Minutes - Council - 02/22/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Case #9: Request for Sketch Plan ApprOVal of Shade Tree Cottages; Case of Shade Tree Communities, LLC Associate Planner Wald indicated Shade Tree Communities, LLC has applied for sketch plan revicw to create a residential planned Unit DeVelopment (PUD) subdivision on the property generally located west of Potassium Street and east of Nowthen Boulevard. The City Council reviewed thc sketch plan at their JanUarY 25, 2005 meeting. Subsequent to the City Council meeting, staff received a revised sketch plan for Council consideration. She requested input from the Council regarding the sketch plan. She noted the developer is not required to come back to the Council for sketch plan approval, but felt it Was important to get further direction from the Council before they proceed to Preliminary PlatJ There are many details to work out, but the developer would like input fi'om the CoUncil as to whether they are on the right track. She explained if the Council provides positive direction it does not guarantee that the developer will be approved for this number of units at preliminary plat. Councihncmber Elvig commented the number of units is still high. He requested in the future staff portray how the development being discussed relates to surrounding properties with road, waterway and greenspace connections. He commented there were a lot of questions from the neighbors about Potassium Street, and that it may need to be moved or realigned. The Engineer had concnems about moving it to the east due to the wetland. He expressed concern with approving the sketch plan at this time without addressing these concerns, as it would put them into the 60-day rule. James Napier of Midwest Land Service, representative of the applicant, explained the Lower Rum River Water Management Organization coUld not officially comment on the possibility of moving Potassium Street without official plans. However, they stated a minimal wetland impact is preferred and moving this street further wes[ would destroy over 1/3 acre of wetland. In addition, an easement would be needed from the property owner to the south and utilities would also need to be moved. Councihnember Cook inquired if Potassium Street already exists on the current aligranent as a City road. City Attorney Goodrich replied it was not dedicated to the City, but the City has obtained title to the road through maintaining it. Councilmember Strommen commented she sees some minor improvements in this plan, but she echoes Councihnember Elvig in that they are back to the original density the Planning Comlnission thought was too dense. She noted this is a challenged site, and a PUD is appropriate, but the PUD is appropriate to mitigate the impacts to the wetland and create the open space on a challenged site, while she sees this PUD being used to develop nearly all of the upland space. At this time she is questioning the wisdom of this concept after the third attempt and is wondering if they should look at a single-family option. City CoUnCil/Febiruary 22, 2005 page 13',of 31