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Mounds View City Council April 10, 2006 <br />Regular Meeting Page 7 <br /> <br />absolutely clean and not have smell and/or drips. He stated a main concern of the residents of 1 <br />Townsedge Terrace is what may happen to the value of their homes if this project is approved. 2 <br /> 3 <br />Jim Clark, 2152 Buckingham Lane, Townsedge Terrace, stated he is very concerned over the 4 <br />situation as he is raising his family in Townsedge Terrace. He stressed that he is very afraid of 5 <br />the health risks and will vacate the area if the project is approved. He stated in reading the 6 <br />application for the conditional use permit and the approval, it talked about the use of 7 <br />pharmaceuticals and the oil refinery in the area. He commented that he did not see where the 8 <br />sewage end fit into that category. He stated it also indicated in the permit that the property value 9 <br />is of no consequence to the surrounding area, and stressed that it is a big consequence to him 10 <br />because he lives there. He stated property values will go down if the project is approved. He 11 <br />noted there have been improvements made to the mobile home park over the years. 12 <br /> 13 <br />Mr. Clark questioned the possible pollution of Rice Creek. He stated the priority of Rice Creek 14 <br />Watershed District is that it is a natural filter of all the water in the area, and if that were to get 15 <br />polluted, it feeds all of the water tables in the area. He stated it does empty into the Mississippi 16 <br />River just above the intake ducts of Minneapolis and St. Paul. He stated if there were a spillage, 17 <br />it could be a catastrophe for many more people than just the residents of Mounds View. 18 <br /> 19 <br />Mr. Clark asked what benefit the people of Mounds View will gain from the project. He stated 20 <br />he can see the benefit for Mounds View by increasing the property tax on the motel site, but there 21 <br />would be a decrease in property tax revenue from the people that leave the mobile home park. 22 <br />He indicated he pays approximately $1,400 in property tax per year and believes it is a significant 23 <br />amount to the City when all 230 homes are taken into consideration. 24 <br /> 25 <br />Mr. Clark presented a petition signed by 170 residents of Townsedge Terrace that are against the 26 <br />proposal. He stated that the notification by Star Environmental only went about one block into 27 <br />the trailer park and only 62 homes were notified. 28 <br /> 29 <br />Shirley Dougherty, 2153 Buckingham Lane, Townsedge Terrace, stated that she worked on 30 <br />creating the Rice Creek Watershed District 40 years ago. She stated it is different than all of the 31 <br />other watershed districts in the State of Minnesota. She indicated it was put in place to protect an 32 <br />urban creek or watershed that would feel tremendous pressure as upstream development 33 <br />occurred. She stressed that Rice Creek is a very environmentally sensitive area. She explained 34 <br />that the way Rice Creek comes in is that the fresh water inlet that is across a narrow strip from 35 <br />the outlet. She indicated the lake does not get the normal turnover with an inlet and outlet like in 36 <br />a regular lake system. She stated actions have taken place to make sure the open space will 37 <br />protect the lake. 38 <br /> 39 <br />Ms. Dougherty stated that if there was a spill directly into the Rice Creek system, it would 40 <br />significantly affect Long Lake. She wondered if this project got an environmental assessment or 41 <br />review. She stated that it is not just an environmentally sensitive area, but there is also a 42 <br />hazardous product involved. She also wondered if an annual review would be required. 43 <br /> 44 <br />Mayor Marty stated that the report and the resolution do not state that any assessment has been 45