December 19, 2006 CCP - Laserfiche WebLink

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APPROVED: 12/11/06 Neil and Elizabeth Miller Mr. Miller asked if the Assistant Planner had visited the site. He said that no homes are served by those two roads. The driveway on the Severin property goes straight out to 501h Street. Mrs. Miller said they could meet the 14 feet requirement for fire access and for emergency vehicles to turn around, They would be willing to meet the fire chief to create that. Mr. Miller said shouldn't the previous owner have been required to combine the two parcels in the past. He said that the parcels combined would meet the city's 60% rule. He said that the City Engineer is wrong, that Argyle Street and Bennett Avenue are not being used. Snow plowing would not be performed by the city, and there would be no reason for it because they are not improved roads. Mrs. Miller asked why it would be a health, safety, and welfare issue. She said that the existing driveway has been there for seventy-five years. She asked why not vacate the streets there. She said they would be able to meet city requirements as a piece of cake. Mr. Miller said the bank thought it was buildable with the access easement from 8012 50th Street North or they would not have loaned them the money. He said the land is worthless if it can't be built upon. The Assistant Planner said she was unable to see the lot from the road because it was not staked and the parcel is landlocked. The planner explained it would not meet the 60% rule because that section of the code addresses a parcel of record in October of 1979 that is 60% of the lot size standard. These parcels were not combined and have not been a parcel of record since 1979. Commissioner Ptacek asked whether the applicants purchased both lots. They said they did purchase two property identification numbers. Commissioner Ptacek said it is incumbent upon the owner to consolidate. He said it is unclear precisely where they want to place the driveway. The applicant presented an aerial that Commissioner Ptacek said verified the engineer and chief s concerns about angles and access for the driveway. Commissioner Deziel asked if there is a maintenance agreement with the owner of the underlying land for the ingress/egress easement. The applicants said they could do that if that is a city requirement. Commissioner Van Zandt asked if they met with staff prior to purchasing this land. They replied that they met with the administrator and city planner one year ago. At that time, they said that the concern was for lot size and not so much the access. Chairman Helwig asked the width and height of the existing driveway. They did not lrnow the answer. He asked if The Severins would be willing to improve their driveway to that extent. The applicants said they would. THE CIIAIRMAN OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:37 P.M. Kevin Clemens 7920 Hill Trail North Mr. Clemmons said he lives west of and adjacent to the wetland that abuts the subject property. That property is upslope from the wetland. He said he is worried about the wetland; there is a fragile ecosystem in that small pond. If the runoff would cause it to flood it could be damaged beyond repair. 1.5 acres as a minimum lot size is also a quality of life issue and neighbors in the area would like that standard to remain. Carl Abrahamson, Resident Mr. Abrahamson said he has lived there 42 years and knows why they left those two roads open. The roads could be used in the future by the city. All the roads in the neighborhood are 30 feet Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes from November 27, 2006