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December 19, 1977 Page 3 <br />in the next year. He also stated that a national study has shown that on the <br />average, 25 percent of the cost of a home goes for the land and 75 percent for <br />the actual house. He stated that with an 81' lot he would be able to stay within <br />the price range of those houses being built across the street but that if he had <br />to go with the larger lots, the price range would increase to $63,000 to $79,000 <br />if he stayed with the same 25/75 ratio. Mr. Tomas also stated that if he was <br />required to divide into four lots rather than five, he felt he would have a diffi- <br />cult time selling the homes as people would rather have a fireplace or added <br />feature to their home for the additional price, rather than a few more feet to <br />their lot. <br />Bob Koblish, 5090 Irondale Road asked what the Planning Commission had recommended <br />to the Council on the subdivision. Mayor Pickar replied that they had voted to <br />deny the request, with a'split vote of 5 to 3, but after considerable research, <br />the Staff had recommended in favor of the five lot development. <br />Official Rose stated that the Staff came up with their recommendation after viewing <br />the lots, and the lots across the street, and that in checking the history of <br />actual building permits taken out, which proved that 80' plus lots could have homes <br />build on them. Official Rose stated that the lot size seemed to be a good average. <br />Mr. Koblish pointed out that two variances would be needed and stated that he felt <br />if the Council voted in favor of it, it would devaluate the adjoining property <br />since the other lots in the area are all above code. He also stated that he had <br />spoken to six of his eight neighbors and all six were against having the area <br />divided into five lots rather than four. <br />Councilmember Ziebarth asked Mr. Tomas what the hardship would be. Mr. Tomas replied <br />that if he were required to put in only four homes, the additional cost of the land <br />would have to be split between the four homes, which would result in each house <br />costing approximately $3,000 more to the buyer, and that he did not feel he could <br />find buyers who would want to pay that additional cost for just land. <br />Councilmember Ziebarth asked Mr. Tomas if he was familiar with the building that <br />had been done within the City in the past five years. Mr. Tomas replied that while <br />he was a resident of St. Anthony he has shown a dozen or some homes in Mounds View <br />but that he was not totally familiar with the building being done. <br />Councilmember Ziebarth asked what the size of the lots were in the area that was being <br />developed on the north end of the City. Official Rose replied that some had 75 to <br />80 foot frontage and that the average lot was 85 feet, and that square footage <br />averaged between 13,000 and 14,000 square feet. He also stated that the average <br />cost of the homes was $38,000 to $48,000 for the home alone, and $52,000 to $64,000 <br />with the lot included. <br />Councilmember Hodges asked if any water level tables had been taken. Mr. Tomas replied <br />that he had dug down 4 to 5 feet and found sand all the way, and stated that he would <br />run a soil test if it was required. <br />Administrator Achen asked Mr. Tomas if he had looked into the cost of running the <br />fifth opening into the street. Mr. Tomas replied that he had and that it would <br />present no problem. <br />Mr. Koblish stated that if the Council approved the variance request, they would be <br />inviting other people to come in for all kinds of requests and that if the variances <br />