01-21-92 CCM - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 21, 1992 7 The trucks are basically large delivery vans, appox, 15,000- 20,000 gross lb. vehicle weight. We would be happy with any system that seems to have a rational basis and represents an honest effect from the greenhouse on proportion of maintenance. The Council wished to see additional landscaping higher on the site and closer to the buildings which would breakup and soften the visual impact of this facility, particularly from the Regional Park. Mayor Johnson noted this structure is 60,200 sq.ft. and is the largest structure in the City. Each time we add to this we establish a precedent in the Ag District. Johnson asked that the Linders prove to him this facility would become invisible because our comp plan and code states that we will preserve Ag land and open spaces. In addition to plantings, he asked if there was a way of making the plastic less reflective. Councilman Johnson noted he didn't see greenhouse operations as an ugly operation and considers the buildings as not a permanent structure. He requests a condition that temporary retail greenhouse structures will not be allowed to be put up on site. Councilman Williams explained when Phase I came in, he had apprehensions about it primarily the visual impact from the Park but you can also see it from 10th Street. There have been concerns expressed publicly. Regardless of what Linders have proposed right from the beginning as far as eventual expansion, no one on the Council could conceive what it would be like because they have never seen anything like it before. He objected to the comment of changing the rules in the middle of the game because now we have a better understanding of what this is like. Councilmen Williams and Mottaz felt this operation was more like a commercial operation than a farm field; therefore; requires different criteria for mitigating its impact on the environment. Along with the plantings, he would like to see consideration of some berming. Hoffman: We do have a problem with the suggestion with additional screening. Linders have planted twice as many trees as they were asked to do. If that was sufficient at the time, given that Stage II was going to have a minimal impact in terms of visibility from the park, this would be changing the rules in midstream and felt it was unfair. As to additional plantings along the edge of the gravel, the land is currently being used to grow hay and the effective ability of the trees closer to the building, increases the screening minimally by the time these trees begin to grow compared to the trees that have grown considerably at the edge of the property.