02-20-96 CCM - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mayor's Report February 20,1996 On February 13, Councilor Conlin, Administrator Kueffner and I attended the Oakdale City Council workshop at which the Armstrong property annexation petition was discussed. Lake Elmo's Resolution 96-3 requesting denial of this annexation petition had already been received by the Oakdale Council. In general there were strong reservations over the proposed annexation. Both Councilors O'Hara and Sarrack indicated that their support of the annexation would be contingent upon establishing a benefit to all Oakdale residents, at no cost to the City. This would mean: 1. Zoning the storage business as commercial, with proper screening from the adjacent properties, 2. Changing the zoning of the land in Ag preserve to cluster or RE zoning as existed elsewhere in Oakdale, 3. Avoiding pockets or islands of Lake Elmo within Oakdale after annexation. This would mean that all adjacent property owners would have to petition, or their property bought out at no cost to the City of Oakdale, 4. All legal costs associated with the annexation and Comprehensive Plan adjustment would be borne by the applicant. Additionally, Mayor Pulkabrek, and Councilors Moen and Timmerman felt that the long term benefits did not warrant a worsening of relationships between the two cities, which they felt had been improving. They didn't want to create an image of Oakdale being a land grabber. The Council decided no to proceed with the annexation request. Subsequently, we were approached by the Armstrongs to see if an agreement could be reached. I indicated that any arrangement would have to be equally beneficial to all properties zoned Agricultural, and could not be regarded as spot zoning. Councilor Hunt will present the findings of his Agricultural sub committee to the Planning Commission for their discussion and review.