HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 09-02 Oakdale denies utility hookup for Cricket Inn in Maplewood THE REVIEW 1HE REVIEW Wed.,Sept.2,1981 ?age 5A
Oakdale denies utility hookup
for Cricket Inn in Maplewood
By JONATHON CLYDE GLASS
Staff Writer
Plans for the construction of a Cricket Inn on the western Other Oakdale residents and council members argued
shore of Tanners Lake were stalled by the Oakdale City that increased water runoff from the hotel site could raise
Council's Aug,25 decision to deny the developer the right to the level of Tanners Lake.
hook up to the city's sewer and water lines. Oakdale City Planner Paul Krauss told the council it could
The proposed four-story,116-unit budget hotel,along with retain some leverage over these design decisions only if it
an adjoining restaurant,would be located near the eastern approved the utilities hookup. If Cricket Inn turns to
border of Maplewood.The Maplewood City Council ap- Maplewood for its utilities,Oakdale will have no authority
proved a special use permit for the hotel on Aug.20. whatsoever in the approval of the hotel's final design,he
The developers,Turnpike Properties Midwest and Nor- warned.
thco Ltd.,both of Minneapolis,sought to hook up to Oak- But the council voted three to two to refuse the utilities
dale's utilities rather than crossing Highway 120 to reach hookup.Council members Jan Hill,Mike Vruno and Mike
Maplewood's sewer lines,The minimal cost for hooking up Graske opposed the hookup,while Mayor Marvin Merle and
to the Oakdale sewer system would be the price of installing Ted Bearth voted in favor of it.
a new lift station for the area.
Besides the utility costs,the Oakdale council members TIMOTHY ADAMS, president of Turnpike Properties
expressed concern about the hotel's impact on traffic Midwest,acknowledged he was surprised by the decision.
congestion and increased storm water runoff into the lake, "The biggest surprise was the refusal on their part to
The hotel could attract 1,000 cars per day,according to city listen to an honest attempt to respond to their concerns,"he
engineering consultant Dan Boxrud, said.He was denied the opportunity to fully present his plan
and explain the modifications he had made in response to
ROBERT MILLER, owner of Toby's Landing, a the suggestions of the Oakdale staff,he said.
restaurant directly north of the proposed hotel,had similar The developers will continue to meet with Oakdale and
objections. Maplewood staffs,as well as surrounding property owners,
"I'm very concerned about the traffic flow.It could ruin it to review the problems and reach some resolution,Adams
for everyone if there is too much traffic,"he said.He would said.The developers are willing to absorb the costs of a new
like to consult further with the developer to be sure that lift station,but they also are considering the possibility of
there is adequate parking for all the businesses in the area, crossing Highway 120 to reach Maplewood's sewer fines,he
he continued. added.