2020.03.16 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for March 16, 2020 Page 6 of 8 discussion on locating the Public Works facility there. Residents had concerns about lighting, noise, access, loss of trees and rural character, and the future use of the park property if a Public works facility was built there. Bear explained that the proposed new facility building would be approximately 60,000 square feet in size at a cost just shy of $9 million. Additional cost would be $905,000 for site improvements, $150,000 for salt storage, and non-construction costs of $873,000 that would include the preparation of plans and specifications. Bear explained that at the workshops and meetings, there was also discussions on the future use of the current building and the possibility of it being used by the White Bear Lake School District. He talked about how COVID-19 was impacting discussions at the school district and delaying action on bills in the legislature that proposed sales tax exemption for the construction of a new building. The next step would be to authorize preparation of building plans and specifications if the Council was comfortable with that direction. Klein talked about how he understood the concerns he heard at the neighborhood meeting, and said overall, he heard no total objections. He said the site would accommodate future expansion, and it made sense to be able to do so, but the City needed to be good neighbors. He said he would support this. Miron said he agreed with Klein’s assessment of the neighborhood meeting. He said some of the neighbors want ed more specifications regarding connections and access points, and he questioned whether the plans would help address those concerns and provide more information. Bear explained preparation of plans would take several months, and t he s ite plan would be developed simultaneously. There would be a point to check back in with the neighborhood, though he was unsure how meetings would be held in the coming month (due to the coronavirus). Weidt stated he believed it was the most prudent plan for building a project that would be expandable in the future. He said it was money well spent for the City, its Citizens, and future taxpayers. He supported moving forward with the design. Weidt made motion, Klein seconded, to authorize preparation of the building plans and specifications. Ayes: Klein, Miron, Petryk, Haas, Weidt. Motion carried. The Meadows at Hugo Sketch Plan, Golden Valley Land Company Community Development Assistant Emily Weber presented to Council the Meadows at Hugo Sketch Plan. Golden Valley Land Company had applied for sketch plan review and a potential PUD to develop vacant land located in the area north of 159th Street and east of the city’s north water tower. The land is relatively flat and has some restrictions due to wetlands on the property. The property is zoned Future Urban Service, and guided as Medium Density Residential in the Comprehensive Plan. The Parks Commission considered the site plan at their March 20, 2019, meeting and the Planning Commission reviewed the plan at their March 28, 2019, meeting. The