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Mounds View Planning Commission January 16, 2019 Regular Meeting Page 7 ________________________________________________________________________ complex be accessed from Mounds View Boulevard and that the traffic not be directed through an existing residential neighborhood. Community Development Director Sevald stated he anticipated a great deal of apartment traffic would use the Edgewood entrance. He discussed the access guidelines that the County had in place for Mounds View Boulevard and explained the site would have to be accessed off of Greenfield Avenue and Edgewood Drive. Mr. McCullo asked why the developer was seeking so many apartment units. He feared the City was trying to put too many people into a small area. Chair Stevenson indicated this may be a financial issue for the developer. Commissioner Monn questioned if the City could be supplied with data to better understand the current apartment market and unit vacancy rates. Community Development Director Sevald reported the vacancy rate was only 1% to 1.5% in Mounds View at this time. He indicated the market study completed by the developer could be provided to the Commission for further review. Commissioner Klander inquired if the fire department had required two entrance points to this building. Mr. Illies stated the recommendation was to have a cul-de-sac or hammerhead at Greenfield Avenue to allow fire trucks to turn around. However, another alternative was to have Greenfield Avenue run through the project. Ken Glidden, 5240 Edgewood Drive, expressed concern with the amount of traffic that would be flowing onto Edgewood Drive from the apartment complex. He reported Edgewood Drive already had heavy amounts of traffic, especially during the start and end of the school day. He feared the apartment complex would create an overwhelming situation for traffic along Edgewood Drive. He recommended the City pursue an access point onto Mounds View Boulevard. Bren Kingle, 5297 Edgewood Drive, explained she has lived in her home for the past six years and this was her first home. She reported she views her home as an investment and had concerns with how her property value would be impacted by the proposed apartment building. She indicated there was already a great deal of traffic along Edgewood Drive, both vehicles and pedestrians. She feared how her neighborhood would be impacted when additional cars were on this roadway in the morning and evening hours. She recommended the City pursue an entrance or exit onto Highway 10. She stated she anticipated crime in her neighborhood would increase after the apartment complex was built. Pat Leary, 5250 O’Connell Drive, expressed concern with the fact the City was proposing to cram 200 people and 200 cars onto four acres of land. He commented on how much traffic this apartment building would generate. He questioned why the City needed more people, given the fact its schools were already maxed out.