Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/24/2022

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conflict from student drivers and buses going to PACT. She asked if there would be sidewalks added throughout the neighborhood to provide safety to residents. She stated that there is a beautiful high school proposed but PACT is not thinking about the impact on the neighbors that already live there. She asked if PACT is aware of the limitations that would be put upon them to ensure they would be a good neighbor. She asked that the City provide PACT with the information and regulations that would be put upon PACT to ensure their proposal could fit on the site. She noted that PACT is proposing to fill every square inch of the site which does not leave room for future expansion needs. She stated that if this rezoning is approved, would the eight existing residents also be afforded a rezoning when they can no longer exist with the traffic from the park and school. She stated that when there are games at the park, the noise carries and impacts the homes. She commented that the neighborhood is already unsafe for children because of the traffic on the road and that would apply the same for the students that would be attending PACT. She stated that zoning is meant to provide gentle transition between uses to ensure everyone can enjoy their property. She urged the Commission to take a step back and ensure that PACT is aware of the actual regulations that would be placed upon the property, such as setbacks, and whether the school could be constructed without creating a nuisance to the neighborhood. Sarah Schmidt, 5435 144th Way NW, commented that she has been a Ramsey resident since 2007 and has three children at PACT. She stated that she would like her kids to stay at PACT and not to have to go to Anoka. She stated that she loves that a residential area was chosen over an industrial area as that provides safety to the children. She stated that there are hundreds of families in the Ramsey area that are interested in PACT. She stated that PACT is a part of the community and has a stake in this. Leo Eiden, 16068 Uraninite St NW, stated that he is opposed to this request. He commented that traveling northbound on Variolite there is a slope down, therefore having an access road with another intersection at 161' could be an issue. He stated that he is interested in the traffic study as to how that could layout. He stated that he is also concerned that the developer could come to the City to request cost-share funding on the road improvements. He did not believe 161 St currently has a storm sewer and instead uses a ditch. He stated that there is a potential that the road E, reconstruction could be more expensive than people are thinking about, and the residents should be aware if they would be responsible for any portion of the cost. He asked that the Commission deny the rezoning. He noted that he moved to his home five years ago with the knowledge that the land was a park and he did not anticipate having a high school in his backyard. He believed there is much due diligence to'be completed and hoped that is done before the ball rolls downhill. Ryan Heineman, 16931 Helium Street NW,stated that he is a PACT alumni and his children attend PACT. He stated that he attended the informational session prior to this meeting as well. He stated that 161St is scheduled to be repaved and redone as part of the CIP and there would not be a new levy of taxes to pay for the road. He stated that PACT would not be asking for help on the road i improvements. He stated that PACT currently has a pollinator garden as its existing location and would have plans to replicate that to some degree at the new location. He commented that there G would be a lot of wildlife to the east of the field, which would be a great opportunity to teach students about nature. He stated that PACT is a charter school and therefore the State regulates that a lottery system must be used for enrollment. He noted that there are currently 500 students on the waiting list and the vast majority of those are Ramsey residents. He stated that many of the r Planning Commission/February 24, 2022 r Page 7 of 26