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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP February 24, 1994 9\ CITY of ANDOVER SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - FEBRUARY 24, 1994 MINUTES A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Jack McKelvey on February 24, 1994, 7:44 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Dalien, Jacobson, Knight, Perry Councilmembers absent: None Also Present: TKDA Engineers, John Davidson and Tom Syfko Public Works Superintendent, Frank Stone Building Official, Dave Almgren Assistant City Engineer, Todd Haas City Finance Director, Daryl Sulander IP93-30/BUNKER LAKE BOULEVARD FRONTAGE ROAD DISCUSSION Mr. Davidson explained they have met with representatives of the county, Kottke Bus Company and other property owners of the southwest quadrant of Bunker Lake Boulevard and Hanson Boulevard regarding the traffic flow, service roads, and extension of utilities in that vicinity. After looking at various alternatives, they feel the alignment of a service road south of Bunker Lake Boulevard, then turning to the south at the western edge oÍ the proposed SPUR development, is the most workable. There is a large ponding area on the bus company property that they want to make use of for storm sewer rather than dump the storm water into the Coon Rapids system. Mr. Syfko provided some background of the service road alignment proposed several years ago and explained some of the drawbacks to it. This proposal connects with Commercial Boulevard which is to be constructed this summer and is safer because it eliminates an access onto Hanson Boulevard between Bunker Lake and Commercial Boulevards. It also bypasses the ponding area, which they are proposing the City would need to acquire. They have not studied the drainage in detail, but he felt the pond on the Kottke Bus property will need to be enlarged. The county has also hinted they may be interested in draining into that pond when they upgrade Hanson Boulevard in a few years. Hr. Syfko continued the proposed service road will save Kottke Bus 300 feet of road construction and will allow them to subdivide their property into about three more commercial lots. Those at Kottke Bus Company have been very cooperative and have generally agreed to the alignment being proposed this evening. The SPUR Company will have an entrance onto Bunker Lake Boulevard and onto Hanson Boulevard. They are aware that when those roads are upgraded by the county, they will be right-in, right-out accesses only. In addition, they can easily be provided access to the service road on their west property line. ¡"'~ ~ óY'- J /, '>j "f 'f -- -...- -. ~.- -- - - - - -- - ~ -~ . . -- ~_4_ Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - February 24, 1994 Page 2 (IP93-30/Bunker Lake Boulevard Frontage Road Discussion, Continued) Because of the need to provide drainage to the entire area, to provide sewer service, and to loop the watermain, Mr. Syfko noted there is a general consensus from the property owners in favor of this alignment and to do the entire project at one time. The easement issue for the service road on the one lot along Bunker Lake Boulevard has not yet been resolved, but they are working with the property owner to offset the intersection of the service road and Jay Street for safety and traffic flow. Mayor McKelvey stated the bus company asked for the cost to have sewer and water brought up Jay Street, as they and Wilber's have expressed an interest in those utilities. Since most of the southern leg of the service road is on Kottke Bus property, they have also wondered if it would be possible to provide the ponding and road easement in exchange for no assessment for the service road. Mr. Syfko stated he would have to do the calculations to determine the costs of both so a decision could be made. The discussion between the engineers and Council continued on speculating the needs for the various property owners in that quadrant and potential subdivision of property. Mr. Syfko stated in preliminary discussions with Staff, the Tax Increment Financing funds are sufficient to construct both Commercial Boulevard and this project, plus acquire the property south of the landfill. The City may wish to handle the project the same as Commercial Boulevard by assessing 25 percent of the cost and having 75 percent come out of TIF funds. Councilmember Perry questioned whether the total improvement will generate enough new businesses and new jobs to warrant the use of TIF funds. Others noted with the possibility of eight new businesses or more, there would be no problem meeting the criteria of creating of new jobs. Councilmember Knight had some concern that this use of TIF funds will be extremely beneficial to the property owners in that area. Others argued it really is no different than the use of the funds in the City's Commercial Park where the City put in the improvements, then sold the land for half of the cost of those improvements. Some preferred to see private business develop rather than have the City run it, plus the same thing is happening along the Commercial Boulevard project. The TIF funds are to be used to encourage business and to clean up an area, and to raise the value of the area, which is what is being done in this situation. The Council then agreed with the service road alignment concept presented this evening. MOTION by Jacobson, Seconded by Dalien, that the Council authorize the City Engineers to proceed with the feasibility study based upon the new alignment they are showing and come back to the Council. Motion carried unanimously. --,...- --- Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - February 24, 1994 Page 3 ENGINEERING UPDATE Finance program for sewer and watermain: Mr. Davidson provided an update of the finance program for the sanitary trunk sewer and watermain, noting it still looks like five to five and one-half years of growth is needed to support the sewer system based on 230 new lots per year. Comprehensive Water System Plan: Mr. Davidson reported the DNR and Metropolitan Council have established a means of controlling the ground water supply within the seven-county metropolitan area. By January 1, 1996, each city has to establish a Comprehensive Water Systems plan to encourage conservation of ground water. It requires the City to do an extensive study of the financial condition of the water system, the billing process, how the water rates encourage conservation, etc. Public Works is collecting data, and they would like TKDA to assist them to put this plan together. It will be placed on a Council agenda for consideration to authorize TKDA to provide that service to the Staff. Mr. Sulander noted Staff is suggesting the financing come from the City's CDBG funds. The public hearing for that budget is on Wednesday, March 2. Xeon Street storm sewer: Mr. Davidson summarized the difficulties they have hüd with obtaining permission from Mr. Holasek to go beyond the easement on Xeon to install the storm sewer pipe. They will continue to negotiate with Mr. Holasek in hopes of avoiding legal action. No Council action was taken at this time. GRADING OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS Because of some cases where developers have not been grading the lots properly or consistent with the grading plan approved by the City, Mr. Haas explained the Staff is recommending the enforcement of a provision that any violation by a developer, builder or subcontractor may result in the City's refusal to issue building permits within the plat until such default has been inspected and corrected to the satisfaction of the City. That provision would be included in the Development Contract. Right now the developers are allowed to get the final plat approved when the final grading is not completed. Mr. Almgren noted several problems the last couple months with lots not graded according to the specifications. That, in turn, changes the style of the house that can fit on the lot because all the grades and drainage is changed. Another problem is working with the Tree Preservation Ordinance. Property owners want to save evergreen trees or smaller shrub trees, so the contractor does not remove the trees from the easements. Those trees then block the drainage. He recommended the first 100 feet of the lot, which is designated buildable, be graded and all trees except the significant ones be removed to make the drainage work. The trees in the back of the lots would remain. -- -,-. -._~. -- Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - February 24, 1994 Page 4 (Grading of Residential Devleopments, Continued) In the discussions, the Council was definitely opposed to clear-cutting the first 100 feet of all lots. They felt the grading should be done according to the City's approved grading plan and done in such a manner that as many trees as possible are allowed to remain. A suggestion was to postpone issuing building permits on new developments until the grading has been done to City standards. Another suggestion was to eliminate the ability to escrow for the grading in lieu of completing it prior to the filing of the plat. There could be an escrow, however, for the removal of the stockpiled dead trees. Mr. Davidson noted some cities require that the sewer, water and streets be completed before they issue building permits. The Staff was asked to draft the changes they would like implemented based upon what was already approved for Council consideration at the next meeting. The Council felt those developers who were on the Developers' Task Force should be advised of this issue and that it is being placed on a Council agenda for consideration. SET SPECIAL MEETING The Council agreed to tentatively schedule a special meeting on Thursday, March 10, 1994, on the Tax Increment Financing and the purchase of the Wastco property. MOTION by Jacobson to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:44 p.m. ThP::J:~~~~~L ~ar~la A. Peach Recording Secretary --.,-.- . --_ -. .... . __ - ---,0-