6.7. SR 08-17-1998ity of
MEMORANDUM
Item # 6. ?.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor and City Council
Scott Harlicker, Planning Assistan~
August 17, 1998
Request by Dynamics Design and
Land Company for Preliminary
Plat Approval (Barsody Hills), Public
Hearing Case No. P 98-2
Request
Consider a request to amend a previously approved preliminary plat of 92
acres into 8 single family lots to 92 acres into 4 single family lots.
Location
North side of County Road 21 and 217th Avenue alignment
Zoning/Land Use
A1 (Agricultural Conservation) ME (Mineral Extraction Overlay) /A
(Agricultural)
Attachments
· Location map
Original preliminary plat
· Proposed amended preliminary plat
Overview
On July 20th the City Council approved a preliminary plat for Barsody Hills.
The plat included subdividing 92 acres into 8 single family lots. There is an
existing farmstead and a single family home on the property. On the original
plat the farm was included on a 30 acre parcel and the single family home
was on a 12 acre parcel. The remaining 6 lots ranged in size from 4 acres to
10 acres. Access to the lots was provided by a cul de sac with a proposed
right-of-way extending to the west boundary of the plat.
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
Memo to Mayor and City Council/P 98-2
August 17, 1998
Page 2
The proposed changes include reducing the number of lots from 8 to 4,
shortening the length of the cu de sac and there is no proposed extension of
the right-of-way. On the amended plat, the farmstead is on a 70 acre lot and
the single family home is on a 10 acre parcel. There are two lots available for
development. The opportunity exists for a replating of the largest lot should
the zoning code change to allow smaller lots. At that time the road would
likely be extended to the edge of the plat or possibly looped through the
property back to County Road 21.
Background
Physical characteristics
The site has been mined. Characteristics of the site include wetlands, some
flat areas that were part of the floor of the gravel mine, sloped areas that are
a result of the reclamation process and wooded areas that have not been
mined. The topography rises 60 feet from the west to the east; the west being
the area that has been mined and the east area not affected by the gravel
mining.
The property is within the Mineral Extraction Overlay District; a gravel
mining operation has been an ongoing process for many years. The mining on
the majority of the property is finished and is in the process of going through
the reclamation process. Some small scale gravel mining will continue in the
southwest corner of the plat on the 70 acre parcel. However, access to the
area that will be mined will be offof County Road 21 through the 70 acre lot.
Mining traffic will not go through the subdivision. Once the mining is
finished the area will go through the reclamation process.
Lot Size and Access
The lot sizes for the four lots are Lot 1 - 5.9 acres, Lot 2 - 3.2 acres, Lot 3 - 10
acres and Lot 4 - 70 acres. All of the lots will have frontage on the proposed
cul de sac with lots I through 3 having access from the cul de sac and lot 4
utilizing an existing driveway on County Road 21.
There is one 14,700 square foot outlot included with this plat. It is located on
the south side of lot 4. It will be made part of an adjacent lot, not included as
part of this plat, that is owned by the applicant.
The proposed cul de sac is about 900 feet long. The subdivision regulations
allow a maximum length of 700 feet. The longer cul de sac is needed to
provide adequate frontage for the 70 acre parcel and to allow for enough
\\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\planning\scott\p98-2acc.doc
Memo to Mayor and City CounciYP 98-2
August 17, 1998
Page 3
frontage for a possible 5th lot at the end of the cul de sac. At the present time
3 lots will have driveways on the cul de sac.
Grading and Drainage
The City Engineer is reviewing the grading and drainage plan and will be
available to answer questions.
Planning Commission Meetin~
At the Planning Commission meeting held on July 28th, no one spoke at the
public hearing. The Commission's discussion centered on what to do with a
narrow strip of land along the south side of the cul de sac. The Commission
was concerned that the adjacent property owner to the south would not be
able to access the street because of the narrow strip of land separating the
street from the adjacent property. The Commission requested the right-of-
way for the street be adjusted so the property owner to the south would be
able to access the proposed street.
Recommendation
The Planning Commission recommended the City Council approve this
preliminary plat request by Dynamics Design Inc. to subdivide 92 acres into
4 single family lots with the following conditions:
A developers agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the plat
approval and necessary road construction be prepared and executed prior
to releasing the plat for recording.
2. All the comments of the City Engineer be addressed.
3. A letter of credit in the amount of 100% of the cost of public improvements
be provided prior to releasing the plat for recording.
A surety bond in the amount of 25% be provided to the City upon
completing public improvements for a one year period to guarantee
quality of work.
5. Surface water management fee in the amount of $275.32 be paid prior to
releasing the plat for recording.
6. Park dedication fee in the amount of $1300.00 be paid prior to releasing
the plat for recording.
\\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\planning\scott\p98-2acc.doc
Memo to Mayor and City Council/P 98-2
August 17, 1998
Page 4
7. A seal coating fee to be determined by the City Engineer paid prior to
releasing the plat for recording.
8. Streetlights be provided per Elk River Utilities recommendation.
9. Applicant shall obtain all necessary permits prior to any wetland
disturbance.
10. Outlot A be combined with the adjacent parcel to the south.
11. Modification of the plat allow the adjacent property owner to the south
east access to the cul de sac.
\\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\planning\scott\p98.2acc.doc
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LOCATION
MAP
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LEGEND
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Items 6.8 - 6.10
Howard R, Green Company
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
August 13, 1998J-
File: 800111J-0240
CONSlITI~G BIIIN[~IS
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: TROTT BROOK FARMS
Dear Council members:
Since the August 3, 1998 City Council meeting, when Trott BrOok Farms was first presented to
the City Council, several meetings have been held with the Developer and other staff members
to resolve the few remaining issues. This memo will briefly summarize the discussion regarding
these various issues.
A. Southwest Townhouse Area Density
The one major issue at the last City Council presentation was the density of the
townhouse development in the southwest corner of the plat. The original presentation
by the Developer to the Planning Commission showed 156 townhouse units in this area.
Staff had recommended a reduction of 12 units to the Planning Commission. The
Planning Commission increased that number to 20 units with their recommendation to
the City Council. Both staff and the City Council thought that a significant reduction
should occur in Block 2, which is the block containing all back-to-back units. The
Developer has revised his plan to show a total number of units of 142 in this area. That
is a reduction of 14 units, slightly over the staff recommendation, but under the Planning
Commission recommendation.
Block 2 in the southwest townhouse area originally had 62 units, made up of seven 8-
plexes and one 6-plex. The revised plan shows 43 units in this block, a reduction of 19
total units. The Developer has accomplished this by intermixing back-to-back units and
row housing units. The total mix is currently four 8-plexes, two row houses consisting of
4 units each, and one row house consisting of 3 units. Since the total reduction in this
area is 14 units, and the reduction in Block 2 is 19 units, the number of units around the
perimeter has increased by 5 units. Staff believes that this revised plan meets the goals
of the Planning Commission and City staff, and would recommend approval.
One issue that needs clarification has arisen, based on our discussions with the
Developer's engineers. Currently, all townhouse units throughout the development are
shown as 2-story buildings. If the Developer were to change any of the row housing
units to single-stow units, the mass of the building would increase drastically. In fact, a
4-unit, 2-stow row house, if it were converted to a 4-unit, single-stow row house, would
have the same footprint as a back-to-back 8-plex. Obviously, converting any or all row
housing to single story from the 2-story plan shown would drastically decrease the
O:\PROJ\80011 lj\0240\111-1301 .aug.doc
1326 Energy Park Drive · St. Paul, MN 55108 · 612/644-4389 fax 612/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389
City of Elk River
August 13, 1998
Page 2
amount of green space. Therefore, staff recommends an additional condition, which
would hold the mass of the townhouse units as shown in the current plan. In other
words, if any of the 2-story row houses were changed to single-story units, they would
have to be accompanied with a similar reduction in back-to-back units, thereby keeping
the total mass of building footprint in the townhouse area the same.
B. Outlot F
The Developer has indicated his desire to retain ownership of Outlot F, in the northeast
corner of the plat. City Council will remember that the original proposal had been that
the Developer would donate this large wetland complex along with the small amount of
upland area to be used as a passive park. However, the Park and Recreation
Commission had indicated that no park credit would be given for this donation. The
Developer has rethought his position on this issue, and has indicated that he would
prefer to retain ownership of Outlot F. City staff believes this is an acceptable position
by the Developer.
C. Watermain Issues
On August 10th, a meeting was held with the Developer, his engineers, Bruce West, Fire
Chief, and Bryan Adams, General Manager of the Elk River Municipal Utilities, to discuss
various watermain issues. At that meeting, a consensus was reached as to how
watermain in the cul-de-sacs would be looped. A resolution to the 40-foot utility
easement requirement in rear and side Iotline areas and a resolution to the overall
looping of watermain through development for fire flow purposes were also reached.
D. Utility Extensions
City Attorney Peter Beck will be at Monday evening's City Council meeting to discuss
with the City Council the issue of providing sanitary sewer and water service to this
development, relative to the approval of the preliminary plat.
City staff will be available Monday evening to present these various issues and answer
questions on any other issues that the City Council or public may have.
If you have any specific questions or information you would like available Monday evening,
please call.
Sincerely,
Howard R. Green Company
Terry J. M~drer, P.E.
TJM/st
Howard R, Green Company
O:\PROJ\800111j\0240\111-1301.aug.doc CONSULTING ENGINEERS
ORDINANCE 98-__
CITY OF ELK RIVER
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
CITY OF ELK RIVER ZONING MAP TO REZONE CERTAIN
PROPERTY FROM R1C (SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL) AND R1E
(SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL) TO
PUD (PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT)
CASE NO. ZC 97-1
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as
follows:
Section 1. The duly adopted Zoning Map of the City of Elk River is
hereby amended to rezone the property described as:
See Attached Exhibit A
Section 2. The rezoning is being approved based on the following
findings:
Recently approved changes to the road network have improved
transportation to warrant a rezoning.
A planned unit development allows a comprehensive review of
developing the property.
The rezoning will be consistent with the City's Comprehensive
Plan.
A planned unit development allows for flexibility in subdivision
design.
Section 3. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force
from and after the date of its publication.
Passed and adopted this
of the City of Elk River.
day of August, 1998 by the City Council
ATTEST:
Henry A. Duitsman, Mayor
Sandra A. Peine, City Clerk
f:\shrdoc\document\ordinanc\zc97-1.doc
EXHIBIT A
LEGAL DESCRIPTION
PARCEL 1:
The Southeest Ouorter of the Northwest Quarter of Section ..TS, Township $5, Range 26
and the South Half of the Northeast Ouarter of Section 35, Township ,T~, Range 26,
according to the United States Government Survey thereof and situote in Sherburne
Count~ Minnesota.
~ARCEL 2:
The West Half of the Southeast Ouorter; the East Half of the Southwest' Quarter and the
East 10 rods of the West Half of the Southwest Ouorter, in Section $5, Township
:Range 26, according to the United States Government Survey thereof and situate in
~Sherburne County, Minnesota.
EXCEPT THE FOLLOF4NG:
That part of the above described I,~ng southwested, y of' County State Aid Highway No.
A" tract 'of land in the Southwest Quarter of Section 55, Township 5~, Range 26, descnT)ed
as follows:.. Beginning 1667.9 feet East of the' Southwest corner of said Section and
along-the-.So~th line of Section;' 'thedce-beoring 'North 50 degrees ,~9 minutes 'west 'along--
the'center//ne of a rood a distance of 6,~5.0 feet to the point of beginning; thence .'-
North $9'degrees 2I minutes East a distance of' l$$.0'feet; thence North 50 degrees 39 . -
minutes :West~.o distance of' 75.0 feet; thence South ,T9 degrees 21 minutes west o distance.-.
of 15~0 feet;'~ thence South 50 degrees $9 minutes East and along the center//ne of said. '
road o distance of 75.0 feet to the point of beginning, excepting $$.0 feet parallel to
the centerilne of.said road being road right-~of-wa~. ....
That part Of"~e~'OOove described East Half 'ofl the SOuthwest Ouorter one the East 10 rods
of the West H~lf".of= the Southwest. Quarter des'cnT)ed as follows: CommenCing at the '
intersection'of.the~tangent to the centerline of County State Aid Highway N~ 12 and the"
South line'of ~'aid So'uthwest Ouarte'r a distanc· of 955.58 feet west of the Southeos~ "" '
comer thereof;, thence North 50 degrees 40 minutes West along said centerline of Highway
570.58 feet to the actual'point of b~ginning of'the land to be described; thence North ·
$9 degrees 20 minuteS, east o distance of I65 feeC thence North O/degree 17 minutes East
a distance of 56,T.21~:ifeet,· thence North 89 degrees4$ minutes West to the West line of
said East 10 rods of 'the West Half'of. the Southwest Ouorteq thence South~ along said .
West line to the Highway centerEne;.'thence South-50 degrees 40 minutes East along said
centerline to the point of beginning.
PARCEL ,7:
The East Half of the Southeast Quarter in Section JS, Township JJ, Range 26, according
to the United States Government Survey thereof and situate in Sherburne Count,v,
Minnesota.