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

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-342- ■ Traffic is not likely to be an issue. The consensus of the Council was general agreement of the sketch plan with the 6 -unit townhomes. The Council did not express concern regarding the land use change. Lord of Life Housing Project City dministrator Norman indicated representatives of Lord of Life Church are present to discuss . e Lord of Life Senior Housing Project with the Council. Natalie Haa teffen, Lord of Life Church, stated the reason for coming to the Council this evening is to • cuss with. the Council a senior housing project Lord of Life Church has been discussing. She s .ted the church is progressing along the line of selling five acres of land to Augustana Corporatiz to build the senior housing project. They are well enough along in this process to know this p ect could be carried off if the City would consider helping the church. She is here tonight on be if of the church to remind the Council that the church has been very cooperative in some things • e City wants to do, and the church has been willing to look far ahead with the City. The chur has really changed the configuration of what they would like to do on their property to accommo• ate the City with the Highway 47 project. The church is happy to do that, but would like to remin• he Council that the cost of doing business could be a great deal more if the church were not coop ative. The church is asking that the Council look at what they do in the community, and is asking ,.r abatement of the City fees for park dedication, trails and other development fees. Ms. Steffen p •vided an overview of the reasoning for this request as outlined in the letter from Lord of Life E ; cutive Director Wayne Skaff to the Ramsey City Council and Senior Staff dated 5/2/06. Wayne Skaff, Executive Director of Lord of Life Ch rch, stated the church is a member of the community and their facility is the center of the comm ty in many ways. He noted when the City needed to call an emergency meeting several month • go regarding a sex offender moving into the City, the church immediately made their facility ava able. The church provides service to the community in a park -like setting year round. The c ch is looking for help in the abatement of fees that makes sense to the Council and that the Ci can reasonably stand on. He stated this assistance from the City is really what will make this • •1 work or not work for the church and Augustana Corporation. Woody Nelson, President of Lord of Life Church, stated, in 2003, the • an being considered included 46 or 47 units. Augustana Corporation feels that is not likely a crif al enough mass to justify full -time employees on site, and has indicated the number of units shou likely be closer to 60. Mr. Nelson noted the church provided the City with an easement f• the fire loop connection, which is in place, and the watermain is at the site boundary. Ms. Steffen stated the City has a history of being charitable, and should be able to fort, ve some of these costs, as was done for affordable housing. Councilmember Cook inquired about the financial ramifications of providing this assistance the church. City Council Work Session / May 2, 2006 Page 3 of 10