Agenda - Planning Commission - 09/05/2002

Home

in the state of N£innesota. One neighboring resident has sighted and photographed the tulles. Given the natural significance of the proposed site, the decision of how to develop the area must be an informed one. Environmental Assessment Worksheets (EAW') are an excellent tool to help determine any potential impacts, formulate mitigation measures; and generally gztide the decision-making processes. PONDS believes that an EAW or other equivalem analysis should be conducted n~ to preliminary plat approval. Once the preliminary plat is approved, the ability to address potential impacts.is g-reafly reduced. 3-) Impetus on Surrounding Neighbors PONT)S is aware that some of the neighbors surrounding the proposed Villas at Meadow Point have concerns about the impacts of the development on their properties and community. The placement of sewer lines is one of these concerns. We.understand that' an informal meeting to discuss this issue is scheduled for September 3, 2002, after the Planning Commission is supposed to have made its decision. It is our position that neighbors must be given an opportunity to work with Allstate Development and the City of Ramsey to address those concerns before preliminary, plat is approved. Again, once the preliminary, plat is approved, the opportunity to mmgate ~mpacts is reduced. In conclusion, PON-DS believes that discussion of the Preliminary plat for Villas at Meadow Point is premature at this point in time. We request that action be tabled until more information is available and concerns have been addressed. We also would like to remind the Planning Commission that this situation is not unlike Royal Oak's The Ponds development. In that case, approvals were given prior to the resolution of neighborhood concerns, and in the end, very few of the concerns were satisfactorily, addressed. The result was disappointing to nearly all people involved. The best that we can hop.e for is to use The Ponds as a learning experience. We don't need to make the same mistakes again. Thank you for your consideration.- Sincerely, Jim B irtner i433! Neon St. Co-founder, PONDS I i I I I I I I I I ! ! I I I I