04/10/2002 P&Z Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning & Zoning Board April 10, 2002 Page 13 APPROVED MINUTES properties. He stated while they did not oppose the development of the property, they felt the development should take place in a respons ible manner that increased the quality of life of all taxpaying citizens of Lino Lakes. He stated they neighbors had a concern regarding the City sewer capacity would not handle the proposed increase with the approximately 100 new homes. He asked if the existing sewer could handle the new load. If not, who would pay to correct it? He stated seve ral property owners on or near the Birch Street had been told that they could not hook up to ex isting sewer because it was already at capacity because of Pheasant Hills Preserve. As taxpayers, there was a consensus that capacity issues on sewer s hould include existing property owners, and that those owners have the opportunity to hook up once sewer was available. Mr. Masonick stated there was a great deal of concern on the traffic of Birch. Both adjacent Centerville Road and Birch Street already had problems with existing traffic. The addition of approximately 100 x 2 (ave rage cars/household) equaled 200 more cars driving on that ¼ mile stretch that c ould create a number of problems impacting pedestrians, drivers, noise, pollution, and quality of life in the area. He asked if Birch street would be upgraded to accommodate more traffic and if so, when and how, and if not, why not. He asked if Centerville Road would be upgraded to accommodate more traffic, and if so, how and if not, why not. He asked if there woul d be outlets from the Stoneybrook development onto other streets (s uch as Holly Drive) and how would the greater traffic affect the existing roads, traffi c, and quality of life of area residents. He asked if there would be ongoing traffic studies once development was underway and what would happened if they showed traffi c was too much. He asked if development slowed down while roads were improved. Mr. Masonick stated it was well known that the property owner selling was a member of the Rice Creek Watershed District and they be lieved this was a conflict of interest. He stated neighboring property owners expressed concern that an outside watershed district board of neutral party should review the pr oposed plans to ensure there was no conflict of interest. He stated it was no a generally acc epted fact that residential development was a far greater source of run-off pollutants – es pecially fertilizers – to watersheds than farming or highly regulated industry. He asked what w ould be done to ensure that properties and ponds adjacent to the proposed development are not impacted by the proposed development. He asked if there we re any contingency plans in place should it be shown the development-impacted wetlands. He asked how the wetlands be maintained and monitored once the development was complete. He asked who held liability for these issues if there was such an impact. Mr. Masonick asked if there would be any st udies on the impact this development would have on wildlife in the area. He asked what would be done if wildlife was impacted. He stated there was a general consensus amongst area neighbors that loss of wildlife would affect the quality of life. He indicated th ere were a number of nesting migratory birds, waterfowl, prairie species, fox, deer, wild turnkeys, pheasants, and smaller mammals in the area. Mr. Masonick stated the increase in tr affic on Birch would impact the ability of pedestrians to cross Birch and access trail systems in Pheasant Hills Park Preserve, as well as eventual trail systems that hook into Ch ain of Lakes Park. He stated the safety of