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<br />that area that will be too much to support in this particular set up and the location with the Super <br />Bowl parking lot on one side. This will not be able to be marketed as prime property for anything. <br />He still feels this is a good transition from the commercial property. These homes will probably be <br />as nice as or better than the homes in that immediate area. The best he can do is to build the best <br />looking design 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 a <br />staggering by setting one a foot or two forward or back, but the big issue with that is the amount of <br />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 II feet from the property line, <br />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 Comprehensive <br />Plan amendment and rezoning. He asked the applicant to address the current market for <br />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. Part <br />of the potential of this project is that single floor living is the key to the project. There is an upper <br />level, but the master bedroom, bath, kitchen and dining are all on the main level. He has concerns <br />about the market, but with the size of this project he is not nearly as concerned. He believes he can <br />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 real <br />compelling reason to amend the Comprehensive PIal)., but there is no real compelling reason not to <br />either. There would be the same concerns from the residents if there were to be a service garage or <br />an office with a lot of traffic. The people that will live here will be empty nesters and this t):'Pe of <br />home is something they need in Ramsey. However, he has concerns about the visual mass of this <br />project. The architecture will have a great deal of impact. He suggested the plan be worked on <br />further. He stated often the project is built to the largest size the market can bear, and some of that <br />cost could be put into things like the architecture. If they can make this a better fit it will likely <br />satisfy some of the neighborhood's concern, and it will still fill the buffering they are looking for. <br />He suggested the possibility of a variance or an impervious surface that will still work as a <br />driveway, and the use of color and architectural amenities with nicer fronts, possibly with a <br />reduction in the square footage. <br /> <br />City Council! January 9, 2007 <br />Page 15 of 24 <br />