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Mounds View City Council December 10, 2001 <br />Regular Meeting Page 7 <br />______________________________________________________________________________ <br />noted that Mr. Harstad had made his request to Rice Creek Watershed District and had been <br />approved pending receipt of title documents. <br /> <br />Director Ericson indicated that the variance would allow 11 lots versus the eight lots that would <br />be allowed by Code. <br /> <br />Director Ericson commented that Staff feels that there is sufficient justification to approve the <br />variance, however, given the sensitive nature of the property Staff would stop short of <br />wholeheartedly saying the variance should be approved. <br /> <br />Acting Mayor Stigney opened the public hearing at 7:50 p.m. <br /> <br />Martin Harstad addressed Council and indicated he was there representing his father, Keith <br />Harstad, who owns the property and has owned the property for the better part of 30 years. Mr. <br />Harstad indicated that the local governing unit that governs wetland conservation has given its <br />approval of the project. He also indicated that the Army Corp of Engineers as well as the <br />Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources, the DNR, and Ramsey Soil and Water <br />Conservation District were notified and none of these agencies has expressed any concern with <br />the proposed development. <br /> <br />Mr. Harstad indicated that, if the property did not have the wetlands, he would be able to get <br />approximately 30 lots developed. <br /> <br />Mr. Harstad indicated that the neighbors have suggested that the property is in a flood zone and <br />that the houses will sink. He then indicated that soil correction issues would be handled prior to <br />the first house being built because he has no interest in building a house or selling a lot to have a <br />house built on where it would sink. He also indicated that the FEMA map does not show any of <br />the lots proposed on Longview Drive as being in a flood zone. <br /> <br />Mr. Harstad indicated he was not denying the fact that there are wetlands on the property but <br />noted there are seven (7) acres and the wetlands have been delineated and a formula used for <br />filling them. <br /> <br />Mr. Harstad indicated that tree preservation is important and explained that the watershed uses a <br />formula for filling the wetland of two to one but noted he had asked to stop a little short of the <br />two to one in favor of leaving an outlot to be dedicated to the City in order to save as many trees <br />on the site as possible. <br /> <br />Mr. Harstad indicated there would be no development on the Silver Lake Road portion due to the <br />proposed deed restriction and said, if he were to propose lots on both sides, all the trees would be <br />wiped out. <br /> <br />Mr. Harstad indicated that the lots he has proposed are in line with the lots across the street and <br />noted that the utilities for 10 of the lots are already installed in anticipation of development. <br /> <br />Mr. Harstad expressed a willingness to address resident questions or comments.