02-28-2022 City Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DRAFT 176 Mayor Rafferty thanked Mr. Rennaker for presenting comments from the residents and he 177 appreciates the openness of the conversation. He hears the council's concern about lot 178 size. He noted staff s indication that a new park would not be included because the 179 Century Farms Park site (undeveloped) is nearby. City Planner Larsen explained that the 180 long standing plan has been to develop the Century Farms Park when the sod farm 181 property is developed. 182 183 Mr. Peterson pointed out what he sees as a public safety (fire) benefit to having a Carl 184 Street connection (less turns for a truck going to an emergency). Public Safety Director 185 Swenson explained that, for delivery of public safety services, thru-streets (grids) are 186 preferred to cul-de-sacs; and Carl Street would open up two neighborhoods and allow 187 better staging of necessary emergency equipment. When asked if emergency vehicle only 188 road access would be a possibility, Chief Swenson indicated that type of restriction is 189 difficult to enforce. A resident remarked that he feels that enforcement of speeding on 190 the street would become a much bigger problem. 191 192 Mayor Rafferty remarked that this is a conceptual review and he appreciates comments 193 including from the Public Safety Department. 194 195 Mike Iverson, 352 Carl Street, suggested a connection with Robinson Drive going all the 196 way to 4th that could be expedited and perhaps help with the concern about Carl Street. 197 198 Mayor Rafferty summarized concerns on density, park access and trails, 199 200 Community Development Director Grochala noted, on the matter of parks, that the intent 201 is to build out the existing park and to design trail and connectivity without additional 202 publicly dedicated land through this project. 203 204 Clark Robinson, owner of the property north of Main Street, said he's heard staff say that 205 a certain amount of commercial development is a requirement and that could end up 206 being a requirement attached to his property. He wonders if there is or will be 207 opportunity to amend that requirement in case it becomes infeasible. City Planner Larsen 208 noted that the commercial element could be delayed; the idea is to be flexible. 209 Community Development Director Grochala explained the comprehensive plan direction 210 and its inherent flexibility. 211 212 Councilmember Lyden expressed concern that the park plan may no longer be appropriate 213 if you're asking parents to send kids to a park far away; perhaps more open space should 214 be a consideration. 215 216 Community Development Director Grochala noted comments about the "gated 217 community" aspect and asked for more discussion from the council. The developer 218 noted that one concept is to gate the whole community but that is just one. There were 219 no specific concerns noted; a councilmember indicated he is opposed to the gated concept 220 unless he is convinced otherwise.