02/10/2003 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 2003 APPROVED 1 stated the City does not want to eliminate development if Mn/Dot does not have money to improve • 2 those interchanges. If we do, there goes the shopping center. He stated if the Council is more 3 concerned about the level of service than the shopping center, they can remove that wording. 4 5 Councilmember Carlson stated she was concerned about this being added now. She indicated 6 Council has gone through three drafts already, and the ordinance has been through the Boards, and 7 she wants to know how this was put in at this stage. 8 9 Community Development Director Grochala indicated that at the first reading it was determined that 10 this section needed some work. While not specific to g., Council discussed their concerns and 11 indicated where the issues were. He stated Staff met to rewrite the section based on those discussions 12 and in trying to finalize it and put this through, realized there was a problem with the interchanges. 13 He stated the interchange improvements are so big Lino Lakes cannot do them, but development in 14 that area would be contingent upon the improvements. He indicated the main two areas are Lake 15 Drive and Main Street, both projects that are consistently pushed back by Mn/DOT. He stated those 16 intersections will be evaluated in projects, but it was difficult to apply the same requirements to those 17 interchanges as to local roads where the City has more jurisdiction. He indicated that usually when 18 discussing improvements we are talking about turn lanes, stoplights and those types of improvements, 19 while with the interchanges we are talking about more lanes, bridge improvements and things that are 20 out of the City's realm. He stated the intent in putting this item in the ordinance would be to look at 21 those intersections but allow approval based on the fact that projects are coming up in the next five 22 years or ten years without having to wait. He stated it would be difficult to say no development until 23 improvement when that may be six years out, but the City is in the position to say no to anything until • 24 then if they choose. 25 26 Mayor Bergeson stated that when Councilmember Carlson asked who suggested this, he had made 27 some comments, while not specific to this, about both State and Federal government being more 28 reactive than proactive, and how they tend to plan projects based on poor conditions rather than future 29 need. He indicated the County is this way as well, however they try to work with the cities to address 30 growth to some extent. 31 32 Councilmember Carlson stated she is concerned about not setting City standards at those two areas. 33 She indicated it appears the City is going against their Comprehensive Plan that speaks about 34 developing roads. She realizes the City cannot fund a bridge, and does not want to delay 35 development, but when the LOS gets down to E or F, it does not create a safe intersection for the 36 citizens. She indicated this was not just a matter of waiting at the light a little longer, it was not safe. 37 She stated that dropping the LOS requirement from C to D makes her concerned, but this feels like 38 they are not upholding the Comprehensive Plan to have developers finance and the City is going to be 39 building ahead of their infrastructure, which the Comprehensive Plan is meant to prevent. 40 41 Councilmember Carlson indicated her second point was on page 1007.2, Item 5, which states 'All lots 42 shall have frontage on an improved public street that provides the required lot width at the minimum 43 front yard setback, except multi -family or planned unit developments that provide access via private 44 roads or drives. Flag lots are prohibited.' She stated it seems every minor subdivision has had a 45 problem lately; Racutt and Keefe, the subdivision on Ash where they gave a variance. She asked if 46 this is restricting owners who want to subdivide into large lots from doing so to the extent it is 11047 unreasonable. She indicated this should apply when doing a large number of homes, but she is 14