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1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 13, 1995 <br />criteria was required to change the zoning from Rural to R-1. As <br />far as the Planning and Zoning Board was concerned, the criteria <br />was not met, the infrastructure is not there at this time to <br />handle the development, and the White Bear School District cannot <br />handle more children. Mr. Mesich noted that the letter from the <br />White Bear School District was written before the referendum was <br />defeated. He also explained that everyone who has driven on <br />Otter Lake Road knows that it is not adequate. This area of the <br />City is in the Comprehensive Plan as expansion residential. Mr. <br />Mesich felt that houses are needed in that part of the City to <br />support the commercial growth that is planned for the <br />intersection which will be important to Lino Lakes. He felt it <br />was the City's duty to provide planned development. He also <br />noted that the 20/20 Vision is also telling the City Council that <br />the citizens want well planned development. Mr. Mesich felt that <br />the preliminary plat was well planned and did a good job of being <br />aware of wetlands, and "bent over backwards" as far as making <br />changes that the was required by staff. However, at this time, <br />the infrastructure is not there to handle this plat. He said <br />that a new school would be needed and added that he would like to <br />see the City work with the school district to formulate a plan <br />that outlines that development in conjunction to what the school <br />district can accommodate. Mr. Mesich noted that this type of <br />plan has never been done. <br />Mr. Mesich referred to the traffic concern and felt that there <br />should be a collector street to the east of the proposed <br />subdivision. He said he did not think that Otter Lake Road could <br />be improved to handle the traffic from the subdivision. Mr. <br />Mesich said that the Planning and Zoning Board was against the <br />subdivision at this time but not forever. He said he was <br />troubled by the change of zoning because once the R-1 zoning is <br />in place, all the developer has to do is to show that he can meet <br />the minimum R-1 requirements. Mr. Mesich felt that the City <br />probably could not legally deny a preliminary plat because of the <br />school situation or because of the traffic concern. However, by <br />rezoning the property, the City is saying to the developer that <br />the infrastructure is there and ready for development. Mr. <br />Mesich feels that the rezoning is a mistake at this time and <br />hoped it will work out. <br />Mayor Reinert told Mr. Mesich that he has instructed staff to <br />prepare to address the concern regarding preparing a plan to <br />"level off" new homes constructed in the City. Mr. Mesich said <br />that he had heard the instructions and said he was in favor of <br />placing phasing restrictions on development including writing it <br />into the development contract. However, if the City tries to <br />place arbitrary limits on the development of the entire City or <br />on plats that have already been approved, the City will expose <br />PAGE 25 <br />4 6 <br />