Laserfiche WebLink
Thomas and Teresa Sorensen July 6, 2021 <br />5049 124th St Ct N <br />White Bear Lake, MN 55110 <br />Gromit618@aol.com <br />651-261-5997 <br /> <br />Good afternoon Council Member Petryk, <br /> <br />My name is Teresa Sorensen. I live with my husband Tom at 5049 124th St Ct N. We have resided at our <br />Hugo home since 1987, when we were drawn here by the rural setting and the spacious one acre lots. <br />We recently received notice of a planning commission hearing on July 8th on the proposed development <br />adjacent to our south property line named the Acres of Bald Eagle and we would like to share some <br />concerns: <br />First and foremost, Tom and I are frustrated with the fact that we are unable to voice our concerns <br />about the project to the city staff or to the developer. The city staff has directed us to appeal to the <br />developer and the developer refuses to speak with us about the project. <br />When we moved into our home, the previous owner of the proposed development land had planted a <br />buffer of white pine along the property line and left the land in a natural setting. Tom and I enhanced <br />the buffer by planting many trees on our property boarder as well as throughout our entire yard. Over <br />the years, and after much expense and hard work, we have managed to turn a former corn field into a <br />treed lot offering us a lovely private setting. We do not want this development to endanger the buffer <br />we have worked so hard to achieve. <br />Initially the developer stated they were intending to live in the development and wished to preserve as <br />much of the natural environment as possible. Given the hard work we have done to preserve the <br />natural rural setting, we were very happy to hear that. However, the developers must have had a <br />change of heart as the grading plan they are proposing will eliminate most all of the trees on the <br />property (as shown on the Tree Inventory and Removal Map, including 40 year old white pines the <br />previous owner planted) as well as compromising the trees on the neighboring properties. To protect <br />the trees on our property and the beautiful pines and oaks along the property lines, we would like the <br />developer to be directed to leave a wider buffer along the north and east property lines of the <br />development than what is shown on the current grading plan and the Tree Inventory and Removal Map. <br />This would be of mutual benefit to the existing home owners and new home owners and is in line with a <br />recommendation from the city engineers. <br />Another one of our concerns is the style of houses in the proposal: Thirty five foot high walk-outs. It <br />seems to us that the intense grading and tree removal is due to the developer’s desire to offer walk-out <br />lots. This large style of home is not in keeping with the surrounding homes and will tower over <br />neighboring ramblers and split entry homes. Please urge the developer to reconsider the grading plan <br />to open up the opportunity to build ramblers and single story homes rather than the current plan <br />designed specifically for looming two plus story homes. <br />Finally, the proposed drainage method shown in the grading plan includes a moat ditch system, which <br />will drain and funnel into a “pond” located along the development’s north property line within sight of