Minutes - Council - 08/25/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Haas Steffen stated she has been supporting this project all along and it never occurred to her that it would upset anyone to place it where it is proposed. That option was not opened up to the City until the gentleman who owned the property died. She added that the City does not have public transportation. The Traveler has been talked about or maybe working out something with the Metropolitan Council. She remembered is was not so many years ago that Flintwood 1 and 2 were built. At that time, people came in and said they did not want the small lots and the kind of people it would attract - but those people are here and they are good citizens. She added that how people treat their young and old says a lot about a community. The type of people this kind of housing will attract will not be bad neighbors. She reported that Ham Lake had to enlarge their senior housing facility even before it opened. Ramsey's senior housing will have a stipulation that people who live there have to be current residents of the City or be parents or grandparents of people who live in the City. The other thing we have to look at is how to build this building so it is affordable. She felt too that it would be nice to have a one story building, however, we will build a three-story so we can get more use out of the facility. If we built two separate buildings, we could not stay in the market for the income and that was our goaD. We looked at land that would be appropriately donated as park land. That's almost impossible. We also tried to do that for a fire station and we cannot do that either. This site appears to be closest in proximity to the amenities the City would have to offer their seniors. She felt that Ramsey has chosen one of the safest places for seniors possible. With regard to a right-turn only, Councilmember Haas Steffen felt that it should be both a left and right turn. She added that most seniors feel safer with stop lights that they will have lights on C.R. #5 and #47. She hoped that there would be stop lights on Dysprosium too, and sooner than later because the City could front the money and the County could pay it back. She understood that we would not be able to flip-flop the building but she believed we are taking into consideration the noise issue and also the saving of the trees. The City's Environmental Specialist can advise on how to save trees and prevent oak wilt and the Mosquito Control can be contacted with regard to the concem about the area being a "mosquito haven". We will not be able to prevent all the noise but she felt we are taking all precautions available. She believed the area residents would not be displeased with this facility and suggested they go look at the facility in Ham Lake. Ms. Frolik noted that if the final landscaping plan includes a berm with trees, staff will make a recommendation of trees on the site because of better survival rates. Councilmember Haas Steffen asked that staff also reference size - five feet is a nice tree size. Motion by Councilmember Haas Steffen and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to approve the site plan for the senior housing facility subject to resolution of the drainage issue as determined by the City Engineer, subject to acceptance of an appropriate screening plan including berming and subject to the project receiving a height variance. City Council/August 25, 1998 Page 12 of 26