02-27-2002 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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miNU'rEs CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 27, 2002 Scalze noted that the property has a lot of freeway visibility and is a highly desirable site. She suggested that someone may be interested in making some soil corrections and putting ahigh-quality development in on this property. "I"he question is how much is too much to spend on soil corrections. Fahey suggested that the Johnson proposal may be the highest and best use of this property given the soil conditions. He suggested that it may be necessary to segment the property so that a high quality development can occur on the segments with good soils, and an outdoor storage use similar to Johnson's could occur where there are poor soils. Scalze pointed out that buildings can be placed on good soils and parking lots placed on areas with poor soils. Germanson reported that they want to improve and upgrade the main Knox building and add landscaping to the site. However, they would like to use the back of the property, where there are poor soils, for outdoor storage. Fahey asked if it were reasonable to look at soil conditions when changing the zoning ofa property. The City Planner felt the issue was relevant to the cost of development. If soil conditions are so bad that it is not practical to develop a property in a certain way, then there should be consideration for that or the City will just have to wait until the value of the property increases to the point that the cost of soil corrections are then feasible. Johnson felt that the area was a wetland years ago and reported that there are 8 to 9 feet of fill on that property. Fahey stated that his view is if the soils are really bad, then the City should be a little creative in the way the property is rezoned. Fahey felt the highest and best use of a property was dependent on whether a site had good soils or bad soils. The City Attorney reported that the moratorium ordinance that was adopted for this site expires on April 10, 2002 and does not preclude discussion of possible uses of the site. Scalze suggested that there may be soil reports for the Levity. and McKesson properties in the City files, and indicated that if there are, she would like that information. Scalze pointed out that there are substantial buildings on these two neighboring properties. Germanson reported that the property at 3250 Spruce Street had some borings done and Uiere are good soils in the area where the building is and poor soils in front of the building.