HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP November 13, 1986
CITY of ANDOVER
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - NOVEMBER 13, 1986
MINUTES
A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Jerry
Windschit1 on November 13, 1986, 7:35 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685
Crosstown Boulevard NW, to meet with the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding
future growth and development within the City.
Councilmen present: Knight (arrived at 8:40 p.m.), Lachinski, Ortte1
Councilman absent: Elling
Planning and Zoning
Commissioners present: Chairman Don Jacobson (left at 9:06), Maynard Ape1,
d'Arcy Bose1l, Joy Pirkl, and Wayne Vistad
A 1 so present: City Administrator, James Schrantz
SCHOOL SITE
Mayor Windschit1 reported the events to date on the siting of an elementary
school within Andover by the Anoka-Hennepin School Oistrict. The school board
appears unwilling to pursue the site originally chosen on county property
located east of Hanson Boulevard on the corporate boundary because the construction
required for the school would back up into the fill area of the proposed landfill
site in that area. The school district is working with the county, and it appears
the county is willing to write a comfort letter stating if the landfill is
located there, it would be placed so many feet away from the school site. But
the school district is reluctant to pursue the site further with the possibility
of a landfill being put there. They are now looking at other sites in Andover,
particularly the southern 20 acres off Hanson Boulevard of the Laptuda' property
that the City just purchased. From a planning standpoint, the City must answer
many questions in terms of providing utilities to that property.
Mayor Windschitl stated TKDA has estimated the cost to run the sewer and water
lines north one-half mile from Coon Creek up Hanson Boulevard to the site at
$340,000. He asked for direction on this matter.
Council and Planning Commissioners discussed the advantages of having a school
site located within Andover and the problems of servicing that area because the
sewer and water lines would need to be run ahead of development needs.' In the
past, those utility lines were extended in an orderly fashion as areasideve10ped.
If the lines were to run to that site, the question would be which areas would
be assessed for it.
After a lengthy discussion, the general consensus was the school district should
be encouarged to pursue the southerly site on the county property, that generally
being the preferred site for the school by the City. However, the City will
cooperate with the district if they sti 11 choose to investigate the City prop.erty
site.
LOCATION & AMOUNT OF CŒ1MERCIAL/lNDUSTRIAL AREA IN ANDOVER
Mayor Windschit1 presented a report done by the County regarding dollars
collected from residential versus commercial properties adjusted for fiscal
disparities. The report showed that commercial property within Andover pays
virtually the same as residential for City taxes. Discussion then noted the
costs to the City for commercial areas may be about the same as for residential,
though it was felt the City's costs for retail businesses are higher. An advantage
of commercial business within the City is that jobs are provided.
Special Ci ty Council Meeting
November 13, 1986 - Minutes
Page 2
(Location & Amount of Commercia/Industrial Area, Continued)
(Councilman Knight arrived at this time)
Discussion was then an the question of just how much commercial/
retail/industrial property will develop within Andover in the
next 10 to 20 years. Drawbacks mentioned to businesses locating
in Andover were the lack of a major roadway through the City, the
agressive program by Coon Rapids to attract business, the other
commercial areas closer in that are not yet fully developed, and
the lack of density in this area. Making use of the railroad
spur off Andover boulevard was mentioned. The concept of
attracting specific businesses such as the medical industry,
airplane related industry or communications te1eport was also
suggested.
Some felt there is a need for more retail, suggesting
Neighborhood Business or Shopping Center areas be established at
the time the platting is done of large areas as was done in Good
Value Home's Northg1en development.
The Tax Increment Financing District along Bunker Lake Boulevard
was discussed as to the area, the best procedure for redeveloping
it, and the difficulty of getting started and attracting the
first businesses into that area. A suggestion to get started was
to buy the land adjoining the proposed relocation of Crooked Lake
Boulevard on Bunker Lake Boulevard, construct a building, and
rent., lease or sell it. It was also noted professional help
would be needed to establish an incentive program to attract
businesses to the City.
The desired location of commercial property was discussed, noting
the existing commercial property along Bunker Lake Boulevard.
Other areas considered were the 40 acres west of Hanson just
north of the substation which is presently zoned commercial.
Sti 11 another area was the south side of Andover Boulevard from
Hanson east to the railroad tracks. That amounts to
approximately 26 acres of commercial area. The tree farm west of
Hanson was also mentioned, suggesting the owners be approached on
their proposed long-term use of that land. A concern was that
though some of the commercial areas may not develop for quite
some time, that land should be protected for commercial use.
Ms. Pirkl, Mayor Windschitl, and Mr. Schrantz agreed to meet
with the property owner along the railroad tracks and Andover
Boulevard regarding his ideas for the use of that property and an
opinion as to how much and which property in Andover should be
zoned for commercial use, noting his past experience in such
matters.
Special City Council Meeting
November 13, 1986 - Minutes
Page 3
(Location & Amount of Commercial/Industrial Area, Continued)
Councilman Lachinski felt a professional planner should be
commissioned to propose an overall plan of the entire tax
incr-ement financing area along Bunker Lake Boulevard as to street
layout. lot sizes, etc. He thought Good Value Homes might be
willing to work with the City on that matter.
The Planning Commission was then asked to review the entire
matter again and to request any resources that may be needed to
make a recommendation on commercial development within Andover.
DENSITY ZONING
Ms. Bosell reported the Planning Commission is sending a
recommendation to the Council to adopt a moratorium on
development to allow time to deal with development within the
unsewered proposed MUSA area.
Mayor Windschitl stated there are several ways of dealing with
those areas that will potentially be served with City sewer and
water until those utilities are available. Those include
rezoning it to R-4 and developing on every other lot, requesting
a minimum lot size of 10 or 20 acres, adopting a development line
beyond which no development will take place until utilities are
available, run the trunk lines now and assess all usable
property, or a staged growth concept of restricting development
until the utilities are available but plan in which year those
lines will be put in.
The Planning Commission was directed to look at these and any
other alternatives relative to development within the unsewered
MUSA area.
5-FOOT SIDEYARD SETBACKS
Council discussed the matter of reducing the sideyard setbacks to
5 feet rather than the 10-foot setback now in the ordinance.
Mayor Windschitl noted some of the advantages of having the
lesser setbacks, especially on the garage side of the house. Ms.
Bosell stated the Planning Commission held a public hearing on
the matter this week and is recommending no change to the
ordinance.
This matter will be discussed at a regular Council meeting.
Special City Council Meeting
November- 13, 1986 - Minutes
Page 4
MISCELLANEOUS
Sever-al other matters wer-e briefly discussed with Planning
Commission member-s r-egar-ding low income housing, urban versus
r-ur-al section of the City and the application of the or-dinances
to each, and the sign or-dinance.
Council generally felt the ordinances., especially the par-king of
semi trucks that was mentioned, must be enfor-ced unifor-mly
throughout the City. Ms. Bosell stated the sign ordinance
appears to be war-king well at this time but pointed out sever-a1
ar-eas that the Council may want r-evisions to be considered.
COMPUTER BIDS
Councilman Lachinski r-epor-ted only thr-ee bids were r-eceived for- a
computer- system in the City offices. He felt the low bid did not
meet specifications; and the other two bids wer-e about $100,000,
which is higher- than he had expected. The major- costs are for-
the software packages.
Mayor Windschitl felt some of the major- har-dware companies should
have been appr-aoched to bid. He asked to r-eview the bids before
making a decision.
After further- discussion, it was agr-eed Councilmember-s should
r-eview the bids befor-e the November- 18 meeting. At that meeting
the Council will decide whether- to awar-d the bid, r-ebid it, or
scale back the har-dware and/or- softwar-e desired.
MOTION by Orttel, Seconded by Knight, to adjour-n. Motion
carr-ied unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 11:03 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
rv~0K~
Mar 1la A. Peach
Recording Secr-etary