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Commissioner Van Scoy commented that it would seem unusual that the Council would approve <br />something that has not yet gone through this Commission. <br />Planning Manager Larson replied that the City Council is the regulatory body but also the <br />landowner and, in this case, it was the role of the landowner, and the EDA had the job of vetting <br />that request and making a recommendation to the Council. He stated that the process will now <br />follow the typical review process. He clarified that the Council has not yet approved the project, <br />only the potential land sale. <br />Commissioner Anderson replied that he thinks the process is broken. He commented that the EDA <br />and City Council can sell the land. He noted that this Commission deals with land use. He asked <br />why the process should even be followed if this has already been approved by the City Council. <br />He stated that before that project goes further, the City Council should work with the Planning <br />Commission to determine a land use. He did not think the current layout follows what is within <br />the COR framework. He understood the things have changed, including the wetland area, but <br />noted that the whole parcel is still designated as retail. He stated that they had agreed that the <br />southern portion of the property would be retail. He stated that he does not have a problem with <br />the concept north of the road that comes from Zeolite. He stated that the Council has already <br />approved this plan along with an apartment building that the Commission has not heard of until <br />today. He stated that there is currently a moratorium on apartments and believed that an apartment <br />would fit better near the other apartments. <br />Commissioner Heineman referenced a letter from a resident, Missy Luck, which spoke of concerns <br />with the safety of Bunker and Zeolite and property taxes. He noted that he would address those <br />concerns later. He stated that there is also a statement that a majority of the letters have <br />contradicted what was sent earlier or in town meetings, noting that does make sense after what was <br />just said about this Commission being left out of the loop. He asked for input from the Council <br />liaison. <br />Councilmember Olson replied that the Council deals with the things that come before it. He stated <br />that the decisions on this were made based on the information received. He stated that to the best <br />of his recollection the land sale was proposed, but the apartment use is still on hold at this time <br />through the moratorium. <br />Commissioner Heineman commented that then the land was sold to a developer for apartments <br />and townhomes for property not yet zoned for apartments and townhomes. <br />Planning Manager Larson replied that is not correct. He stated that there was an approved purchase <br />agreement, similar to what existed with COR Trust Bank, which was later denied. He stated that <br />the Planning Commission reviews things in a judicial manner while the City Council reviews <br />things in a legislative manner. He stated that even though it is a land use deal, it was under the <br />purview of the City Council. He stated that the role of the Planning Commission is not whether <br />the land is sold, as that falls to the EDA. He stated that at the May 11, 2022 worksession there <br />was discussion about sites that do not seem to be developing under the current framework and the <br />question was asked where there would be openness to additional residential development. He <br />stated that the consensus was that this site would be supported for residential development and <br />Planning Commission/ October 26, 2023 <br />Page 4 of 9 <br />