2007.09.27 PC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning Commission Minutes — September 27, 2007 Page 3 Schumann added that to be put in a trust, the trust company would have to accept the land. Hoffbeck said the City should require it be in a trust. She questioned the 80 and 100 foot setbacks. The CDD clarified the ordinance required an 80 foot setback between the houses to accomplish the goal of seeming less dense and a 100 foot setback around the perimeter of the development. Hoffbeck said there were no impact studies done for traffic, population, land protection, noise, lights, garbage, sewage, drainage, the strain on the fire department, police department, and schools or the health, safety and welfare of the community. It was also taking away from the rural character. The recalled a conversation with someone at the Met Council who indicated Hugo was to be taking in 15 percent of the future County population, and trusts would protect land for future development. She also said Hugo could end up with disjointed little parks with no bathroom facilities or parking. Yvonne Stoner, 8520 140th Street North, said she would like to see the ordinance abolished but understood the need to plan for future development. She asked if any thought had been given to zoning with smaller lots to the west and larger lot to the east. She thought common drives would be contentious with neighbors, and urban and rural uses could be conflicting. Jim Bever, 7131, 132nd Street North, said six units per forty acres would not work; it is not economically feasible. He said eight lots would not be enough, and ten lots would be good. He agreed that something needed to be done to preserve the open space and a land trust would be a good way to guarantee it was preserved as rural open space. To divide forty acres into eight lots would only create mini estates. More lots were needed to make it economically feasible. Mike McAllister, 13829 Isleton Avenue North, said he recalled from the last public hearing there were more people against the ordinance than for it, and most did not get the opportunity to testify. He said Oneka Township once permitted smaller lots. An owner of a five acre parcel would pay the full tax rate on five acres. Conservation easements in perpetuity would not happen. Five acre lot subdivisions have been successful, and he strongly suggested staying away from private streets. He also questioned what agricultural uses were. He said western Hugo was created by PUDs, and the Rural and Open Space ordinance should eliminate the PUD to eliminate the flexibility. He suggested postcards be mailed out again to let people know what the City finally intended to do. Wendy Maxwell, 9674 152nd Street North, said many neighbors have a lot of acreage that adjoined her land, and she asked who determined who was allowed to develop and who was not. She asked if there was a set number of homes allowed in the rural area. McRoberts asked why the west side of Hugo should absorb all the density and the best you could do was control it by ordinances. Maxwell suggested sending out a survey to get some feedback. McRoberts said the City should not be accused of not trying to solicit public input.