Minutes - Planning Commission - 03/02/2006

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Vice Chair Johnson stated that the problem they have is that there are no other options right now. He indicated that he could not say they want to go back to the previous density and just change it. He stated that the City Council could conceivably go back to 2 ½ acre lots if they started right now, but that is not something the Planning Commission can do. He indicated that the Planning Commission is bound by the constraints of the ordinance. Ms. Rowbotham asked if Vice Chair Johnson was saying there was nothing they could do about it. Vice Chair Johnson indicated that the residents were doing something about it by expressing their opinion, which will influence the Planning Commission's recommendation to the City Council. Commissioner Brauer stated that he would like to support Vice Chair Johnson's comments. He indicated that he was one who opposed the cluster ordinance, but the City Council approved it. He stated that is not to say they cannot deny this request, but they cannot deny it just because it is a cluster development. Ms. Rowbotham stated that the neighbors have given the Planning Commission plenty of masons to deny. A resident from 175th Avenue commended the Planning Commission, but noted that the Planning Commission cannot really do anything because the City Council will do what they want anyway. He noted the Mayor has even said that, and the City Council is intent on doing what they want to do. He indicated that when the City proposed the cluster ordinance he started calling cities that have them. He noted they are not all the same, and in some places the extra land is dedicated for life; not just until sewer and water come in. He stated that maybe services will be here in five years rather than 20 years. He indicated that this is a disaster waiting to happen. He commented that the City Engineer stated the water will overflow to the wetlands, but the wetlands am already over-flooding. Denny Donovan, 17605 Argon Street, indicated that people do become emotional concerning their property. He stated that most of them love their homes, and have lived them a long time. He indicated that he knows they cannot influence the outcome a lot because the Planning Commission is bound by the ordinance in place, but sixteen homes on forty acres is a misnomer. He stated that it is not sixteen homes. He indicated that they all know development will happen. Mr. Donovan stated that he never thought of this property as troubled until the Fire Chief said it was, but he believes it now. He indicated that he is afraid the City will allow this out there, and then find out that the cluster development needs services, so they will bring services this far out. He asked why the City could not wait until after the 2008 study. He stated it was not long ago that the City standard was four units for forty acres, and now they are looking at sixteen units for forty acres. He commented that the discussion hem is growth, rather than just 'not in my backyard'. Planning Commission/March 2, 2006 Page 8 of 31