6. PCSR 03-08-2006
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Item #
6_
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Planning Commission
Scott Harlicker, Senior Planner A'
FROM:
DATE:
March 28, 2006
SUBJECT:
Update Liberty Heights Estates of Elk River (Holzem Property)
Overview
The applicant is currently completing the Environmental Assessment Worksheet. Providing
the applicant completes the EA W process, the project is tentatively scheduled for the May
Planning Commission meeting. On January 9th the applicant met with the Council and
discussed the proposed concept plan (minutes and plan attached). The plan included single
family residential lots, 254 lots at or exceeding 11,310 sf. and 215 lots at or exceeding 8,460
sf. A 30 to 40 acre parcel was proposed for a future school site and to meet park dedication
requirements. The consensus of the Council was to allow two distinct lot sizes with an
absolute minimum of 9,750 sf. and the average across the development of at least 11,000 sf.
The applicant has not submitted revised plans reflecting the consensus of the Council.
City Council Minutes
January 9, 2006
Page 5
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Community Development Director explained past discussions of this property, of the
Council's desire for the land use to be for single-family residential and not townhouses, of
the conceptual plan for bringing approximately 260 acres into the City's Urban Services
District including a rezoning to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Zoning District, the
developer deeding a 30 to 40 acre parcel to the City to be used in the future for school use
and the developer meeting normal park dedication requitements, in this case of land and
cash.
He explained that at this time, the Engineering Department is in the process of securing
right-of-way for CR 40 and a significant length of the road follows along the west property
line. If this property was brought into the Urban Services District, properties immediately to
the south would also be processed at the same time to be brought into the Urban Services
District.
Mr. Clark stated that discussion was needed on the maximum number of units acceptable
. and lot sizes. At this time the preliminary plat illustrates 254 lots at or exceeding 11,310 sq.
ft. and 215 lots at or exceeding 8,450 sq. ft. He stated that the Park and Recreation
Commission is recommending accepting the park location and size on the condition that
there is a trail adjacent to and completely encircling the wetland area and the remainder in
cash dedication.
Bob Wiegert of Paramount Engineering & Design reviewed the revised concept plan
regarding enhancing and meeting the wetlands requirements, discussions of location of a'
school, and location of the park.
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Ed Dulak, representing Meridian Development, distributed i1;lformation regarding K
Hovnanian Homes. Mr. Dulak stated that these 2,000 to 3,000 sq. ft. homes will fit on a 65
ft. lot and that the market is showing interest in this size home on a smaller lot.
Mr. Dulak explained that it is proposed to preserve 4+ acres of woodland site, enhance the
40 acre wetland, to loop the wetland with the trail system tying it in with the sidewalk
system, that CR40 right-of-way is to be dedicated to the City, that the City will receive the
road fee from Mr. Dulak, and to have smaller lot sizes with single-family homes with double
garages.
Councilmember Motin expressed concerns of the impact on the water system stating that
there is more density here than elsewhere in the City; and that he likes the ability of the
School District to be able to have a junior high and an elementary in the same area.
Councilmember Dietz stated that in the past Mr. Dulak said he could do this project on
14,000 sq. ft. lots and still donate the land for the school. Councilmember Dietz would like
to see the School District's long-range plan for a middle school and whether it is needed and
to have in a contract with the School District that if this land is not developed with a school
in a certain time period that the land should go back to the City for parkland. He feels this
preliminary plat has too many lots; Mr. Dulak wants this to be rezoned to PUD, and
questioning what does the City get in exchange.
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Mr. Dulak stated that the market is not seeing the need for 14,000 sq. ft. lots now and that
the trend is becoming smaller square foot lots even though people still want a large home.
He suggested redoing at 7,500 across the board.
City Council.Minutes
January 9, 2006
Page 6
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Discussion followed on having mixed sizes of 65 sq. ft. and 85 sq. ft. lots and that the size of
Orrin Thompson's lots across the street are 75 sq. ft.
Councilmember Motin stated that he feels we're getting into postage stamp size lots and that
11,000 sq. ft. makes sense. He stated that we need to look at a minimum lot size of 11,000
sq. ft. with keeping of the land dedicated for the school and park in this plan.
Mayor Klinzing stated that a cluster development allows 11,000 sq. ft.
Councilmember Dietz stated that he is willing to compromise and to have an average of
11,000 sq. ft. minimum with the park land and school land remaining and negotiation for
road fees.
It was the consensus of the Council to allow two distinct lot sizes with variation of the look
and that the absolute minimum lot size is 9,750 square foot with the lot size average across
the entire development of at least 11,000 sq. ft.
5.8.
Cable TV Service Areas
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Government Access Cable Producer Kristin Thomas provided information regarding the
possibility of extending cable service to the Windsor Park, Ridges of Rice Lake, and Rolling
Hills developments within the City. Under the current franchise agreement, Charter
Communications is required at their cost, to extend service to areas with a density of at least
nine residential units per one-quarter cable mile of System, as measured from the nearest'
Cable System trunk line or distribution cable as of the date of such request for service.
Cable is not obligated to assume the total cost to extend service to areas which do not meet
this requirement. However, the City, residents, and Charter Communications can negotiate
a shared ,cost for extension of senlce areas not meeting the requirement but desiring service.
Ms. Thomas also provided information on four Internet providers available.
It was the consensus of the Council that they did not wish to cost share with Charter
Communications to extend cable service to these areas.
5.9. Personnel Issues
A. Personnel Committee Pay Plan Structure Discussion
City Administrator Johnson stated that the Personnel Committee consisting of Bruce West,
Lauren Wipper, Joan Schmidt, Dave Potvin, who recently bowed out of this committee, and
herself have been struggling to place the new division head positions and new department
head positions into the existing pay plan. The City's current play plan originally developed in
1995 and revised in 1999, structurally does not allow balancing the internal structure for all
of these new and realigned positions. The Personnel Committee is asking permission to
review and update the structure of the pay plan for the purpose of regaining and maintaining
internal balance. She stated that the Committee is suggesting hiring on an hourly basis the
Stanton Group Consultants to aid in this process.
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MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TOGO OUT FOR PROPOSALS AND AS
PART OF THIS PROCESS TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE SO WE DON'ThHAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
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