Minutes - Council - 08/22/2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Strommen stated that they could allow resident input but encouraged the input to remain on a high level as this is very early in the process. Val Kruger, 15021 Kangaroo Street, thanked the Council for allowing her to present her opinion on the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment, noting that 97 percent of her neighbors have signed a petition of the same opinion. She stated that she and her husband have lived in Ramsey for over 40 years and have lived in a quiet atmosphere as they desired even though the City continued to grow. She stated that they always knew that the land near them would be developed under low density residential as identified in the Comprehensive Plan. She stated that her worry is that if the density is changed that would change the quiet life that people in that area have enjoyed for years. She stated that the increased density would increase traffic and noise. She acknowledged that those items would still exist with lower density but the stress on traffic and noise would be lessened with lower density. She stated that they oppose the change in zoning but are not opposed to development of the parcel. She stated that they support low density residential, which would be a good transition from the rural residential lots that they live on. She stated that they attended the public meeting with the developer and staff and while the revised plan is a step in the right direction, they still question if changing the Comprehensive Plan is the right decision for Ramsey. She noted that the developer is asking for a lot of changes that make the development work for the developer only. She stated that they would support the larger lot size required under the zoning. She stated that if the Council does allow this to move forward she would ask that the lot size be made 80 feet for the homes along Kangaroo Street, which has been provided in the revised plan. She also asked for a noise buffer along the homes on Kangaroo Street through a landscape berm and trees. She referenced the comparison of the Capstone development and noted that includes a lot of open space for its residents to play on while this proposal does not include any. She stated that they are not opposing the growth of the City but the change to the Comprehensive Plan and zoning code. Lonnie Brock, 14215 Kangaroo Street, stated that her property has already been reduced because Alpine is growing in what it was designated to be. She asked which direction the City sewer and water would come to reach this site, whether it would come from Alpine or Bunker. She stated that if it comes down Alpine she would not have to hook-up to it but believed that she would have to pay for it to come past her house. She stated that if the density is too high, it would be hard for the residents on her street to get onto the roadway. She stated that she built on her property because it was an open, rural community and noted that if the City starts putting in high density housing, when the land is zoned low density, she would hope not to live long enough to see it happen. She stated that it would be such a change in what she intended and has been able to live on her property for years. She believed that her opinion should count at least a little bit. Community Development Director Gladhill noted that the utilities would come from Bunker and Puma Street. He noted that eventually a line may come down Alpine in order to loop the watermain to provide redundancy in the system. He noted that even if there is a line in the future to loop the trunk line, existing residents would not have to hook-up to the service. He noted that if the utility is pulled past a home, that would not be the obligation of the homeowner. He provided an example of Garnett Street in which sewer and water were provided but the homeowners were only charged if they desired to hook-up to the utility. City Council/August 22, 2017 Page 10 of 15