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LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 16, 1996 3 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: A. Alternate Maintenance Site (continued from last meeting) The City received a letter from Joe Rogers, dated April 16, 1996, indicating his willingness to enter into further negotiations with the City regarding the cost of purchasing his property of 16.5 acres on Highway 5 since he heard that land cost has become an issue in the maintenance site discussion. The Council received a copy of a letter from Joe Lux, Washington County Public Works Dept., requested by Jim Blackford, evaluating the access to CSAH 6; Stillwater Blvd.) for the proposed Lake Elmo City Maintenance Facility at Joe Rogers' Property. The City received a follow-up letter, dated April 15,1996, from Joe Lux, Washington County Public Works Dept., clarifying the County's position on access to CSAH 6 between TH5 and the railroad bridge. The County was asked to evaluate the access to the property on behalf of the property owner, Joe Rogers. Whether this location is suitable for use by the City for construction of a maintenance facility is a City question with many factors, none of which were considered in our access study. Their study was intended to say only that if the City were to determine that this location was the proper location for the proposed maintenance facility safe access could be provided. Their analysis considered only the relatively small traffic generating capacity of the maintenance facility and any other use would require a reevaluation. The Concerned Citizens felt the proposed facility on the Berschen site would destroy the rural residential character of the area and decrease property values. They presented an alternative of the Joe Rogers' property because it was flat, had room for expansion and is not in a residential neighborhood. M/S/P Conlin/DeLapp - that the alternate maintenance site proposed on the Joe Rogers' property proposed by the Concerned Citizens be considered on a future siting process contingent upon the outcome of the vote on the Berschen's site. (Motion passed 3-2:Hunt, Johnston). B. Resolution 96-7 Amending the Future Land Use Map of the 1990 Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan This item was tabled at the March 19, 1996 Council meeting so that a full Council was present when the issue was voted upon. The MPCA has officially given the City until April 29 to vacate Fire Station #2. This is a one month extension from the March 31,1996 deadline. On a split vote, the Planning Commission recommended denial of the Comprehensive Plan and Rezoning siting site distance as one of the reasons opposing this site. Jim Blackford submitted a list of questions for the Council to consider on the maintenance facility location. Onno VanDemmeltraadt submitted a memo on sight distances for the maintenance building on the Berschen site. The Council received a copy of a letter that was put in Jan Berschen's mailbox by a neighbor. M/S/P Hunt/Johnston - to acknowledge the presentations this evening and adopt Resolution No. 96-7 amending the Future Land Use Map of the Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan based on the Findings in the Planning Review, of CPA/96-8 dated March 11, 1996; conditioned upon approval of the Met Council and favorable determination by the appellate court on lawsuit Involving this case. (Motion passed 4- 1:Conlin:With this site the City is compromising itself by not having a compost site. The Planning Commission denied the rezoning in March, and there is strong opposition from the neighborhood).