Minutes - 2001/05/29 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council May 29, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 5 Council Member Thomas clarified that she finds it very difficult to use the word misunderstanding. She noted that when she first brought the tree issue up to Ms. Gay she had told Ms. Gay that a resident had talked to her about the trees to be removed. She noted that she was aware of the plans before the Planning Commission and had specifically phrased her question to ask if any trees would be removed. Council Member Thomas then stated that Ms. Gay had said that the north parking lot had been reconfigured and no trees would be lost. Council Member Thomas indicated she did not feel that was a misunderstanding but a misrepresentation on the part of Ms. Gay. She then stated that Council approved the plans that were presented and, as Council did not have the removals plan and Ms. Gay stated there would be no trees removed, Ms. Gay had proceeded with a plan that was not approved by Council. Ms. Gay stated that, in a conversation that she had she was under the understanding that no trees would be removed. She stated that was her mistake. She then noted that, when she said there would be no net loss of trees she assumed that that would cover it and assumed that they could go ahead with the project. Council Member Thomas asked how the developer felt it appropriate to remove eleven (11) adult trees and replace them with baby trees. Council Member Marty clarified that the plan presented to Council indicated that no trees would be removed. Council Member Thomas stated that Ms. Gay should have brought new plans to Council for approval because the plan approved indicated there were no trees to be removed. Ms. Gay indicated she had submitted drawings to the City with the removals shown prior to that meeting. Community Development Director Ericson indicated that the plans that were given to Council prior to action on the matter did not include a removals plan. He stated it is very possible the City had received the removals plan by that meeting but stated he is not sure. He stated that Staff bears some of the responsibility as when the initial plans were given to Council he should have gone through page by page and verified that the removals plan was with that set of plans. He then stated that, if that had been done, these matters would have been addressed at that meeting. Council Member Thomas stated that the purpose of her question at that meeting was to clarify what, if any, trees would be removed because she was aware of the removals plan before the Planning Commission. She then noted that, regardless of whether the removals plan was in packets, Council did not approve a plan that allowed for tree removal. Ms. Gay stated that once she realized a mistake had been made she offered to come to Council and explain and was not given any real direction in that regard. She then asked how Council . wished to proceed at this point.