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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_99Feb24CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 24, 1999 Mayor Gehrz convened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. PRESENT Gehrz, Gibson Talbot, Hustad, Jacobs and Kuettel. Also present was Hoyt, Maurer, Knutson and Phillips. COMMUNITY FORUM There was no one wishing to speak. MINUTES OF FEBUARY 10, 1999 Minutes were approved by unanimous consent. CONSENT AGENDA Councilmember Hustad moved approval of the following consent agenda with No. 6 • added as an addendum. The motion passed unanimously. 1. Disbursements 2. Licenses 3. Request to purchase two defibrillators for the fire department 4. Request to purchase replacement parts for the Hurst Tool 5. Designation of city administrator as city clerk 6. Increase time of Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities director to 75%. POLICY AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 99-06 NOT PERMITTING THE EXTENSION OF LINDIG STREET TO THE NORTH FOR DEVELOPMENT ON A LOT BY LOT BASIS Mayor Gehrz said the council is being asked to accept the 1999 recommendation from the city engineer, a repeat of the engineer's 1988 recommendation, that the area north of Lindig Street not be developed by extending Lindig Street to the north on a lot by lot basis. Mayor Gehrz then asked Administrator Hoyt to summarize this recommendation. Administrator Hoyt explained that the planning commission has made this recommendation not to extend Lindig Street on a lot by lot basis due to the sewer, • drainage and access problems that development on a lot by lot basis will create. Additionally, Hoyt said the city engineer made this recommendation in 1988 when this • Page 2 City Council Minutes February 24, 1999 issue was brought up and again in 1999 due to a request by a resident inquiring about the possibility of building a home on the back part of his lot facing Lindig St. Hoyt said both the engineer and planner suggest that this azea should be developed as a whole development when several of the property owners are interested in doing so. Hoyt indicated the council never took action in 1988 on this subject and that is why council is being asked to consider this recommendation. Hoyt said a second motion was made by the planning commissino requesting to study the development opportunities on the azea north of Lindig Street to determine what the options aze on this azea. Hoyt then gave a brief history of Lindig Street and how it was developed to this point. Hoyt asked the city engineer to give his technical expertise on this issue. Engineer Maurer reiterated his findings that the elevation of the land north of Lindig is too low to provide adequate sewer service to the lots to the north. Maurer said the existing sanitary sewer is half the normal depth and any further development would require another extension and would likely need an ejector pump to service any new home. If the azea developed as a whole, a small lift station would be installed to provide adequate sewer service to this area. In addition, storm drainage in this azea is also a • concern. The azea is low and collects water. Maurer said there should be an overall plan to service the entire area. Maurer answered some additional questions posed by council. Mayor Gehrz said another issue brought up by the planning commission dealt with access for emergency vehicles along a dead end cul de sac with no azea for turning vehicles around or getting through. Mayor Gehrz asked. if there was anyone in the audience wishing to speak to the council about this matter. Ms. Felicia Busch, 1804 Lindig St., asked how.: much money was spent for the engineering and planning reports to which Administrator Hoyt responded approximately $2,000 for the first study and the latest study will be at the Behrens' expense. Busch suggested the resolution before the council should be amended to add that this issue cannot come up again unless the majority of homeowners request it. The question was put to Attorney Knutson whether there was anything to prohibit this amendment. Knutson said there was not but it didn't necessarily mean it would give the residents the peace of mind they may think because anyone has the right to petition the city government to consider his or her request at any time regazdless of what eazlier city councils may have decided about an issue. Mr. Frank Evans, 1847 Fairview Ave., inquired about the second motion made by the planning commission regazding the further study of development opportunities of the azea. He would like to have some of the residents work with planning commission to see • what the options aze. • Page 3 City Council Minutes February 24, 1999 Ms. Jeri Glick Anderson, 1870 Roselawn, asked if it was possible to change the zoning from single family residential to something that would ensure the azea could retain its permanent green space. She told council the green space is why she and her husband chose to move to this azea and how they as well as some of their neighbors have made substantial improvements to their property thereby increasing the property value. She applauds looking at the area as a whole and doing whatever is necessary to protect the open space. Mr. Phil Eldred, 1753 Lindig, said he bought his house because it was on a dead-end street. He believes that the width of the street has not been addressed and there's not enough land to widen the street to accommodate through traffic. Ms. Megan Lund, 1805 Lindig, believes there would be more economic value to the city by leaving the street the way it is and according to the city's comprehensive plan, she understands it to read that the city intends to preserve its open spaces. Ms. Saza Lund, 1805 Lindig, questioned the possibility of building without street access . and was informed that the Behrens asked council to consider adopting an ordinance amending the city's code to permit property owners to get building permits to construct buildings on properties that are not adjacent to public streets. Ms. Lund asked how this would work and was told the Behrens access to their property would be permitted viva driveway off of Lindig Street with the intent to provide access from Lindig Street at some future date. Ms. Lund reminded council that the cul de sac and lot at that end of the street has become the playground area for the young children on the block. In response to a question about the city's process for making this decision, Attorney Knutson said that if the city council approved extending Lindig Street at the meeting, property owners along Lindig Street would be notified of the proposed extension through a series of required heazings and notices. There were no further comments from the audience. Mayor Gehrz asked Councilmember Talbot to read Resolution 96-07. Councilmember Hustad moved to approve Resolution 96-07. The motion passed unanimously. ADDENDUM TO AGENDA REQUEST TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 3-1.01 STREET CONSTRUCTION OF THE CITY CODE RELATED TO ISSUING • BUILDING PERMITS TO PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO PUBLIC STREETS • Page 4 City Council Minutes February 24, 1999 Mayor Gehrz said this ordinance governing public streets would permit property owners to get building permits to construct buildings on properties that aze not adjacent to public streets or on properties that have not had provisions for street construction. It would apply to all property owners throughout the city. After a brief discussion on the ramifications of amending Chapter 3-1.01, Councilmember Gibson Talbot moved to deny the request. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Phil Eldred made an additional comment that he would like to go on record as saying he would want to be notified of any type of action being considered regazding Lindig Street. Administrator Hoyt said the Planning Commission will be discussing this issue again sometime in the near future and will keep residents informed of any meetings. ADJOURNMENT • The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Susan L. Gehrz, Mayor Patricia Phillips, Recor ' Secretary •