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Planning & Zoning Board <br />February 12, 2003 APPROVED MINUTES <br />Page 50 <br />Chair Schaps asked how do they provide housing for the average person. Mr. Lyden <br />stated there was already in existence hous ing that was affordable and they needed <br />housing that would support themselves. <br />Chair Schaps noted smaller homes were not being constructed. <br />Mr. Rafferty expressed concern that a 10,800 square foot land was not buildable to <br />today’s standards. He stated he would like to see R-1 at the R-1X size and make the R- <br />1X size larger. He stated a quarter acre lot was small. He stated this was a good <br />suggestion for the City to look at. <br />Mr. Corson expressed concern about affordable housing. He noted with energy costs and <br />property taxes going up, people may not always be able to afford to build large homes. <br />Mr. Tralle asked why the average person could not live in the City. He noted the average <br />person could not afford to live in the City. Mr. Rafferty replied the cost of the lots are <br />too expensive. <br />Mr. Lyden pointed out the City did not have to be everything for everybody. Mr. <br />Grochala noted the cost of the lots depende d on the characteristics of the land. He noted <br />the City had added an additional district of R-1XEC which was the combination of R-1 <br />and R-1X. He noted the developers were always going to maximize the property. <br />Mr. Rafferty stated the reality was that Lino Lakes might not be the starter home <br />community for people. <br />Chair Schaps noted the committee had decided they wanted the diversity of choice and <br />that was the reason it R-1 was left in. He noted the market was going to drive this and he <br />did not see this happening anyway, so it doe s no harm to leave R-1 in the Ordinance. <br />Mr. Rafferty asked who would be in favor of changing the minimum size of the R-1 lot to <br />12,800 sq. ft. and the R-1X changed to 15,800 s q. ft. Mr. Smyser pointed out the task <br />force had discussed this they had determined what would work for the lot sizes. He <br />stated whenever discussions arise in any community, he wondered if people who invested <br />in their community and live in townhomes hear everyone hated townhomes, what are <br />they to think. He stated he would feel insulted. <br />Mr. Rafferty noted this was not a criticism to anyone, but by having larger lot sizes, it <br />would only benefit the resident. Mr. Smyser poi nted out as the lots got bigger, the price <br />went up. <br />Mr. Smyser noted there was quite a lot of discussion nationwide among religious <br />organizations that there were a lot of people being excluded from communities for <br />various reasons (economics, life-styles, re tirees). He asked where are these people <br />suppose to go when they could not afford to live in the community any longer. He stated <br />the City was excluding these pe ople and the more expensive the City made things, fewer <br />people would be able to live here. He stated ethical concerns were extremely important.