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Page 7 April 27, 1998 Mounds View City Council 1 VOTE ON ORIGINAL MOTION: 2 3 Quick/Stigney to continue the Public Hearing on May 11, 1998. 4 5 VOTE: 2 ayes 2 nays(Koopmeiners/McCarty) Motion Fails 6 7 Mayor McCarty opened the Public Hearing at 7:42 p.m. 8 9 Carol Arel,7750 Greenwood Drive,presented a petition containing almost 200 signatures in opposition to 10 the project and to the re-zoning of residential property for commercial use. She noted that there will be 11 many residents affected by the rezoning of the property by an increase in traffic, safety concerns and 12 property value issues. She noted that the Planning Commission made a recommendation to the City 13 Council based on what they"think"the new comprehensive plan will include in part. She personally 14 spoke with Dick Thompson at Metropolitan Council and he indicated that the Planning Commission is not 15 allowed to consider in this decision what the new comprehensive plan might be. The amendment request 16 therefore needs to be considered based on the current comprehensive plan. She has read the city's current 17 comprehensive plan and it states that residential development is and will continue to be the primary type of 18 land use development within the community and that low density,single family neighborhoods are to be 19 preserved. She does not feel that a development of this type is a preservation of residential areas. Ms. 20 Arel noted goals contained in the comprehensive plan which she feels are in direct opposition to this type 21 of development. In regard to traffic,the only traffic study that they have seen to date, indicates a 40% 22 increase in traffic daily on Greenwood Drive to over 750 cars. Critical portions of this project have fallen 23 apart and she wonders why it has continued. 24 25 Other concerns expressed by Ms.Arel included the possibility of a 24-hour pharmacy at Wallgreens, the 26 fact that the project size is less than five acres(city code 1120.03)which is in direct violation of code,the 27 proposal does not fit into the current code requirements,and that many residents did not receive copies of 28 the notice of Public Hearing. She also stated a concern about developers trying to pressure residents into 29 supporting the project. She asked that the Council consider what is best for the residents of Mounds 30 View. 31 32 Kathy Piche',2204 Lois Drive,stated that for some residents their dream homes are being changed by this 33 development. She personally will not be directly affected however she has concerns as it very well could 34 be her neighborhood. She asked that the Council consider leaving the residential neighborhoods as they 35 are and to continue to provide the sense of privacy and security that each citizen deserves. 36 37 Janet Wilcox,7815 Eastwood Road,noted that the developer of the townhome project in the area has 38 shown some interest in this particular parcel of land. She is concerned that he may come in with a proposal 39 for the corner if this development is not approved. Residents feel they basically have a choice between a 40 drugstore at the end of the street or more townhomes. She feels this may be why the Council has not heard 41 from very many residents on Eastwood. The proposal does not paint Mounds View as a family-friendly 42 place. 43 44 Jodi Johnson,7870 Greenwood Drive,stated she is appalled at how the council and staff have been 45 working with this development plan. Residents have indicated their opposition since the beginning and 46 she feels proceeding with the project is a blatant disregard for the residents'feelings. 47