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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.c. Minutes of September 15, 2004 Work Sessionir ITEM# 6 C ROSEMOUNT CITY - PROCEEDINGS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 15, 2004 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a City Council Special Work Session was held on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 6:49 p.m. at the Rosemount Community Center, 13885 South Robert Trail. The meeting was held following the special City Council meeting. Mayor Droste called the meeting to order with Council Members Strayton, Riley, Shoe - Corrigan and DeBettignies present. Also present were City Administrator Verbrugge, Community Development Director Lindquist, City Engineer Brotzler, Parks and Recreation Director Schultz and Communications Coordinator Cox. Land Use Change Community Development Director Lindquist requested discussion on the GlenRose of Rosemount project, a residential town home project, which requires a comprehensive guide plan amendment. This site, across from the Rosemount Community Center, east of Highway 3, is zoned Public/Institutional. It was commercial prior to that zoning and had a lumber business there. St. Joseph's Church had purchased that land which is adjacent to their cemetery. The Church decided to move to a site at Connemara Trail and Biscayne Avenue and so no longer needed the property which had been rezoned for their use. In 1991 the Parks and Recreation Commission recommended the land be purchased to extend Erickson Park which borders the east side of the site. The City Council at that time did not purchase the land. The Comprehensive Guide Plan had guided the site to PI, so in 2002 the City rezoned the property due to the ownership of the Church. Staff believes that town homes are a better compromise than a commercial business because less traffic is generated. Discussion ensued regarding the difficulty in placing a frontage road to access Connemara Trail from the site. Dakota County requires 300 feet distance from an intersection for access. A right turn in lane would be needed. The left turn in may cause some stacking of traffic. Parks & Recreation Director Schultz noted that again in 2002 the Parks & Recreation Commission recommended purchasing the site; however, there were no funds available. City Administrator Verbrugge noted that PI zoning would allow other uses exist such as hospitals, clinics, and schools. Community Development Director Lindquist noted that diverting the traffic to Brazil Avenue is not a good safety move due to the lack of visibility at the access onto 145 Street West next to the railroad tracks. Council Member DeBettignies noted that many tournaments are held at Erickson Park without traffic problems at Brazil Avenue. City Administrator Verbrugge pointed out that a multi - residential development would fit the Metropolitan Council's community housing goals. Gary Mitchell, Parish Administrator for St. Joseph Church, noted his frustration with the process. Mitchell had contacted the Parks and Recreation Director twice and was told the funding was not available for the City to purchase the property. Dean Johnson has been willing to work with the Church and the City to develop the property. Mr. Johnson has invested his funds in the town home project and would like to begin building. John Berg, of Houck Associates, representing Dean Johnson reported that multi - residential makes the best buffer next to high traffic areas. Berg noted that the topography of that site would be expensive to grade for ballfields or hockey rinks. Berg said that park activities ,would apply the heaviest traffic at peak hours. Traffic in residential areas is spread out during the day. Berg discussed walkways over Highway 3 or a tunnel under it. Berg stated his belief that both are expensive and have safety issues. 1 P# ROSEMOUNT CITY PROCEEDINGS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 15, 2004 City Engineer Brotzler noted that Highway 3 is on preserve status, which means MnDOT will not widen it but will only maintain the roadway. Council Member Riley noted she was not convinced that residential is the best use of this land because it is at the entrance to the City. Council Member DeBettignies said the developer has a good plan and this would bring residents closer to the downtown area for retail businesses. DeBettignies noted this discussion was necessary due to the history of this site. DeBettignies would like to see the Church be able to move ahead with their plans. Mayor Droste and Council Member Strayton expressed concerns for long -range plans. Community Development Director Lindquist was directed to present this to City Council on the October 5ch City Council agenda providing both an approval and a denial option. Asphalt Plant and Mineral Extraction Community Development Director Lindquist directed the question to City Council if zoning should allow asphalt plants in mining areas. Asphalt plants are allowed in Industrial zoned areas. A recent zoning ordinance amendment requires a percentage of building square footage with industrial use. Building space is not required to operate an asphalt plant. Council may consider an amendment to the zoning ordinance or the use of an Interim Use Permit (IUP). An IUP would give a timeline to the asphalt plant, although extensions could be requested. If zoning is changed and a mining expansion is requested, the City, because of State restrictions, would not control an end date. Joe Jacoby of Pine Bend Paving noted that his mining operation has not received any complaints from the public and that his business needs to expand. Council Member Shoe - Corrigan noted that this mining area is east of the MUSA line and that sewer capacity would likely not be built out for ten to twenty years. Council consensus indicated denying the zoning ordinance amendment and starting over with a new Interim Use Permit in the General Industrial districts. Mayor Droste moved for a ten - minute break. The meeting was resumed at 8:42 p.m. 42/52 Study Area Discussion City Administrator Verbrugge updated Council on the land use issues surrounding the 42/52 Study Group. A new interchange is planned in this location, but with the potential for siting the Air Cargo facility south of this interchange and a recent inquiry of a trucking firm looking to locate at the southeast quadrant, staff is suggesting a moratorium. Staff would recommend a 12- month study with public meetings to decide zoning designations. This may include zoning text amendments on land use definitions. Council Member Strayton asked for the City Attorney's opinion on the definition of Public /Institutional zoning. Staff will gather more information. 2 0 ROSEMOUNT CITY PROCEEDINGS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 15, 2004 Commercial Land Use Change Community Development Director Lindquist noted that a large commercial retailer may be interested in property on County Road 42 west of Biscayne Avenue next to the railroad on the west end of the property. The transportation regulations of Dakota County would require a frontage road to Biscayne Avenue rather than another access on CR 42. A rezoning would be recommended to change the zoning of the entire property frontage on CR 42 to commercial. Council concurred with the zoning change and noted that buffering should be included in conditions for screening toward the residential areas. Flint Hills Resources Community Development Director Lindquist was contacted by Flint Hills Resources with a request to add temporary structures for construction workers. They will need warehousing of materials and a lunchroom for a hydro cracking plant installation. They have proposed a spring steel tent structure that would meet snow loads and building codes to remain for about five years. The City's codes do not allow for this. Possibly an Interim Use Permit could be negotiated. Staff will gather more information. UPDATES City Administrator Verbrugge reminded City Council of the League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference in Duluth, October 10 — 12. Mayor Droste indicated he would be attending Sunday and Monday. City Administrator Verbrugge reported that some vandalism has occurred to portable toilets and street signs. A vehicle coming out of the Dakota County Technical College ran into a city road grader. Mayor Droste noted that a signal light may be needed there since he has heard of other serious accidents there. Staff was contacted regarding a possible residential development of 400 acres that is in the 2020 MUSA area. Also, the proposal for residential in the Rosemount Business Park was removed and new commercial development is being sought for that area. City Administrator Verbrugge reported that the ICMA (International City /County Management Association) International Conference will be held in Minnesota. ICMA is raising funds to cover $150,000 in expenses for the conference to be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center in September 2005. Verbrugge informed the Council that he and other state association members would be approaching large corporations and companies, such as Flint Hills Resources, to request financial partnerships. ICMA has informed the State Chapter that this activity does not represent ethical or conflict of interest concerns. Council Member Shoe - Corrigan requested information on hanging flowerpots for the downtown area by next spring. She also asked if the Rosemount High School could hang banners for a special band tournament on the light poles on Highway 3. 3 ROSEMOUNT CITYPROCEEDINGS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 15, 2004 Parks and Recreation Director Schultz reported that the final budget for Leprechaun Days is ready. There will be a wrap -up meeting in two weeks by the Leprechaun Days Committee. There are some leftover funds to allow down payments for booking the carnival and entertainment for next year's event. The goal is to have local residents plan and manage the event. The meeting was adjourned at 9:32 p.m. Respectfully submitted, City Clerk Jentink The City Council's Agenda Packet is Clerk's File 2004 -36. 4