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

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Tim Gladhill From: Mike Tozier Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2017 5:18 PM To: Tim Gladhill Subject: Villas at Northfork/Paxmar Project Comments Note: Author confirmed he desired to resubmit with these comments with current proposal. Dear Tim, My business partner Tom Rosen and I purchased the Links at Northfork in 2002. We purchased the golf course mainly because of its unique qualities, but we also saw the City of Ramsey as a growing market especially with Town Center (COR) coming online. The Town Center concept provided multiple business opportunities including a high density residential option. We expected the development of the COR to be a definite long-term benefit to our business. Fast forward to 2017, we all know the trials and tribulations that the City has gone through with the original Town center concept and what it has shaped into today. During my 15 years as a Ramsey business owner City Officials have done a very good trying to direct that project in a positive manner. The biggest issue, however, is that the growth promise of high density and more household wallets has never really happened in a quick and meaningful manner. Obviously, this fact has been very disappointing to us. About a year ago or so, we were buoyed to hear about the housing project proposed adjacent to our holes #4 and #5. We were even happier when the dirt started moving and you could see a whole new higher density neighborhood begin to develop. Finally, part of the puzzle we had looked at back in 2002 was finally moving forward. Albeit in a slightly different area then Town Center. Then this summer we heard about the Paxmar project. We were excited to learn that it would be geared toward residents 50 and older and would be upscale. Looking at it from afar it looked like the best of both worlds. We felt that both projects would benefit us and that our golf course would provide a unique amenity that most developers and smaller cities in the metro can rarely couple together. The only hiccup for us with the Paxmar project was a potential easement issue. On Friday, I met with Kent and Alan Roessler to discuss their proposed project, which is adjacent to the Links at Northfork holes #2 and #3. The meeting centered around land and easement options that would allow the Links at Northfork to retain our current cart path routing by the hole #2 green to hole # 3 tee box. Overall, the meeting went very well with both parties agreeing to work together long term on a solution. At the end of the meeting, Kent mentioned that the City of Ramsey didn't support their higher density plan. He said that the City felt that the plan didn't fit into the Comprehensive and Zoning Plans. When I heard this, I was extremely disappointed and a little confused. I'm not a City leader nor a developer so excuse my ignorance on the inner workings of Comprehensive plans and Zoning. However, as a business owner in the area and a taxpayer in Anoka County, I'm shocked that the City of Ramsey would pass up the opportunity to increase the tax base with 100 high end villas vs. 16 homes. I was also surprised to hear that there was some Northfork residents that opposed the project. Having owned the course for 15 years we know the homeowners well and we respect their judgement. However, on this project I'm a little bit dismayed to hear the clamor over increased traffic, noise, property values, etc. These are the same residents that complain there are no big box stores, a lack of dining options locally, etc. Do they realize that one way to get those retailers to look at the City of Ramsey is to increase the density and population in the area? The other thing that I don't understand is why would the City take advantage of bringing sewer to the housing project to the East yet deny that continued advancement of infrastructure to the Paxmar project. It's puzzling. Let me finish by saying I appreciate the work that the City of Ramsey does. Our golf course has a great relationship with the City and we want to continue to foster that. However, on the Paxmar issue I think the City is missing a great opportunity for the whole area. I encourage the City of Ramsey to reconsider. 1