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<br />Mr. Peterson indicated he is inclined to agree to postpone the public hearing until January. He <br />requested information about when the notice for the new public hearing would be published in <br />the newspaper, and whether there would be another mailing sent to the residents. <br /> <br />Assistant Community Development Director Frolik replied the January Planning Commission <br />meeting is scheduled for January 4th. There is sufficient time to re-advertise; the notice would <br />likely be in the December 20th issue of the Anoka Union. There would be another mailing to the <br />residents, which would be at the City's cost due to the error made by the City. <br /> <br />Mr. Peterson stated he would agree to postpone the public hearing until January if it would be <br />helpful; however, he would like to explain the logic of the variance request to the Board. He <br />explained Blaine is one city that has a special zoning that requires the front setback of houses to <br />be reduced to 25 feet in upscale neighborhoods. He stated he never called this an upscale <br />neighborhood as Mr. Overtoom said. However, the development has much less density than it <br />could have and has much larger lots than the ordinance requires. The development has 50 to 75 <br />lots fewer than it could have had by ordinance. The houses are a wide range of prices with high <br />amenity lots up to Trott Brook that will likely be $400,000 to $500,000, and the more ordinary <br />lots would be less expensive. The price range of the lots will be in the range of $300,000 to <br />$500,000; some lots may be at $290,000. Mr. Peterson stated he will not apologize about the <br />type of housing going into this development; they are proud of it. The neighborhood is starting <br />to take on its character now; the roundabout is in place, the pond is there, and the lots backing up <br />to Trott Brook are in place. Most of the lots the reduced setback is being requested for are the <br />ones around the pond. Mr. Peterson explained when they got a feel for where the pond would be <br />it seemed to be better to give people somewhat bigger back yards; one of the reasons was that the <br />back yards were starting to shrink because of the demand for bigger and deeper houses. It really <br />became apparent the bigger back yards would make better lots. He noted a side issue is that they <br />are put to a standard of environmental control with less asphalt being better. The driveways in <br />this development are five feet shorter, which is significant on so many lots. Mr. Peterson stated <br />he would request that the City hold a new public hearing if determined by the Board of <br />Adjustment. He is doing this with significant disappointment in the objection that has been <br />raised based on what they have tried to do in this neighborhood. He will not be here at the <br />January 4th meeting; he will have a representative present. <br /> <br />Acting Chairperson Van Scoy asked what the impact of holding a new public hearing in January <br />would have on this development. <br /> <br />Mr. Peterson replied they would not be able to submit for a building permit on the subject lots. <br />They are currently in the process of marketing the development and they have four model homes <br />going in. There are some presold homes, but none of them are on the subject lots. If a builder <br />were to want to begin building on a lot they would have to wait until the variance passes, <br />assuming it is passed. <br /> <br />Acting Chairperson Van Scoy asked if changing the setback would change the size of any of the <br />lots. <br /> <br />Board of AdjustmentlDecember 7, 2006 <br />Page 5 of 16 <br /> <br />P5 <br />