HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980 04-16 City Council to review subsidized townhouse development Thursday THE REVIEW Single Copy 30` WED.,APRIL 16, 1980
City council to review
subsidized townhouse
development Thursday
By MARY LEE HAGERT
townhouses.
The Maplewood city council will Mayor John Greavu said,"We turned
reconsider a preliminary plat for the down federal money to approve this
Maple Knolls Townhouses, a federally project.We've boxed ourselves in.I'm a
subsidized development,at its Thursday little embarrassed now."
evening meeting. This developer has tried to meet all the
During the past year the council has council's requirements, Greavu con-
been discussing the proposed develop- tinned.If the council denies this project,
ment,which will be located in the center the developer can come back to the
of a block bounded by Kohlman,Radatz council with a court order to make the city
and White Bear Avenues and the proposed approve it."I think we are going to have
Southlawn Drive. to approve it and then force the
Due to neighborhood opposition to the assessments on the people(neighbors)at
project and the residents'concerns about full cost."
drainage problems in the area, final Councilman Gary Bastian said,"What
approval of the preliminary plat has been bothers me is that this project was to
slow. provide low income housing and it was
At its last meeting the council tabled rushed along.We have been criticized by
approval of the plat. Council members people who say we don't have enough low
asked the developers, Ajax Venture income housing in Maplewood. But yet
Company,to work with Lloyd Soderberg, they forget we are trying to defend those
1800 Radatz Ave.,a neighboring property people (residents near the proposed
owner.The council would like them to development)who have water problems.
discuss the construction of a driveway "I don't see how it(the development)is
across Soderberg's land from the going to work.People will walk out of
townhouse development to the proposed their patios onto a marshland."
Southtawn Drive. Greavu responded,"I feel sorry for the
The 57-unit townhouse project is people with water problems.But how do
planned for a 6.25 acre site. Low and we know if this(the townhouses)is going
moderate income occupants of the to make them worse.I don't know how we
development will be eligible for federal can deny the project on the basis of water
Section 8 rent subsidies. problems that might be caused when the
Last,year the council gave concept Department of Natural Resources and the
approval of the project on the condition watershed district said the plan is okay."
that Radatz Avenue be improved. Councilman Earl Nelson said,since the
The council rejected a plan to improve drainage plan has been approved, the
the avenue in February because of area drainage in the area won't get any worse.
residents' opposition to the street "It probably will be improved.This whole
upgrading assessments and their concern thing(townhouse development)conforms
over water problems in the neighborhood. with the city's drainage plan."
The U.S. Housing and Urban Nelson suggested that if the city gives
Development office offered to provide permission for the developer to proceed
$273,404 to help offset the cost of the street with the driveway to the proposed
improvements. Southlawn Drive,the$230,000 in federal
At its last council meeting,Richard C. grant money may still be used for street
Bienapfl, president of Realty Develop- . improvements.
meet Services Inc.,asked the council to Nelson continued,he would prefer to
drop the requirement to upgrade Radatz have the developer negotiate with
Avenue. Soderberg for a driveway across his land.
If the requirement is dropped, the Depending on how the negotiations go,
council members said other streets may Nelson said,the council may want to put
have to be used to gain access to the new requirements on the developers.