HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1970/05/11PROCEEDINGS OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL
VILLAGE OF MOUNDS VIEW
RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA
May 11, 1970
The Regular Meeting of the Mounds View Village Council was called
Mayor Rustad at H:00 P.M. on Monday, May 11, 1970, at the Village
Highway #10, St. Paul, Minnesota 55112.
to order by
Hall, 2401
Present: Also Present:
Mayor Rustad Clerk- Administrator Zylla
Councilman Malvin Attorney Meyers
Councilman Hodges Engineer Boehm
Councilman Blanchard
Councilman Neisen
MSP (Blanchard /Hodges) To approve the minutes of April 27, 1970. 5 Ayes
Mayor Rustad's Report
Mayor Rustad read the Police Report for April
Mayor Rustad also read a letter from Fire Chief Fagerstrom in which he recommended
the deletion of the requirement that smoke and heat detectors be required in single
family and mobile homes.
MSP (Rustad /Neisen) To authorize Attorney Meyers to prepare the deletion to
Ordinance #174 Fire Ordinance. 5 Ayes
Mayor Rustad anmaunced that there will be a tentative burning ban in effect
July 1, 1970.
MSP (Hodges /Malvin) To approve the final plat for East Oaks Addition and to
authorize Clerk- Administrator Zylla to sign. 5 Ayes
Clerk- Administrator Zylla's Report
MSP (Blanchard /Hodges) To approve Resolution #481 apportioning the assessments
on Division #41341.
MSP (Rustad /Malvin) To approve Resolution #482 apportiuiin,, the assessments
on Division #41634.
MSP (Malvin /Neisen) 'lo approve Resolution #483 apportioning the assessments
on Division #41402.
MSP (Rustad /Hodges) To approve Resolution #484 a nportinninc the assessments
on Division #41602.
MSP (Neisen /Blanchard) To approve Resolution #485 apportioning the assessments
on Division #41390.
5 Ayes
5 Ayes
5 Ayes
5 Ayes
5 Ayes
MSP (Blanchard/Hod To approve Resolution °'t86 apportioning the assessments
on Division #41722, 5 Ayes
MSP (Rustad /Malvin) To approve the following licenses: General Contractor
Dependablre Excavating Co., Inc., Park Masonry Company, Lumber King Company,
Twin City Apartment Dev. Inc., M. J. Arndt Construction Co., Mid States Estates;
and Cabaret Launching Pad Supper Club.
MSP (Malvin /Hodges) To approve the following bills General Check 46's 4138 -4167,
WS- MINN -45 (1968- 3 Check #'s 001 -008 with the exception of the final estimate
for Layne Minnesota, check 46 007 and Payroll Check #'s 1445 -1463. Total
disbursements $137,217.33.
Councilman Hodges stated that on April 28th there was a meeting with Brauer
Associates, the firm which is connected with park planning and that henceforth
the park planning meetings will be held the fourth Tuesday of every month.
Councilman Hodges also stated that trees were delivered this week and that the
Camp Fire Girls are planting trees tonight in the park.
Attorney Meyers' Report
Attorney Meyers stated that he had notified Ery Herbst of the Council's request
for Mr. Herbst to contact the school district regarding the street along the
East edge of the Edgewood School property.
Attorney Meyers also presented a memorandum on the Watson property.
Engineer Boehm's Report
2
MSP (Malvin /Blanchard) To approve change order #1 for Schedule E Well #5
Project 1968 -3 WS- MINN -45 decreasing the contract by $14,245 and increasing
the contract by $13,761 making a net deduct of $46[:,
MSP (Blanchard /Malvin) To approve the final estimate for Schedule E Well #5
Project 1968 -3 Check #007 to Layne Minnesota in the amount of $8,833.60, to
enter into a one year warranty period and to withhold payment until approval
is received from HUD.
Councilman Hodges stated that he felt that the community should get a committee
together to contact Ramsey County in regard to placing an ice arena in the
northern suburbs.
Mayor Rustad declared a recess at 8:32 P.M.
Rezoning hearing called to order by Mayor Rustad at 9:00 P.M.
Clerk Administrator Zylla read the legal notice and attested to its publication
in the New Brighton Bulletin on April 30th and May ith.
Legal Description: The N 1/2 of the N 1/2 of the NW 1/5 of Section 5, Township
30, Range 23 Ramsey County, and The S 1/2 of the N 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 5,
Township 30, Range 23 Ramsey County.
Mayor Rustad stated the procedure that would he fidlowed in d-ct1ng this
hearing.
5 Ayes
5 Ayes
5 Ayes
5 Ayes
3
Mr. John Miller, developer, then presented a 15 minute film entitled "The
Promise of Tomorrow" which was viewed by the entire audience of approximately
250 persons.
Arthur Schnuerle, petitioner, tacked on the bulletin board a copy of the poster
that was circulated by a citizen group regarding the hearing for the mobile home
park. Mr. Schnuerle commented on the layout of the artwork and expressed his
resentment for whoever it was that conceived it.
John Miller, petitioner, introduced Mr. Stroberg of the Mobile Home Housing
Association. Mr. Stroberg entered into an approximately 20 minute slide
presentation of mobile homes equating the cost of housing with what a person
can afford in the 1970's. Mr. Stroberg stressed that people were an asset
to a community.
John Miller entered into an explanation of his intentions with the property.
He felt that the property now is good for nothing, that a water table was
approximately one foot off the top and that nothing in fact would be built
on the land. He referred to an article in the St. Paul Dispatch a number of
years ago which referred to the area in question as a burning bog because of
its high density of peat. He asked whether he was going to be able to do
something with the property or if it was going to be left to lay. He felt
that he could only be denied on a basis of health, safety and welfare and that
under present conditions there was no health, safety and welfare which was
being endangered by a proposed park. He referred to the Centennial Squares
Mobile Home Park in which he was a partner, as one of the nicest or maybe the
best mobile home parks in the metropolitan area.
Mr. Miller explained the potential revenue from the mobile home park. Sewer
connection charges $200.00 each at 900 units $180,000, annual sewer user
charge $27,000, taxes per pad amounting to an approximate $130 and the
personal property tax on the mobile home itself approximately $175. In
addition rebates from shared taxes amounting to approximately $25,000 per
year. Mr. Miller felt it was an economic advantage to bring people into
the Village and he concluded his presentation at 10:03 P.M.
Mayor Rustad called for questions from the floor.
Robert Glazer, 2375 Hillview Road, made a 15 minute presentation in opposition
to the proposed rezoning. He drew attention to the other parks in the Village
on a large map and he stressed the cost of education and the number of children
in the three present parks. Mr. Glazer stressed the planning aspect of the
mobile home park, he discussed apartment saturation, 1959 planning report,
population burdens, burden on utility system, police and fire protection,
traffic, drainage, shopping area and inquired into the progress of the Mounds
View industrial profile. He also questioned the developers lack of detailed
plans for the project. Mr. Glazer felt that this area in question should be
devoted to a municipal golf course.
Mr. Berube, 7923 Greenfield, stated that the mobile home depreciated from 10i
to 4!'7 in six years which in fact meant that while contributing a certain amount
at 10'7 to the cost of education per child at the end of six years the amount
contributed was approximatelv 50Z of the original amount.
4
Harold Bisset, 2204 Lois Drive, inquired as to barriers or buffer zones.
Mayor Austad stated that the highway would serve as a !'jffer zone.
Mr. Miller stated that an additional buffer zone of trees or shrubs surrounding
the park would be provided.
Harold Hjelle, 5161 Red Oak Drive, asked if not the property was zoned light
industrial now. He stated that since it was, any business could not put kids
in the school district and if there was 80 to 100 acres removed from the
industrial zoning it would be adding more kids per acre to our school district.
William Werner, 2101 Sherwood Road, inquired about screening.
Carol Baumgartner, 7585 Knollwood Drive, inquired into the back taxes and if
the owner could not be required to pay these taxes.
Ray Faricy, Watson Construction Company attorney, owner of the property stated
that back taxes totalled approximately $40,000, that the majority of this was
back assessments, that only approximately $2,000 was back taxes. Mr. Faricy
stated that with the soil being what it was and the high water table he felt
that the owners would not be paying any taxes on the property since it was not
usable. He stated that the payment of the back taxes and assessments is to be
picked up by the purchaser according to their purchase agreement if the rezoning
is approved.
Ray Gifford, 2256 Lois Drive, asked the building inspector if in fact the
Village would approve a building permit for a mobile home park. Mr. Gifford
also suggested that the land be used for a golf course.
Mrs. Haake, 1740 County Road 1, felt that it wou1- be cheaper to have a golf
course on that piece of property than to have the additional burden of added
school children in the district.
Gerry Foss, 8455 Spring Lake Road, asked Mr. Faricy if anyone had approached
the owner for building light industrial. Mr. Faricy said there was no offer;
that in his estimation there was at least six feet of peat at the minimum.
Richard Paradise, 5091 Eastwood Drive, stated that it would be possible to
pile only under the building if it was built on peat, that it would not be
necessary to dredge out all the peat for the parking area. He felt that since
we were on the edge of the metropolitan area we would get industry if we were
patient.
Ronald Goodroad, 7901 Eastwood Drive, stated that if the airport goes through
we will get at least a trucking industry in the area.
James Nerdahl, 7941 Edgewood Drive, inquired if people were an asset and if
traffic was a problem how we could have both. He stated that the picture of
the peat bog showed by Mr. Miller was over a year old.
Mr. Bayerkohler, 5095 Sunnyside, stated that the health,safety and welfare of
residents was endangered by the additional taxes placed on the property by the
school children.
5
Mrs. Pangburn, 5299 Clifton, stated that they may be nice developments at the
beginning but the owners do not keep the mobile home parks up.
Mrs. Glidden, 2266 Oakwood Drive, asked Mr. Faricy if they were planning on
paying anymore taxes. Mr. Farley stated that in his opinion they would
probably let the land forfeit rather than pay the taxes.
Andy DeGross, 8123 Woodlawn Drive, asked why the Village could not take the
property back. Mayor Rustad stated that it could possibly come back to the
Village if the taxes weren't paid.
Mr. Wiedewitsch, 5351 Raymond, asked where the kids would go to school. He
stated that his children are now already bussed away to a different school
farther away because of the additional kids from the mobile home parks.
Mr. Ames, 2271 Knoll Drive, asked if there was a water problem, and if there
was, would the state pay for the drainage. He felt that a mobile home would
cost more than a house in the long run.
Mr. Goodroad asked the life expectancy of a mobile home. Mr. Schnuerle stated
that they have some used trailers which are approximately 10 years old.
Mr. Anderson, 7913 Greenfield, stated that all you have to do is to look north
of us at a bad school situation, the Centennial School District. He felt that
all this development would do would be subsidizing the dealers.
Mr. Baumgartner, 7585 Knollwood Drive, stated that he would like to thank
publicly Mr. Glazer for the work that had gone on. He stated that he was
partly responsible for the poster that was circulated and he felt that it
accomplished what they set out to do, get people out to the hearing.
Mr. Stroberg stated that there are means to control the amount of school age
children. He also mentioned a new HUD program in which the federal government
would be paying approximately 357 of the rent for mobile home park dwellers.
Mr. Glazer stated that it was not possible at this time to compare single
family with mobile homes. The rezoning was a matter of mobile home versus
light industrial.
Mr. Nelson, 2745 Sherwood Road, stated that he could not take one city such as
Albert Lea and compare it to another as Mr. Stroberg had done in his on -inal
presentation.
Mr. Hillsdale, 6951 Knollwood Drive, asked how the Council felt on the proposal.
Gerald Blanski, 1881 Woodale Drive, asked, a number of single family homes that
were constructed last year and if the permits were up or down.
Mr. Miller requested that any Council decision be postponed on the matter for
two weeks.
Mayor Rustad stated that there would be no postponement. That in fact if the
proposal was denied he would appoint a committee to approach the owners on the
feasibility of a golf course.
6
Mr. Miller summarized his presentation on the advantages of the mobile home
park in the additional revenues which it would bring in.
Councilman Neisen staled that he has worked with the Industrial Development
Committee and the 621 Growth Committee and at the present time there is no
land registered with the State Industrial Development Commission in the 621
School District. He felt that we can get industry out her in a few years.
Councilman Hodges stated that you see good and bad mobile home parks and he
was aware of the new building concepts, but there is not much land left for
industry in Mounds View. He sympathized with the owners because he realized
that it took money to develop land, but he felt that if the people in the
audience were against the proposal that he would go along and vote against
the proposal. He commented on the fine job of presentation by the petitioners.
Councilman Malvin stated that he could not s.e where the Village could get
$100,000 easier than with this proposal. He also commented that the Police
report no more trouble with mobile home dwellers than with single family
residents.
Councilman Blanchard stated that for the record there would probably be no
water shortage in Mounds View again with or without the parksince we are
drilling four new wells. He also commented on the fire hazard, mentioning
the fires which took a couple lives in the Mounds View Mobile Home Park this
year. He stated that we also have tragic fires in single family homes. He
also commented on the large attendance at the Council meeting and hoped that
people could turn out at other Council meetings.
Mayor Rustad stated that he was proud of the way the people of Mounds View
conducted themselves as citizens at the hearing.
Councilman Malvin stated that as long as he was a Councilman for the Village
he is through with trailer courts.
Mayor Rustad closed the hearing at 11:17 P.M.
MSP (Blanchard /Neisen) To deny the rezoning as petitioned. 5 Ayes
The following committee was appointed to study the feasibility of a golf course
and to contact the owner regarding the sale of his property for this use:
Robert Glazer, 2375 Hillview Road; Ray Gifford, 2256 Lois Drive; Ronald Goodroad,
7901 Eastwood Road; Carl Wilson 2186 Lambert Avenue; Joan Lochli, 2651 Sherwood
Road; and Ambrose DeGross, 8123 Woodlawn Drive.
MSP (Rustad /Malvin) To pay the expenses of Councilman Blanchard and Councilman
Neisen to the League of Minnesota Municipalities Convention to be held in Duluth
on June 10, 11, and 12.
MSP (Blanchard /Neisen) To adjourn at 11:22 P.M. 5 Ayes
Reppectfully Submitted,
Dennis S. Zy
1 er K-Admi ilistrator
5 Ayes