Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES <br />PLANNING COMMISSION <br />APRIL 14, 2022 <br />5 <br />The City Administrator stated that while the questions being asked are specific to the project, the <br />issue before the Commission tonight is related to the guiding of the property in the <br />Comprehensive Plan. He stated that the reconstruction of Twin Lake Boulevard has been moved <br />forward in the CIP as a 2023 project. He noted that the project had to be planned cooperatively <br />with Vadnais Heights. He stated that Twin Lake Boulevard would likely have no parking <br />allowed for this site, noting that proof of parking would need to be provided for within the <br />project. He stated that these parcels were purchased by the City in the 1980s for development <br />purposes. He stated that the properties had been zoned as medium density since that time and <br />several projects have been reviewed but those projects were not feasible at that level of density. <br />He stated that this Comprehensive Plan amendment to support higher density development <br />would make a project feasible. He stated that the total project cost does include stormwater <br />management, underground parking, and other related development requirements. He stated that <br />the flooding that was experienced in 2018 and 2019 were related to overflow issues from <br />Vadnais Heights and were not caused by this site. He stated that the berm was repaired by the <br />Watershed District and the District also installed the outlet pipe for Twin Lake to prevent that <br />situation from occurring again. He stated that this project would also extend water and sewer <br />services to the area which are currently not available in this location today. <br />Another resident commented that while he realizes that the City purchased the property for <br />development that does not mean this is the right development for the City or this neighborhood. <br />He commented that single-family homes would make sense on the property, but apartment <br />buildings do not. <br />Commissioner Thorson stated that there was a lot of time discussing the Comprehensive Plan <br />and therefore this could be a dangerous precedent to increase the density for the first request. <br />Commissioner Johnson stated that she appreciates the input from the residents tonight. She <br />stated that the guiding for this property as medium density was carried over from previous years. <br />She stated that there is new information that this site would not be economically feasible to <br />develop the property as anything other than high density development. She stated that the <br />property was purchased for development over 40 years ago. She stated that part of the <br />Comprehensive Plan focuses on population density over time and within the plan it states that <br />places must be provided for people to live. She stated that this would be a good spot for people <br />that have jobs, and it would make sense for people that have jobs in the city to live near where <br />they work. She stated that this is an opportunity to add higher density housing and for more <br />people to live in this great community. <br />Commissioner Thorson stated that if this passes there will be additional comments related to <br />traffic and greenspace.