, or preferred to revise potential comments, or add to or revise the comments already given Councilmember Riley stated he thought the Council should have a response. Mayor Strommen noted providing advisory comments is consistent in how we have worked with the City of Anoka in the past. Community Development Director Gladhill noted there are individuals that would like to provide input. Mayor Strommen stated if anyone disagrees with providing comments, or if there is something that has been overlooked, a discussion should take place. She noted since the City of Ramsey is not the decision -making entity, all that can be done is to forward the comments to the City of Anoka. Consensus was reached to provide comments to the City of Anoka. Councilmember Riley pointed out this project doesn't seem to be affected by the Critical River Overlay that he understood all the cities were required to follow. Community Development Director Gladhill explained the Critical River Overlay is a 72-mile stretch established in 1979 that set the bluff setbacks and the 100 year high water line. There is a patchwork of how these parameters were implemented. He stated in discussions with the DNR, he was told the executive order has implemented the Critical Overlay in different orders. He stated the understanding is there is not a requirement that these setbacks be enforced in this area. He said he believes they are correct in establishing the high water mark, and the bluff setback does not apply in this situation. Mayor Strommen invited citizen input. John Kiel, 6225 Rivlyn Avenue NW, stated he is aware the City of Ramsey cannot stop this, and these comments are considered feedback. He noted it was never published that this plat would be for Riverplace Counseling. It was published that this would be made a parking lot. He suggested the process be slowed down and verify the variances are addressed. He said this is a 20-year problem that is moving to the Ramsey border. He suggested the City of Anoka is happy to have this organization out of their downtown so they can beautify that area. He posed the question if a private citizen could consider making this type of deal without a city backing them. He suggested the owners of the treatment facility had help in making this deal. He stated he read in the newspapers in real estate transactions that this could be in the $5 to $6 million range. This was said to be an area that was not buildable. The Critical River Overlay should stay just that. Community Development Director Gladhill sought to clarify the expectation of this land becoming a parking lot. He noted this land could be confused with the Kings Island Trailhead to the west. The City of Anoka did have different opportunities of how this would be developed. City Council / April 26, 2016 Page 6 of 13