Minutes - 2001/12/10 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mounds View City Council Regular Meeting December 10, 2001 Page 8 Mr. Harstad indicated that the lots he has proposed are in line with the lots across the street and noted that the utilities for 10 of the lots are already installed in anticipation of development. Mr. Harstad expressed a willingness to address resident questions or comments. Pete Severson of 5172 Longview Drive indicated he has lived there for 15 years and explained that there is a dip in Silver Lake Road in the area being proposed for development which indicates to him that it is a swamp. He noted there have been many problems in that area. He also noted that he did not feel the buffer along Silver Lake Road would provide a buffer for residents and expressed concern for the removal of the trees along Longview Drive. He further indicated that he did not have a water issue because he is higher than adjoining properties but stated others in the area do have a water issue because the area is very swampy. Mr. Severson commented that when Mr. Harstad purchased the property it was swamp land and it still is swamp land. He then indicated it is interesting that Mr. Harstad is only interested in selling lots, not building on them and he said he wonders why. Barbara Koziak of 5173 Red Oak Drive indicated that she purchased her property in May of 1973 and was told the area was a preserved wetland and nobody would build there. She indicated she has walked several of her dogs past the area and it is a swamp. She also noted that the street slopes to the wetland and noted that the deer and ducks need the wetland to survive. Ms. Koziak expressed her concern for digging out the wetland and putting in soil that does not absorb water along with adding impervious surfaces to the wetland because she feels that will create a significant water issue in the area. Ms. Koziak indicated that she likes the trees on the site and noted that, while she is not pleased with the tree removal, it would not affect the value of her property but water in the basement would. Dave Tillman of 5166 Longview Drive indicated that he lives on the east side and his basement floor is a foot above street level and he has a sump pump that runs. He also noted that he is sitting on sand and they are speaking of peat soil. Mr. Tillman indicated that this is not a single variance but a request to vary the entire block. He then noted that he assumed that when he purchased his property the City would uphold the Codes in place because he feels varying from those Codes detracts from his property. Vern Larson of 2760 Wooddale Drive indicated that the entire area slopes downhill to the wetland and there are deer and ducks in the wetland. He also indicated that since he is in the lowest area he would end up with the water problems if the matter is not properly handled. Pete Severson indicated that Mr. Carson's house was built without a basement due to the water table.