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Mounds View City Council August 9, 2010 <br />Regular Meeting Page 6 <br />buildability of the site. The Commission did not feel the applicant met the criteria for a hardship. • <br />In addition, all neighbors at the meeting were opposed to the variance request. <br />Council Member Gunn expressed concern with the encroachment into the wetland on the site <br />plan. She felt there was a great deal of wetland alteration that would have to take place to build <br />homes on this property. <br />Council Member Stigney stated the City requires single family lots in wetland districts to be 125 <br />feet wide and 20,000 square feet in area. These criteria have not been met within the submitted <br />site plan. He did not feel the hardship discussed this evening was not pertinent as what happened <br />back in 1966 did not apply to the rules and regulations that must be applied today. <br />Mayor Flaherty indicated development regulations today have changed since 1970. He <br />questioned why the site was not previously developed when 15 lots were approved by the City. <br />Mr. Harstad reviewed the detailed history of the lot stating he and the City were in litigation over <br />another parcel that was being developed and the Longview Estates property never was developed <br />due to the downturn in the housing market. <br />Mayor Flaherty questioned if the water table would be disturbed with this development. Mr. <br />Harstad indicated the placing of the foundations in this wetland district would not disrupt the <br />water table. He explained the engineers would review this issue thoroughly before the <br />development occurred. • <br />Mayor Flaherty asked how the applicant would proceed if the variance were approved. Mr. <br />Harstad indicated if the variance were approved he would forego seeking 15 lots within <br />Longview Estates. City Administrator Ericson stated the City could require a parcel of land be <br />dedicated to the City or that an easement be recorded to assure that no further development <br />occurred. Mr. Harstad explained he would be in favor of a conservation easement along Silver <br />Lake Road. <br />Mayor Flaherty understood the property owner had the right to develop the property however, he <br />was concerned with the density. Mr. Harstad explained the proposed lot size within a wetland <br />district was 20,000 square feet and the proposed lots were almost 30,000 square feet. The homes <br />would not be extremely dense within this development. He indicated the variance requested was <br />for lot width from the 125 foot minimum requirement. Mr. Harstad explained the current plan <br />has less wetland fill and more mitigation area, which has gained a great deal of support from the <br />watershed district. <br />Mayor Flaherty wanted to be assured that the City could protect the green space along Silver <br />Lake Road. City Administrator Ericson stated this could be done added with a condition for <br />approval. <br />Council Member Stigney reiterated that he 125 lot width requirement was not being met within <br />this development. He indicated he would not support the plans as submitted. • <br />