Agenda Packets - 1999/11/22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council November 15, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 29 Mrs. DeGross stated their property is located on the west side of the woods, and they have no reason to be on the east side, and were not aware that the land was for sale. She stated they were only recently informed that the owner of the subject property had gone to the neighbors and offered the land to them, and had they known this, they would have purchased the property. Mrs. DeGross stated the buffer area was essentially the wetland, and with the current development in Mounds View, they have already taken so many wetlands from Mounds View. She requested the Council carefully consider their vote upon this matter. She reiterated she was not aware of the Environmental Protection Agency's involvement in this matter, and she was very concerned. Mayor Coughlin stated the Council is not dealing with wetlands. He clarified this consideration pertains to the buffer, and it is within the City's purview to set the amount of buffer area. He explained that Mounds View's wetland buffer, at 100-feet, is actually quite large compared to most cities in the Metropolitan area, and this is simply a buffer zone to highlight the fact that there is a wetland in the area. He reiterated that the land in question is not a wetland, and the Council Members, as they have indicated on many occasions, are very sympathetic to the wetland issue. Council Member Quick advised the buffer is primarily an area which provides another layer of scrutiny over the property, and its primary function is to provide the City further opportunity to scrutinize any development in the area. He stated he was not aware of any loss of wetlands in the City within the last 15 years. He added that with the Rice Creek Watershed District regulations, and other laws that have come down, if anything, the wetlands have increased. He noted since he has been on the Council, the City either controls, or has purchased through different means, a large portion of the wetlands, therefore, they are in public hands. Council Member Marty inquired if this property was not also discussed in the spring of the year, and another applicant had wanted to construct a driveway, however, that request was denied because through the paving of the driveway it would become a City street. Mayor Coughlin explained that the land was not as well delineated at that time, and there was some question as to where the buffer zone was located. Council Member Marty inquired if the delineation was current, and being performed by John Hammerschmidt. Planning Associate Ericson stated the delineation before the Council was current as of September or October. He pointed out this was not Mr. Hammerschmidt's project, which would be a reflection of the entire watershed area, which will look at the boundaries and the buffer for north and south of new Highway 10. Ayes—4 Nays— 1 (Marty) Motion carried. F. Approval of Amendment to City Attorney Retainer and Non-Retainer Agreement. City Administrator Whiting stated staff spent some time with City Attorneys Bob Long and Scott Riggs during the last several weeks attempting to address some issues related to retainer and