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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-05-19 Joint Board MIN Stillwater City and Township Joint Board May 19, 1999 Present Stillwater Township: Supervisor David Johnson, Supervisor Louise Bergeron, Attorney Tom Scott and Planner Meg McMonigal City of Stillwater: Councilmember Eric Thole, Councilmember Terry Zoller, Attorney David Magnuson, Community Development Director Steve Russell Chairman David Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Adoption of agenda: Ms. Bergeron, seconded by Mr. Zoller, moved approval of the agenda as presented; all in favor. Approval of minutes: Mr. Zoller, seconded by Ms. Bergeron, moved approval of the minutes of April 14, 1999; all in favor. Case No. CPA/99-1 Case No. ZAM/99-1 Case No. PUD/99-8 Case No. SUB/99-9 It was agreed to consider all four cases together. Mr. Johnson opened the public hearing. Mr. Russell gave a brief overview of the project which consists of 142 townhome units on a 28 acre parcel of the Bergmann property east of County Road 15 and north of 62nd Street. Dan Herbst of Pemton Land Company and Tom Hart, counsel for Ryland Homes, presented testimony. Mr. Herbst noted that the proposed development is consistent with the AUAR and that the developers had followed the requirements of the Orderly Annexation Agreement. He noted the property could be developed without changing the density, resulting in 84 or 85 single- family homes with a 2.8 acre park. Mr. Herbst provided a marketing handout which profiled potential buyers and a handout which provided a comparison between a single-family development and a townhome development. The comparison, he noted, indicates the benefits of allowing the requested increased density. Some benefits highlighted were: less impervious surface, less number of buildings and linear feet of streets, 7.4 acres of park dedication versus 2.8 acres, a slight increase in population estimate, fewer children and perhaps a slight decrease in the amount of traffic generated. Mr. Hart asked members to look at the numbers presented in Mr. Herbst's handout if there are objections focusing on density to ascertain what there is about density that directly affects the public health/safety/welfare of residents. Ed Otis, 12070 N. 87th St. Cr., Stillwater Township, asked that the Joint Board stick to the vision of the Orderly Annexation Agreement and the city's Comprehensive Plan. He provided copies of a letter and his written comments/concerns which he read into the record. 1 Stillwater City and Township Joint Board May 19, 1999 Mr. Johnson asked Ms. McMonigal to review the Township's actions. It was noted that in April, the Township Planning Commission met and reviewed the proposed development materials and recommended denial of the Comprehensive Plan change; the Town Board also voted to deny the request. During a second review of the plan, the developers were present, and again the Planning Commission recommended denial as did the Town Board. The Town Board then directed its Joint Board members to vote to deny the request. Ms. McMonigal said some concerns indicated in the Township Planning Commission's motion to deny are that the proposal is inconsistent with the city and town's Comprehensive Plans, the Orderly Annexation Agreement, AUAR and Stillwater Open Space Committee report; and that the Gadient Woods is not part of the development and should be considered as part of the proposal. Mr. Thole noted that the city's Open Space Committee had, in fact, approved the proposal. Mr. Johnson said the Town Board's motion was simply to direct the Joint Board members to vote against the proposal as inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan, and, according to the Orderly Annexation Agreement, changes (in density) are not anticipated. Dick Huelsmann, 12610 62nd St., asked the Joint Board to stick to the promises made in the agreement that resulted in the whole area being annexed. He noted the city had just approved 80+ townhomes at the east end of 62nd Street. He said he is "early in the game" and not appropriate that the Comprehensive Plan be changed with every development request. Mr. Hart stated his objection to the fact that the first time the Township Planning Commission voted to deny the request the developers were not invited to be present. Mr. Johnson closed the public hearing at 8:20 p.m. and brought the discussion back to the Board. Mr. Zoller asked if the Township had ever changed its Comprehensive Plan. He noted that the proposal had worked its way through the Planning Commission, Park Board and Open Space Committee, all of which favored the proposal. He noted there is documentation that refers to saving the Gadient Woods and this is one way of doing that. We (the city) were reacting to the concerns of the people when we considered this,he said. Mr. Zoller, seconded by Mr. Thole, moved approval of CPA/99-1. Mr. Johnson noted his vote reflected the direction of the Town Board. He said, his personal reaction is that he views the proposal favorably and is disappointed in the way things played out. He said he felt the Township's reaction may be the result of not being included in the process as much as it could or should have been. Motion to approve failed 2-2, Mr. Zoller and Mr. Thole voting in favor, Mr. Johnson and Ms. Bergeron voting against. Mr. Thole, seconded by Mr. Zoller,moved approval of ZAM/99-1. Motion failed 2-2, Mr. Zoller and Mr. Thole voting in favor, Mr. Johnson and Ms. Bergeron voting against. 2 Stillwater City and Township Joint Board May 19, 1999 Mr. Thole, seconded by Mr. Zoller, moved approval of PUD/99-8. Motion failed 2-2, Mr. Zoller and Mr. Thole voting in favor,Mr. Johnson and Ms. Bergeron voting against. Mr. Thole, seconded by Mr. Zoller, moved approval of SUB/99-9. Motion failed 2-2, Mr. Zoller and Mr. Thole voting in favor,Mr. Johnson and Ms. Bergeron voting against. Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Baker Recording Secretary 3