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<br />what they are trying to do, most of the people that spoke were angry that there are more <br />townhomes going up. Mr. Murphy stated city water and sewer was brought to this area a couple <br />years ago. Mr. Holmes is responsible for paying for the taxes for that and paying for the <br />assessment, and he is looking for a way to be able to afford to pay the assessments on it right <br />now. Mr. Holmes is caught in a hard place; by looking at the size and type of the land and the <br />expenses associated with that, it really took this number of units. Originally they proposed 8 <br />units; they went along with the Council's concern that was too dense and came up with 6 units. <br />At this point, doing anything less than that will create a cost benefit in that area that will be too <br />much to support in this particular set up and the location with the Super Bowl parking lot on one <br />side. This will not be able to be marketed as prime property for anything. He still feels this is a <br />good transition from the commercial property. These homes wilI probably be as nice as or better <br />than the homes in that immediate area. The best he can do is to build the best looking design <br />they can for that property, and he believes that is what has been proposed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen asked if the three townhome buildings will all look the same. <br /> <br />Mr. Murphy replied they will be similar in appearance. The substantial difference planned is <br />different color schemes for each building. They have considered shifting the buildings to create <br />~ staggering by setting one a foot or two forward or back, but the big issue with that is the <br />amount of impervious surface that is allowed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen asked how much space is between the townhomes. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Geisler replied at the closest point each building is 11 feet from the property <br />line, so the buildings would be about 22 feet apart. <br /> <br />Mr. Murphy stated a lot of the questions have been answered with the last Council. In his <br />estimation there is not a lot more that can be done other than what has been proposed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look clarified Planning and Zoning is recommending denial of the <br />Comprehensive Plan amendment and rezoning. He asked the applicant to address the current <br />market for townhomes. <br /> <br />Mr. Murphy replied he is a real estate agent with an office about three blocks from this property. <br />The market has definitely slowed down, and townhomes have probably taken the biggest hit. <br />Part of the potential of this project is that single floor living is the key to the project. There is an <br />upper level, but the master bedroom, bath, kitchen and dining are all on the main level. He has <br />concerns about the market, but with the size of this project he is not nearly as concerned. He <br />believes he can take a project of this size and find the right owners for it. <br /> <br />Acting Mayor Elvig indicated he likes the idea of using this as a buffer. He realizes there is no <br />real compelling reason to amend the Comprehensive Plan, but there is no real compelling reason <br />not to either. There would be the same concerns from the residents if there were to be a service <br />garage or an office with a lot of traffic. The people that will live here will be empty nesters and <br />this type of home is something they need in Ramsey. However, he has concerns about the visual <br />mass of this project. The architecture will have a great deal of impact. He suggested the plan be <br /> <br />City Council/January 9, 2007 <br />Page 15 of 24 <br />