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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 25, 1997 • Page 3 1 proposal. After long discussion, the Planning Commission voted to deny recommendation of 2 the request by a 3-2 vote. The Commission felt that single family housing in this area would 3 be more viable to the community, they questioned how aggressively the single family lots 4 were marketed, and one member suggested the City extend Silver Point Park into this area. 5 Councilmember Marks stated he had attended the Planning Commission meeting and he felt 6 the vote to recommend disapproval was based on the desire to have single family housing on 7 this property. He noted there had been an effort to sell this property as single family lots and 8 it had failed. He acknowledged the Commission's desire to extend the Park but noted this 9 was not something the City had considered doing. 10 Larry Beach, Beach Construction, explained Paul Redlinger had the property listed as single 11 family homes for one year and had no interested parties. Mr. Beach stated he felt townhomes 12 would work well in this location because the owners would be mostly older people without 13 children who would not mind being on a busy street. Single level townhomes are in great 14 demand at this time and Mr. Beach felt residents of St. Anthony would purchase these 15 townhomes and would remain in St. Anthony. Mr. Beach stated he had built a similar 16 townhome development in MoundsView and residents of St. Anthony had visited the site and 17 asked if a similar development could be built in St. Anthony. He stated he felt this was the 18 best use of the property and two units were already tentatively sold. IR9 Wagner noted there was no street parking in this area and asked if any consideration had been 20 given for additional parking areas. 21 Mr. Beach stated he was willing to provide additional parking if there was room on the site. 22 He noted there would be horseshoe driveways on Highway 88 which would allow additional 23 parking. The driveways on 29th Avenue would include a turn-around which would also 24 provide additional parking area. 25 Councilmember Faust asked if the lot coverage had been calculated. Commissioner 26 Delmonico stated the proposal met the lot coverage requirements. 27 Councilmember Enrooth stated extension of Silver Point Park may be the best use of the 28 property but there was not funding available. He noted that single family homes pose a 29 problem in this location. He stated concern that if this request was denied, the area may stay 30 in its present condition for an indefinite period of time and still result in some type of 31 townhouse development at a later date. 32 Mr. Beach noted this proposal would include the removal of the two buildings on the property 33 which do not meet any of the City's Codes. 34 Faust stated he felt townhomes were logical for this location. They would also generate a 05 larger tax base.