Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 01-14 Request for more condos in southern area denied THE REVIEW Minnesota � . Single Copy 30` WED., JAN. 14, 1981 Request or more condos in southern area denied By MARY LEE HAGERT Councilwoman Fran Juker questioned density argument doesn't hold." Riley about the availability of low and He continued that he did not anticipate For the time being it seems there will moderate income housing units in the the additional two structures would only be two Connemara Condominiums complex. According to provisions in the create any traffic hazards.He said traffic buildings looming on the horizon of 1972 planned unit development permit, is light on both Upper Afton Road and southern Maplewood. units in these price ranges were to be Londin Lane. Jim Riley, the developer and an oc- available. Fire protection would not be a problem, cupant of the complex,hopes to some day Riley answered,when the first building Riley said, as the East County Line build two more 96-unit condominium was completed in the early seventies,one- Maplewood Fire Station No. 2 is "just buildings along Lower Afton Road in the bedroom units were priced at $22,000. across the street." Maplewood "leg." The new buildings When the second building was finished in would be built by Condor Corporation and 1978, a one-bedroom condominium had a SOME OF THE council members would be similar to the existing structures $45,000 price tag. He believes these units pointed out that final grading has not been along the 2400 block of Londin Lane. fell within the definition of moderate completed around the existing structures. On Jan. 8 Riley asked the Maplewood income housing for that time period. Riley explained that these problems City Council to allow him to revise con- would be taken care of when the third and ditions of his original planned unit THE TWO NEW buildings being fourth buildings were completed. development permit so he could construct proposed would have the same type units Riley said that if he cannot build the a fourth building. The permit allows him with similar price ranges. He added, the fourth building, he will not construct the to build a third structure, but does not price of a one-bedroom unit may be third condominium structure. specifically give Riley permission to higher than $45,000 because of inflation. construct a fourth building. Mayor John Greavu cast the one vote With today's inflation and high loan On a 4-1 vote the council denied Riley's against the motion to deny Riley's interest rates,he said, it is economically request. request.The mayor stated,"I feel we are unfeasible to build only one complex. In his motion for denial, Councilman asking this fellow too much as far as The soil in this area is poor and the costs Norman Anderson stated a list of reasons population densities are concerned. I get for preparing the site are too high to go given to the city council by the the feeling we are starting to deny people ahead with only one building, he stated. Maplewood Planning Commission. from moving into the city by asking them "I feel there is no finer building project to buy big lots." in Maplewood than Connemara Con- ONE REASON given often is that the Greavu added, he does not believe the dominiums as far as aesthetics, con- occupancy rate of the fourth building number of dwellings in the southern most struction and quality of living are con- would substantially exceed the number of portion of the city is too dense. He agrees cerned," the visibly agitated Riley said. housing units allowed by the city's land with Riley that the creation of open space The developer will have another op- use plan for this area of Maplewood. The territories in this region has caused the portunity to have his request recon- land use plan was adopted by the city in population count in this area to fall short sidered later, after the city adopts its 1973, a year after Riley began his Con- of earlier projections. new, revised land use plan this year. nemara project. Riley told the council members, "This The new plan may allow for a higher Riley objected to this, saying none of is a PUD (planned unit development) density of housung units in this area of the projections made in the land use plan change and it is not a zoning change.The Maplewood. for this area of southern Maplewood have come true. "There has been a large amount of land in this area designated as open space. As a result, the population densities down there are even lower than anticipated." ,Although the third and fourth con- dominium g uildings would add 192 dwellings, Riley said many of these units would only have one or two persons living in them. The condominiums are similar to apartments, except that each occupant owns his dwelling unit. The Connemara complex has many "extras" including tennis courts, a swimming pool and guards on staff. VOLUME 19, NUMBER 36 Publication #328680 Maplewood, 1. <s-,,,,,\I„ '''''.3$'-' .4 ( 1 , ,.t.,,,-1 3 f „ � E �, -tom i .. _ , i . :''''''; lik-�"`" ' z _ r 101. I I ^4 — - I y F Connemara Condominiums THE DEVELOPER OF Connemara Condominiums had his somewhat dashed by action taken at the Maplewood City sights set on receiving permission to add two more buildings Council meeting Jan. 8. The two existing condominium to the complex in southern Maplewood. Those hopes were structures are located in the 2400 block of Londin Lane.