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LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 18, 1992 7 defending the city in part of this case, hoping there was a way this case could be resolved. Attorney Radio felt because of the location of the site no one will develop it for RR and felt some type of commercial use would be appropriate. Filla explained no commercial use can be undertaken without a rezoning. Filla added that the General Business zoning, that we now have, allows a wider range of options than may be acceptable to the city. Consequently, even if the city wanted to accommodate the property owner, we don't have a zoning district that would allow us to do that. Councilman Hunt noted there are no more exits allowed onto the state highway. Due to the logistics of that location and with increased traffic going in and out of that site would impose an extreme hazard. The best thing would be a moderate density such as residential estate density because he was not willing to put the travelling public at risk by having large commercial vehicles turning in and out. If RE was reasonable in that area, Mayor Johnson indicated we would have to come up with special arrangements because the parcel is less than 20 acres. The Limited Business zoning district may be applicable to areas such as this and wished we had some options under this District that we could tie into. Filla recommended the city not rezone this property Limited Business, if this is what the city wants, until we have the regulations to go along with this zoning. Because of the boundary of the railroad and that being a narrow strip between the railroad and the highway, Councilman Johnson didn't want a commercial strip development as in Oak Park Heights which created a most hazardous set of highway conditions. He voted in favor of denial because of the safety aspect of trucks pulling in and out at the proposed entrance of intersection Hwy 5 and Stillwater road and the railroad overpass. At that time the council was willing to consider reasonable commercial uses other than rural residential development, but we still have the safety concern on egress to the property. Could arrangements be done with the Animal Inn or would the state allow some other entrance onto Hwy 5? Councilman Williams asked the following questions: Could the City condemn part of the Animal Inn property in order to provide access to Mr. Rogers' property? Would it make a difference if there was a single office building or 4 or 5 housing units? Filla answered he was not prepared to answer this now, but didn't think it would make a difference.