Minutes - Planning Commission - 04/04/2000

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this item and traffic studies have been done. He stated he was concerned about the Planning Commission's ability to discuss this item properly and look at issues, so he said he would take the time to do so at this meeting. He said he saw three major issues with the proposed development. They are street configuration, issues with the apartment portion of the PUD, and the larger issue of traffic. As for the street configuration, he commented that the City should be looking at larger issues related to the configuration. He noted the neighboring subdivision is left with two dead end streets (Barium and Argon), and he viewed future dead end streets as a problem. He said dead end streets cause concerns over emergency vehicle access and snow plowing, and it limits access to new subdivisions. He questioned why a new subdivision should have to take care of problems that are a result of old subdivisions. He said he would like to hear from the Public Works Director on this item. Chairman Anderson discussed the apartments proposed with the PUD. He said the plan for the apartments is vague, and most of the density has been shoved to the piece of land the City knows the least about. He noted that 168 units on five acres is high, and Mr. Bulow does not intend to develop the apartments. There is also very limited access for high density apartments. He went on to say that the PUD should speak to these issues or the City will lose control over them. He noted he had a lack of confidence in the traffic study that was performed, and he would like to be able to spend some time with Mr. Johnson to understand the original study that was based on a high level of senior occupancy. He noted the total area has real traffic problems, and he would like to look at the possibility of meeting with Mr. Johnson and the Commission to review these issues without interruption. He would like to look at the effect of lower density in the apartments. He said he would like to see these issues addressed before moving ahead with this item. Commissioner Johnson asked staff if the proposed number of apartments is extraordinary. Community Development Director Frolik stated it was not out of the ordinary. Commissioner Johnson commented that the proposed plan for a private road with emergency vehicle access is satisfactory. He explained that his daughter lives in Shoreview in a similar development and the private roads have been successful. He noted that the development has come a long way since the process started, and this seems to be the most reasonable plan for the neighborhood. He said he strongly supported option #4 with the private roads, and he said the density for the development was satisfactory. Commissioner Wivoda agreed with Commissioner Johnson and stated his support for option #4. He questioned how much of the apartment plan was included with the preliminary plat approval. Community Development Director Frolik noted that the apartments would come back to the City for site plan approval, and she stated it would be appropriate to layout the ground rules for the apartment plan in the development agreement for the PUD. Public Works Director Kapler stated he agreed that option #4 was the best option for the road layout, especially since emergency access is provided. He noted that 26-foot roads were a concern, but the fact that there will be no parking on the roads lessens the concern. He stated that option #4 causes the least amount of problems for the street supervisor as far as street maintenance and snow plowing are concerned. He asked that the private roads always remain Planning Commission/April 4, 2000 Page 5 of 10