10/26/1998 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• s COUNCIL MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 1998 Mayor Sullivan stated Council Members have been instructed they have 10 minutes to make their point before action is taken. Council Member Bergeson thanked the Comprehensive Plan Task Force for all their work. He stated there has been adequate input and everyone had an opportunity to speak at the public hearing. Suggestions have been made to limit housing or require larger lots as a means to limit urban sprawl. Urban sprawl is a problem for the entire metro area. Limiting the number of houses actually contributes to urban sprawl. There is more agreement on long term population goals than the number of houses. A citizen suggested the number of homes not be put in the Plan but instead the population number for the year 2020 with mechanisms to control that number. He stated he believes there is merit to that suggestion. Council Member Bergeson stated the City issued permits in a free market situation that is determined by willing buyers and sellers until now. This resulted in about 250 homes being built in the City per year. The Plan calls for a 40% reduction in the amount of homes being built. The City appointed the Task Force for a recommendation. They came to the conclusion that 147 is an acceptable number. He stated it is very important to encourage commercial development. The City Policy and Comprehensive Plan encourage that. If residential development is restricted too much commercial development will be restricted also. He stated he does not want a mandatory linkage between the two (2). It would be better to promote commercial and abide by residential guidelines. He said there could be an economic development effort to make sure commercial fails by limiting housing. Council Member Bergeson felt economic development could be torpedoed because it is linked to residential development. The City needs everyone on board to encourage commercial development. The Plan needs to be submitted to Metropolitan Council. It was the consensus of the Task Force to move ahead with this Plan. Council Member. Dahl stated she received many voice mail messages today. Ms. Mary Swanson called expressing concern regarding the planned new McDonalds. Ms. Donna Carlson asked about the housing code and the letter to the County regarding Birch Street. Ms. Sharon Lane's concern has been resolved. Mr. Bob Fennidontah called and indicated he is in favor of slow growth. He stated he can not get out on Highway 49 until after 8:00 p.m. He lives on Rohavic Lane and was unable to attend tonight's meeting. He indicated slow change would be better for the City. Council Member Dahl stated the City has enough MUSA for 7-10 years. Just because the inner ring of cities is filled up, Lino Lakes should not feel it is the job or duty of Lino Lakes to fulfill the Metropolitan Council objective to be up to a certain capacity. She stated open space is very important to her. This City should not be required to grow at an unacceptable rate just to fulfill the Metropolitan Council's objectives. She felt neither the Lyden/Dahl plan or the Task Force plan is right or wrong. A compromise was attempted by negotiation. Council Member Dahl stated she does not want the City topped out by 2020. If the Council can not reach a consensus and more negotiations are not possible then the Plan should be taken to the voters. She stated she believes the citizens of Lino Lakes are intelligent, in the know, and the Charter provides the City protection from the road improvement assessments. She indicated she is for slow growth and not adding additional MUSA. Every citizen has to live with this Plan. She • stated at one time the citizens were not notified of the zoning plan and they should have been. She stated she would like to go back to the table and negotiate. 15