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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 09-12 Petitioners object Hillcrest project, Improvements get okay THE REVIEW t'etitioners object Hillcrest project i m r ov m n t t Q a By MELANIE WAAGE betweeen McKnight Road and Century But, the developers have chosen to omit Avenue, between Larpenteur Avenue to that portion of the project for a while,and the north and Chicago and Northwestern would petition at a later time for the After a two-and a half hour public hearing Sept.6,and over the objections of Railroad to the south. Included in the improvements on Hoyt Avenue to reach more than 100 residents, the Maplewood Project for development are sanitary any warehouse development, They told city council approved improvements to a sewer, watermain, storm sewer and the council they would not need any public Hillcrest Development project, but not Sterling Street construction.Hoyt Avenue lift station, but would have their own. until assuring the crowd the developers construction was originally included at Currently,about 75 homes are planned would have to work with representatives the developer's request,but was removed for the area.This is in agreement with the from St. Paul's Priory to consider en- after they requested it. city's comprehensive plan. vironmental effects. Engineers with Short Elliott Hen- But, the citizens who appeared at the The developers came before the council drickson, Inc., the engineering firm meeting were not ready to see the council to question their being responsible for the working with Hillcrest Development, approve the project, and presented a entire cost of the sanitary sewer portion of were on hand to explain the project, and petition opposing the project in its en- the project,since they would only be able answer questions concerning costs, tirety.Jim Mueller,1568 Myrtle St.,spoke to connect to certain portions of it. for the petitioners.He told the council that THE RESIDENTS opposed any THE ORIGINAL project total was the residents opposed the project because assessment to them because they said $1,224,700. The new project would be they currently have a sanitary sewer they would not be benefiting from the new minus the Hoyt Avenue construction of system,and don't want to be assessed for system. Residents currently are served $340,000. a new one. Also, he was concerned if an by a sanitary sewer system. "The water and street extension to environmental impact statement had The property in question is located Sterling Avenue were recommended by been done on the property,and asked the staff, and it was the city's objective to council if they had considered it for open relieve the storm sewer,in the long run," space. Bailey Seida, Harry S. Johnson Co., told Mayor John Greavu said the city the council. He also was representing the doesn't have the money to buy it and keep developers. "We do believe there is a it open. public interest to relieve the lift station. RESIDENTS ALONG McKnight Road We would be responsible for the water, questioned the council about the county's streets and sanitary sewer laterals within proposal to widen McKnight Road, our site. Our objection for costs is the contending that this proposal would have sanitary sewer trunk. Staff recommends an effect upon the project. we put it in, and the city engineers are A surprise added to the council meeting trying to relieve the lift stations, but this was when representatives from St.Paul's trunk is an additional cost to the project." Priory told the council that their About 500 acres are served by the lift property,which would be assessed for the station, and the trunk sanitary sewer sanitary sewer, was not under plans for would benefit all those acres, Seida said, development and was used by nature But, the developers are expected to pay classes from Hill-Murray High School. all the costs for the sewer,and explained Actually, the area had been dedicated to the assessment would not then be fair. open space. The council had not known "We are 24 percent of the benefactors this,since once the Priory had expressed from the sewer, so we feel that's all we interest in developing a senior citizens should pay for," Seida added, high rise in the area. cil HE SAID it was true the developers fromuthe Priorymcontact rBarryntatives Evans, wanted sanitary sewer brought to the city manager,to inform him of their plans project, but were informed they didn't for the area to stay natural. have rights to the lift station. The time "As long as he (the developer) is might come when the city would want to making the effort to put in single family relieve the lift station, and it might have housing, we can't table this project," to be at their own costs. So, Seida ex- councilman NDrm Anderson said. He plained, the city now has an opportunity moved approval of the improvements, to have a portion of the sanitary sewer deleting the portion of Hoyt Avenue paid for by the developer. requested and insisting the developers Originally, when the project was meet with the Priory representatives to presented to the council,it included plans work on the open space portion. for a warehouse on the eastern portion. Council approved it unanimously. N.