02-27-2002 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL FEI3RlJARY 27, 2002 storage would be a legitimate use of this property. Johnson also reported that the water table in this area is only 9 feet below grade. Any buildings constructed on the property would have to be placed on pylings. Therefore, Johnson felt that the City's vision of office-warehouse development on this property would not come to reality. Johnson reported that he would like to subdivide the property creating two lots along Country Drive and one lot in the back. He is proposing that the back lot be utilized for outdoor storage. Fahey suggested that if soil reports show substandard soils in this area, the City should revisit the issue of whether or not outdoor storage is a legitimate use of the Knox property. Scalze pointed out that the soil borings were done in a lice fiom north to south. She noted that the Knox buildings are located to one side of the property, and it appears to her that the Knox buildings were placed on areas of good soils and the parking lots and open space exist on areas of poor soils. Scalze did not believe that the 1<nox site was totally unbuildable. Gary Germanson, broker for Carl Johnson, reported that there have been additional soils testing done on this site by Twin City Testing. However, they have been unable to obtain copies of those test results. Germanson reported that they may do additional testing given the recent water damage to the Knox building and also in the area of the metal buildings on the site. Germanson explained that he believes there are good soils in the area where there is higher ground, but pointed out the topography which drops down by 9 to 12 feet toward the 1<nox property. Germanson explained Johnson's plan for redeveloping the Knox property by subdividing two lots off along the Country Drive frontage and then utilising a third lot at the rear of the site for outdoor storage. This area would be screened. Germanson offered to present the redevelopment plan. Scalze pointed out that there is a moratorium on the site which precludes the Council from considering development proposals for this property. Fahey suggested that the City needs additional soils information for the Knox property before acting on the Zoning Code amendment. Scalze pointed out that there are other properties along Country Drive which have substantial buildings on them and which abut the railroad property. Scalze indicated that the issue is not of screening outdoor storage, but of getting the highest and best use for the property, and in most cases that is not outdoor storage. Germanson pointed out that there are poor soils running through this area.