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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-27-1992 • MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 27, 1992 7:30 P.M. SPECIAL AGENDA SESSION 1 . Continued Discussion of Development Request of Harstad Companies (Greenfield Estates), Planning Case No. 333-91 • MEMORANDUM 411 TO: PLANNING COMMISSION FROM: PAUL HARRINGTON, PLANNER ?. DATE: May 26, 1992 SUBJECT: SPECIAL AGENDA SESSION As was decided at the last regular Planning Commission meeting, a special agenda session will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 1992 at 7 :30 p.m. This meeting will allow the Commission to formulate a resolution for consideration at the June 3, 1992 Planning Commission meeting regarding the proposed Greenfield Estates development. Also, the attached letter was submitted by a Mounds View resident and is provided for your information. • • Bill , Cherie and Lauren Wilson 2396 Pinewood Circle N.E. • Mounds View, Minnesota 55112 Home: (612) 784-7145 Work: (612) 298-6247 May 23 , 1992 Mounds View City Counsel Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10 Mounds View, Minnesota 55112 Dear City Counsel Members : You will soon receive from the Mounds View Planning Commission ; the Commissions findings and recommendation regarding the proposed development request by Harstad Companies . Harstad Companies desires to build single family homes on the property located east of Edgewood Drive , north of County Road I , south of Hillview Road and east of St . Michael street . This property is well defined in the City of Mounds View wetlands ordinance and is a necessary part of flood control , water quality and wildlife management for the area . I have attended two of the Mounds View Planning Commissions • meetings where Harstad Companies has presented there proposed development . As a suggestion I would recommend that the City Counsel accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission . I make this suggestion without knowing the Planning Commission ' s final recommendation to the City Counsel . The Planning Commission has demonstrated a high level of professionalism and knowledge of housing developments at the two meetings I attended . I believe that every member of the Planning Commission has Mounds Views ' best interest at heart and that the Planning Commission will make the best decision possible regarding the proposed development . As a personal opinion ; I can not agree with the re-drawing - - - . . ordinance allows for some development of the property around the wetland and the Mounds View Planning Commission has been very responsible when allowing land usage within the 100 foot buffer area around the wetlands ; the proposed development is founded on a loop hole in the ordinance . The "no net loss of wetland area" portion of the wetland ordinance was (I believe ) intended to guard the wetland areas as they now exist . ( I purchased my house believing that the wetland boundaries were well identified and that the boundaries had some value . ) The literal moving of the wetland area , from where they now stand to another area of the same size does not guard the wetlands . Instead it makes wetlands a commodity that can be packaged and transported at will . I do not believe that the wetland ordinance was written with the intention that large land owners could redraw the wetland boundaries . 110 A important contingent of the Harstad Companies proposal is to move the "fill" that sits at the end of Edgewood Drive . I do not know who placed the "fill" into the wetland area or how long it has been there but the fact that someone has dumped this much "fill" into the wetland area shows a low regard for wetlands in general and disregard for the rights of the land owners & land users around the wetland . Somehow allowing this "fill" to be moved again ( to gain a "filled" lot) seems to reward the previous uncivil action . There are three lots that really do gain my concern . These are the lot at block 4 , on the northwest end of Edgewood Drive and Pinewood Circle , the lot at block 3 at the south end of the proposed Edgewood cul de sac , and the lot at block 2 on the south end of the proposed Edgewood cul de sac . These lots will be "filled" lots . Homes on these lots will be built on property where the wetlands now exist . This simply does not sound like a good idea . Citizens who have spoken at the Mounds View Planning Commission have indicated that they have experienced problems from just this type of property. On the other lots the homes will sit on what is presently high ground, the lots will be filled to meet the City of Mounds View codes regarding minimum space . While the other lots do impact the wetland area directly, at least only the yards will sit on the existing wetland and not the homes . I am a single interest group . The Mounds View Planning III Commission is working for the best interest of the Community, as a whole , and they are doing a great job . They have to say NO to someone with their recommendation . I am confident that the Mounds View Planning Commission will say no to the Harstad Companies use of the loop hole in our laws and regulations if they feel that the loop hole will be put to a unjust use . It is always the intent of the law that we as citizens need to comply with . The letter of the law sometimes allows the intent of the law to be abandoned . The Planning Commission has a hard task and the members receive little reward . I appreciate their hard work and their willingness to be Sincerely, /5,(2,11.1 ()\,DAr.„—_ Bill Wilson 7cc . Mounds View Planning Commission . .