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Vice Chair Johnson indicated there was a lot of discussion on whether this was the right <br />way to do it, and there have been differing opinions. He stated that the developer is only <br />following the mles the City has laid out for them. He advised that the City is in <br />somewhat of a box here because once an application is made, the City has to decide on it <br />within 120 days. He indicated that the City has an ordinance that may or may not be <br />repealed in the future, but is on the books today, and the developer is simply trying to <br />comply with that ordinance. <br /> <br />Ken Thomas, 17655 Argon Street, stated there are more than just traffic issues. He <br />indicated there is ground water run-off issues also. He stated if they put all those homes <br />in one area that is now a field, all that drainage will come to Cobalt, and it is too much. <br />He indicated that the developer wants to get started, but there is not enough information <br />yet. He asked if they really want the City out this far. He stated that on a city lot you <br />have 16 exits, but here there is only one. He indicated he thinks the Planning <br />Commission should hold off until they have all the answers. He stated that south of this <br />property there are $2 million homes, and he thinks this property could develop a lot <br />better. <br /> <br />Mr. Thomas commented that those that live on Cobalt will have three homes in their back <br />yards. He stated another problem is who is going to buy these homes, and how much will <br />they cost. He questioned who would buy a home on a ¼ acre lot when they can buy the <br />same house on 2 ½ acres. He stated if these are going to be starter homes, then the <br />people will move when they have some money, and then the homes could become rental <br />homes. He indicated that all of the concerns they listed on their petition have not been <br />answered. He stated that some of the residents in this area have been them a long, long <br />time. He indicated if they have three homes in their backyard, their values will go down. <br /> <br />Vice Chair Johnson asked Staff to answer the question on drainage. <br /> <br />City Engineer Jankowski stated that there is a drainage plan, and all the water will go to a <br />storage pond and drain into the wetland. <br /> <br />Betsy Rowbotham, 17715 Erkium, on the comer, stated that she could not count the <br />number of times she was almost hit at that intersection. She indicated that she cannot <br />believe the City is looking at cluster development. She asked if anything else has been <br />discussed for this property besides a cluster development, and she wondered if the <br />Planning Commission approves of this. <br /> <br />Vice Chair Johnson stated that the problem they have is that there are no other options <br />right now. He indicated that he could not say they want to go back to the previous <br />density and just change it. He stated that the City Council could conceivably go back to 2 <br />½ acre lots if they started right now, but that is not something the Planning Commission <br />can do. He indicated that the Planning Commission is bound by the constraints of the <br />ordinance. <br /> <br />-288- <br /> <br /> <br />