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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 01-20 Maplewood tables zoning ordinance THE REVIEW Maplewood tables zoning ordinance r97( by Scott Carlson in favor of the ordinance. "The whole A controversial zoning ordinance which thing down has been piece-meal,"he said. would allow the establishment of 20,000 But many other people,like Greavu, and 40,000 square foot minimum lot sizes felt the proposed ordinance was in Maplewood was tabled 4-1 by the city restrictive and a detriment to people council last Thursday night. attempting to buy single family homes in The council's action means that no a tight housing market. definite decision will be made until the Dan Herbst, chairman of the councilmen meet with the Planning Chanhassen Planning Commission, Commission to discuss approaches to suggested that a PUD ordinance would resolve the issues with the ordinance. better serve the council's intent. City Manager Michael Miller and the Restrictive zoning such as the proposed Planning Commission recommended ordinance only invites metropolitan approval of the Residential Estates(RE) government to say that municipalities ordinance as an interim device to keep aren't capable of controlling development tabs on development in the city's"leg", themselves, Herbst said. "By or south end,until a more definite plan municipalities having restrictive zoning can be worked out. they(Metro Council)are using this as fuel In recent weeks there have been heavy to the fire,"he said. development pressures and "inquiries But Miller said, "Right now there is and preliminary plans currently under nothing to encourage the developer to go consideration and proposals previously PUD." presented to the city include properties Robert Reed,city planner, said that totaling 140 acres,"Miller said. until the staff is given a chance for further And he indicated that those develop- study"we don't know which are the en- ment pressures should be resisted since vironmentally sensitive areas.This(the current single family residential zoning RE zone)will give us the time to deter- would not be adequate to protect the mine which areas are environmentally unique terrain and vegetation cover in the sensitive." area. Miller also noted that the city's master plan envisions much of the land A spokesman for the Building Trades for open space and recreation use. Association,however,questioned,"How "The major concern with development will the working people live here?" in the leg has to do with the method in Without a specific plan from the Planning which land is prepared for residential Commission on development in the leg' use,"Miller said."As evidenced by the "what you're really asking for is a recent subdivision requested for Park- moratorium,"he said. wood Knolls on Mailand, the problem Keith O'Brien of the Sussel Company confronting the city is a means of contended that the RE zone is"terribly requiring a Planned Unit Development discriminatory and it eliminates the )PUD)approach and avoiding minimum working people." subdivision development procedures." Robert Tansey,a businessman in the Miller said he was not suggesting that Muske-Tansey Co., said the proposed the city buy large parcels of land but that ordinance was totally "unrealistic and the RE district zoning would allow impractical in a realistic sense." another zoning alternative. Another opponent of the ordinance, John Kirby testified in favor of the Marlin Grant of the Mary Anderson proposed ordinance.He said that if the Construction Company, said that area was opened up to development developers avoid leveling full grown trees "there will be no general plan to suit that from lots,if possible. "Every tree and area." pond is an economic value,"he said. Kirby, Maplewood's municipal judge, Councilman Norman Anderson, after added,"If there are street,sewer and lengthy public testimony,suggested that water problems,efforts to correct them the ordinance be tabled and that the would be astronomical." matter be referred to the staff and Councilman John Greavu, who Planning Commission to come up with an dissented on the council's vote, in- overall road plan for the area. terjected, "What you're saying is that Mayor Robert Bruton concurred with you're discriminating against people who action to table but was against the or- can't have a lot that size.You're saying dinance."I tend to be against it because it 'we want North Oaks in the south end of is arbitrary,"he said."I hate to put in Maplewood'." interim ordinances instead of pushing for But Kirby responded,"My concern is the right answer." what is going to happen to that property in Miller warned, "If you don't want relation to the whole area?" control then realize the cost which means Albert Berg,2184 Linwood,also seemed you won't have control."