Agenda Packets - 2010/08/23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council August 9, 2010 Regular Meeting Page 6 buildability of the site. The Commission did not feel the applicant met the criteria for a hardship. 1 In addition, all neighbors at the meeting were opposed to the variance request. 2 3 Council Member Gunn expressed concern with the encroachment into the wetland on the site 4 plan. She felt there was a great deal of wetland alteration that would have to take place to build 5 homes on this property. 6 7 Council Member Stigney stated the City requires single family lots in wetland districts to be 125 8 feet wide and 20,000 square feet in area. These criteria have not been met within the submitted 9 site plan. He did not feel the hardship discussed this evening was not pertinent as what happened 10 back in 1966 did not apply to the rules and regulations that must be applied today. 11 12 Mayor Flaherty indicated development regulations today have changed since 1970. He 13 questioned why the site was not previously developed when 15 lots were approved by the City. 14 Mr. Harstad reviewed the detailed history of the lot stating he and the City were in litigation over 15 another parcel that was being developed and the Longview Estates property never was developed 16 due to the downturn in the housing market. 17 18 Mayor Flaherty questioned if the water table would be disturbed with this development. Mr. 19 Harstad indicated the placing of the foundations in this wetland district would not disrupt the 20 water table. He explained the engineers would review this issue thoroughly before the 21 development occurred. 22 23 Mayor Flaherty asked how the applicant would proceed if the variance were approved. Mr. 24 Harstad indicated if the variance were approved he would forego seeking 15 lots within 25 Longview Estates. City Administrator Ericson stated the City could require a parcel of land be 26 dedicated to the City or that an easement be recorded to assure that no further development 27 occurred. Mr. Harstad explained he would be in favor of a conservation easement along Silver 28 Lake Road. 29 30 Mayor Flaherty understood the property owner had the right to develop the property however, he 31 was concerned with the density. Mr. Harstad explained the proposed lot size within a wetland 32 district was 20,000 square feet and the proposed lots were almost 30,000 square feet. The homes 33 would not be extremely dense within this development. He indicated the variance requested was 34 for lot width from the 125 foot minimum requirement. Mr. Harstad explained the current plan 35 has less wetland fill and more mitigation area, which has gained a great deal of support from the 36 watershed district. 37 38 Mayor Flaherty wanted to be assured that the City could protect the green space along Silver 39 Lake Road. City Administrator Ericson stated this could be done added with a condition for 40 approval. 41 42 Council Member Stigney reiterated that he 125 lot width requirement was not being met within 43 this development. He indicated he would not support the plans as submitted. 44 45