Agenda Packets - 2011/11/07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No: 1 Meeting Date: Nov 7, 2011 Type of Business: Work Session City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: James Ericson, City Administrator Item Title/Subject: Review Red Oak Estates Townhome Development Introduction: The City has been receiving complaints regarding the mounds of dirt that remain on the site of the Red Oak Estates Townhome development, located at the southwest corner of Long Lake Road and County Road H2. In addition to complaints about their unsightly appearance and weed growth, complaints have been filed regarding erosion control and silt collecting on the private internal driveways. Discussion: Staff understands that the mounds of dirt were intended to remain in place during the construction of the townhomes on a temporary “staging” basis, representing topsoil to be used on the Red Oak Estates site as well as the future Longview Estates subdivision on Silver Lake Road. Unfortunately, before the topsoil could be utilized, the housing bubble burst, the foreclosure crisis took hold and the great recession intervened, all of which had the effect of halting projects such as Red Oak Estates and Longview Estates. As a result, the mounds of dirt have sat idle for the last two years. Thirty-eight of the development’s seventy-two units have been constructed, with the last units completed in July of 2009. The mounds of dirt on the property can be considered a violation of both the City’s Nuisance Code (Chapter 607) as well as its Erosion Control Regulations (Chapter 1303, specifically, “Construction and Land Disturbance Run-Off Control.”) In addition to the requirement that no person shall permit weeds or grass to grow to heights in excess of eight inches, the Nuisance Code further states in Section 607.03, Subd 3f., that "Property in a residential district not seeded, sodded or otherwise planted with a ground cover more than two hundred forty (240) days after any disturbance to the property caused by construction, grading, or other activity; or any time prior to the two hundred forty (240) days if the property is causing erosion or drainage problems on the same or nearby properties, including the public streets" shall be considered a public nuisance. Actions: The City has notified the property owner previously about the weed growth and we understand that Rice Creek Watershed District has been out to review the property regarding erosion control measures. This last week, the Fire Marshal delivered a letter to the owner in response to complaints about parking and drive-aisle widths, requiring that the internal driveways be maintained at the requisite width and that “No Parking” signs be erected to help maintain such clearance.