Minutes - Planning Commission - 01/24/2002 - Jt PC CC (2)

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Mr. Bertzyk stated that there have been seven major development that have turned down by the City Council that would have brought 3.5 million dollars each to the City, which would have cancelled the City's 35 percent tax increase. He stated that if the City does not do anything with the development they will continue to have tax increases. Mr. Regor inquired as to what the next process would be. Chairperson Nixt replied that at their next regular Planning Commission meeting they will receive some feedback from City staff regarding some of the issues and they will then have some general discussions amongst the Commission members and then make a formal recommendation to the City Council. Once it is sent to the City Council they will take formal action on the amendments. Terry Hendriksen, 15631 Ramsey Boulevard NW, Ramsey, stated that none of the proposed changes are near his house and everyone in the City pays taxes, which makes the issues important to everyone. He stated that his greatest concern was with the area between Ramsey Boulevard and Armstrong Boulevard. When the Comprehensive Plan process started many years ago they decided what made the most sense was to keep the area industrial and identified the area at the west end south of North Fork for medium density with a low density buffer. The reason they did that was because the net tax value from commercial and industrial is much higher than residential. Residential taxes are basically a wash. If they fill up the site with residential they are doing nothing but raising taxes. Now the entire area is being identified as mixed use. Think there is a place for mixed use in the City and inclined to support that. The problem is that the area around that will become residential. He stated that he sat with the Met Council representative and forged the last portion of the Comprehensive Plan agreement prior to receiving the Cal Thorp grant. The planning for the site has become what they want not what is best for the City. The plan calls for 2,000 homes in the area and plan for 10,500 sewered houses, not businesses, not gallons per day, but houses. The fact is that it is five times the number of sewered houses that are currently in the City. His last point was that all of the in-fill sites within the City they want to fill with residential. His fear is that if they designate the entire area as mixed use and residential is a component of that in a period of time from now the tendency will be to fill the area with houses instead of businesses and have a worse ratio of businesses to residents. The smart growth opportunity site proposes 2,000 additional homes, which was once intended as a business park. Ms. Horn requested that when the Council considers the land use amendments they look at each property individually and decide how they can move that many additional people into the City. She felt that higher density developments should be located close to county roads and shopping. Mark Labone, stated that some people are worried about the impact on schools others are saying medium density will bring in less people. He felt what was important was getting accurate information out to the residents so that they know the true impact of a development. Richard Krueger, 7640 175th Lane NW, Ramsey, stated that people are worried about moving traffic but when they add the river bridge crossing they will be adding more traffic and they need to develop the City otherwise they will be a bunch of farmers in the middle of the City. Planning Commission Joint Meeting/January 24, 2002 Page 11 of 14