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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