Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/11/2020 - Joint CC & Planning

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January 27, 2020 Tim Gladhill Deputy City Administrator City of Ramsey 7550 Sunwood Drive NW Ramsey, MN 55303 RE: Land use memo Dear Tim, First and foremost, everyone at BK Land wants to thank you and the Council members for your time and consideration with regards to our proposed development on the south side of Alpine Drive. With regards to the land use and the density we have proposed, I know there was some mixed feelings about the Villa and single-family ratio on this parcel. We have looked into many different options and layouts with this being our 3rd iteration of this plat, we have come back to the same issue again and again. The demand for single family homes in this location is much lower than we had hoped. The builders we have spoken with are only interested in building single family homes on the golf course and have little to no interest in any lots along Alpine. I know that a couple of council members expressed how they would like to see more single family along Alpine, but the issue is that no builders are willing to take lots along that road unless they are villa lots. I can get the current single family lots absorbed over time by offering the golf course lots as well but increasing the number along Alpine will not benefit the city or the community around this development. We have done an extensive study and the price point for the single-family lots with the current construction costs and development fees involved puts our base prices in the mid to high 500s and that prices many buyers out of the market. Part of the appeal with our Villa product is the mid 300 price point that allows almost any consumer to purchase a new home if they would wish. A few things that other communities have admired about our Villa developments in the past are the following: 1. Villa buyers stay and shop local 2. Many Villa homeowners only have 1 vehicle, so traffic is minimal