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LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MARCH 17, 1987 PAGE 6 Planning Commission Secretary Ann Bucheck urged the Council to look at the Planning Commission's reason for denying the request by Erickson Diversified. The reason being the proposal was not consistent with the Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan. Planning Commission member Tom Simpson expressed a concern about possible organic pollutants that would get into the groundwater table in an area that does not have a benefit of city sewer service. This might be another change of sewer having to be put out there before our planning allows for it. Planning Commission Vice Chairman Marge Williams opposed this proposal because it was not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Williams also cited police department reports indicating that prostitution activity routinely shifts between St. Paul and Hudson. The City of Lake Elmo, which has a population of 6,000, had zero complaints for prostitution in 1986 and 1987. The proposed truckstop is near the school and diagonally across from Cimarron. She could not believe that any large development can promise no such activity no matter how good the management policy is. According to the Washington County Sheriff's Department any increase in development, no matter what type, increases police calls. Williams added that any community that increases its criminal statistics does not present itself as a good place to live. Mayor Christ acknowledged a letter written to the City Council by Susan Wiesbrod, 11356 30th St. N., stating she is strongly opposed to the proposed Erickson Interstate Service Center because of the bad reputation that follows truck drivers and truck stops that have been created by the truck driving community, building an adjacent motel would invite prostitution, and being located close to a public school where innocent children could be influenced or even solicited. Public input was taken until 7:55 p.m. Attorney Larry Berg felt the more factual information that can be given about the project, the more palatable this would be to the community. What is before the Council now is the decision on the conceptual notion of whether there should be a development. If conditional approval is given, they will go to the Planning Commission where they will have an opportunity to prove that they will keep their promises. Berg added that this is not a very dense development. It is a 64 acre site and the development will be done in three phases. The first phase is what they are asking consent for and they cannot do Phase II or Phase III without coming back to the City and go through the entire process. They could prove to the Planning Commission then they have adequate soils for what they want to do and concerns on pollution have been addressed. Traffic studies show that at peak traffic periods less than 30 cars or trucks are going to be heading north on Manning Avenue in a given hour. Under a Planned Unit Development there are agreements, contracts and financial guarantees where the City is a partner of the development.