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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 12-31 Beam Avenue development gains tentative city approval THE REVIEW Beam Avenue development gains tentative city approval By JONATHON CLYDE GLASS 'j¢C /947/1 Staff Writer a privilege,not a right,"City Manager to bring city water to their homes,Juker Barry Evans advised the council.Besides predicted. It was touch and go right up to the last considering the problem of fire safety,the The decision upset a number of Beam minute,but Voya Piletich walked away council should be cautious about ap- Avenue residents who have prized the from the Dec.17 Maplewood City Council proving a development which will rustic privacy of their neighborhood and meeting with approval of the preliminary eventually require access to public water complained about erosion problems plat for his 80-unit homing development which the city cannot currently afford to created by excavation north of Beam north of Kohlman Lake,and authorization provide,he coninued. Avenue.The council earlier turned down to allow construction on 13 of the lots. Mayor John Greavu, however, was a request of area residents to rezone 169 The action was the most significant adamant in insisting that the city could acres of land along Beam Avenue and form of city approval yet received by not hold back the developer any longer Highway 61 from Farm-Residence and Piletich,2130 Arcade St.,who has been due to lack of water.He rejected a city Light-Manufacturing to Residential- working on the development since 1978. staff recommendation to declare a Estate,which would require a minimum "It's an important first step," Peter moratorium on approval of any plats lot size of 20,000 acres. Beck,attorney for Piletich,later told the without access to public water and "You've driven us out of your corn- Review.It enables Piletich to stabilize his sanitary sewer until the city's subdivision munity,"Pa trick Keane,1190 Beam Ave., plans knowing that the ultimate con- ordinance can be revised to require such told the council."The first chance we get, figuration of the development meets city access. we'll just pack up and leave,"he said, standards,he continued. "The problem is the city council must complaining of "the entire mess out While satisfied with the layout of get water where it belongs,that's the job there" that has transformed his once Piletich's proposed 40-acre development, of this city council,"he said."We've been quiet neighborhood into a major which provides for an average lot size of hollering at this guy(Piletich)because he development. 15,000 square feet in the lakeshore area, didn't have a plat.Now he has a plat and Other landowners in the Beam Avenue- council members had strong reservations to deny him now,we're not doing our own Highway 61 area, however, supported about the lack of public water and job." Piletich's development.Gerald Mogren, sanitary sewer to service the new homes. Beck encouraged the council to approve 2855 Frederick St.,spoke for himself and The potential fire hazard created by new the plat while limiting the number of several nearby property-owners who are houses lacking public water and hydrants homes that could be built with wells considering the development of was the subject of strong arguments rather than public water. He initially warehouse and light commercial among council members as well as suggested a limit between 20 and 40.That facilities in the area.If their plans come residents.Marilyn Vars,1140 Beam Ave., number was whittled down to 13,by a last- through,they might be able to help defray reminded the council that two houses on minute suggestion from Bastian, but the cost of bringing water pipes from the Beam Avenue west of Highway 61,which Piletich eventually got at least a portion east side of Highway 61 within reach of just gained access to public water this of his plat approval. Piletich's development,he explained. summer had been gutted by fire in the last Once his plans are fully approved, decade. THE APPROVAL was conditioned on Piletich told the Review,he is sure other "I don't hear you address the issue of the revision of 11 other design features of developers will come forward with fire protection," Councilmember Gary the plat and the provision that the new proposals to develop neighboring land, Bastian told Beck.The council not only homeowner be fully informed of the lack thereby easing the financial burden of has to look at Piletich's rights as a of public water before they move in. bringing public water to the northwestern developer, but the safety and public The final motion,submitted by Coan- corner of Maplewood. welfare of the future residents of the area, cilman Earl Nelson and seconded by Piletich has,in effect,been acting as he said. The council has a "moral Greavu,passed 4-1.Councilwoman Fran "point man" for other developers in- obligation"to the future residents who Juker opposed the motion because of the terested in that area,Beck said.Now with will be, at least temporarily, without fire protection issue.In a few years,those Piletich's plat approved, subject to adequate fire protection, he continued. new residents will be complaining either certain conditions, Beck and Beam because they lack fire protection or Avenue residents will have a chance to "THIS TYPE of subdivision approval is because they face such high assessments find out if he is right.