Agenda - Council - 09/26/2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Glen Weakly - 5931 151 Lane N.W. — Stated that he thinks it is highly inappropriate that the Commissioners are addressed by their . first name. Stated he and his neighbors are deeply committed to keeping this a single family neighborhood. He is against any outlet from the new neighborhood onto 151 Traffic is far too great already. He is opposed to the common open space and trail behind his house; it will become a haven for drug use. If the City allows medium density in this area, there should be a freeze on the taxes of the existing single family homes. Matt Tews — 5844 151 Lane N.W. — Not opposed to development the property; actually looking forward to a development that the entire neighborhood can agree upon. Last February, Commissioner Johnson said that he could not see a compelling reason to change the land use from low to medium density residential. Mr. Tews said that he feels that there is still not a compelling reason to increase the density, other than to benefit the developer. It was stated that the traffic counts did not include school traffic as that traffic occurs outside peak traffic hours. There is already a traffic problem on 'Nowthen resulting from school traffic; that will increase with this new development. There is an existing traffic problem on 151 Mr. Tews noted that people pull onto 151 retrieve or drop off children and then turn around in residential driveways to leave the neighborhood again; this practice is safer than trying to enter and exit at the school. Mr. Tews referred to the traffic generation analysis. It was reported at a previous meeting that Shade Tree Creek, for instance, will generate 10 vehicle trips per day per home. If the plan here is for 62 units x 10 trips a day, that equals 620 vehicle trips a day. The traffic report states that 70% of that or about 434 cars, are expected to make that turn onto 150. With the existing traffic from the neighborhood, the traffic count will increase to 800 cars per day at 151 and Nowthen. Mr. Tews suggested that perhaps this case has to be tabled until the school is in session and redo the traffic counts at that time. Mr. Tews stated that he is opposed to the change in density based on traffic issues. Sarah Narr - 6100 151 Lane N.W. — Stated that she doesn't want to see the density change on 151 She and her neighbors previously delivered a petition to the Planning Commission that is on record. Traffic is a big concern. Today it took her husband 12 minutes to get from Minneapolis to the intersection of Ferry Street and Hwy. #10. It took him 22 minutes to get from Ferry Street railroad crossing to 150. Cars make illegal bypass lanes when you try to turn onto 150 from Nowthen. Adding this many homes and cars is dangerous. The City looks at the land and thinks it is perfect for townhomes; the existing residents bought into a beautifully single family neighborhood. The residents want to maintain what they bought into. Ms Nar urged the Commission to do what is best for the residents and the City of Ramsey and not what is best for the developers. The residents should be #1; make a place where people want to come and live but we don't want buildings everywhere just for the almighty dollar. Chris Weiss — 5907 151 — Stated that the Planning Commission and City Council made it clear that density should match existing development; what has been presented is not even close. Mr. Weiss stated that it seems like the developer keeps coming back again and again to finally get their plan approved. He stated that he has not heard one good reason why density should be changed. The new development on the east side of