HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973 05-02 Council claims "no pressure" on Maplewood Plaza rezone REVIEW Councilclaims
on. Maplewood
by Scott Carlso Lindahl, 2245 E. Lydia ave., was un-
Maplewood Councilmen denied convinced.
Thursday night they have been pressured
to approve a proposed 16-acre rezone site "I think what we are questioning is the
at the northeast corner of White Bear ave. possibility of his influencing the corn-
and Lydia ave. intended for construction mission votes and the council," Lindahl
of a $3 million neighborhood shopping said."Is the sale of the land contingent on
center, because a village planning rezone approval? We wonder if a man
commissioner owns the land. who serves on a commission that is
considering rezoning of his land— if this
"The only pressure I've had has been is not a conflict of interest."
from people making telephone calls
against the rezoning," councilman After about 40 minutes of discussion,
Donald Wiegert said. Mayor Les Axdahl Mogren took the public microphone to
and councilman Harold Haugan have defend himself.He said he had not tried to
received comments against Maplewood influence anyone.
Plaza Corporation's rezoning request
also. "I didn't even want to be on this plan-
ning commission," Mogren said. "But I
The planning commissioner "in was asked on three occasions to serve and
question" at the meeting was Gerald finally said `yes'."
Mogren, 2855 Frederick.
"I have missed a meeting now and
The rezoning request for Limited then," he continued. "And I'm not cer-
Business Commercial (LBC), tabled for tainly in this for the bucks because we
the second time by the council for staff used to get $5 a meeting; now we don't
study of roads in the area, was discussed even get that."
twice by the planning commission,
chairman Lyman Coombs told the "I'll get off the commission when
council_ anyone wants me to — that's fine with
me."
"The first time, Jan. 15, the com-
missioner (Mogren) was absent from the Citizens had other objections to the
meeting," Coombs said. "The second shopping center rezoning besides a
time, April 16, the commissioner ab- possible interest conflict.
stained from voting."
"With the Maplewood Mall, a $30
However according to the commission's million regional shopping center under
April 16 minutes,Mogren did say the land construction,across the street everything
should be zoned commercial since it was will be so large; we don't need any more
being taxed under such a zoning. problems," said Norman Anderson, 1603
Frost ave. "It seems every developer
Both commission discussions led to a wants to change Maplewood but he never
favorable recommendation for the wants to do it away from people, they
rezone. The first time a 4-4 tie resulted don't care what they do to the
initially but was broken when chairman homeowner."
Coombs re-submitted the original motion
for reconsideration. The second vote was Anderson urged the council to "stop `This shopping center will be a physical
5-3. development on the east side of White pP g P Y
Bear ave. and listen to the people." eyesore because of its prominence and at
On April 16, after a second council night its parking lot lights will brighten up
hearing date was set, a favorable "It seems to me that we did listen to the the whole area," Monroe said. "I'm not
recommendation was given on a 5-4 vote people when they said at public hearings against shopping centers ser se, but I
by the 11 member Commission. Mogren on the master guide plan that they didn't think we might be over-concentrating
abstained. want so many high density housing are- them a little too much."
as," Wiegert said. "This is one area Jerry president of the North St.
Despite the explanation which village where we changed the pattern to corn- Bucher,
officials gave to protesting citizens,Jerry mercial." Paul-Maplewood Homeowners
But Ron Monroe, 2975 Furness ave., Association, opposed the rezoning
agreed with Anderson. because "we can't even take care of the
hopping centers we have now."
no estOi'é
Plaza rezone
He referred to the council's April 19 "We're being asked to zone now and
resolution requesting the state to exempt meet future problems later."
the village from the tax levy limitation
law. Plaza Corp. Developer Dave Parkhill,
The $75 million Homart shopping who offered two road plans on April 19,
center, south of County Rd. D, north of requested tabling of the matter until May
Beam ave. and east of White Bear ave. 17, after the council set May 8 as a shirt-
"places a tremendous financial burden on sleeve session to work out plans for the
the village to supply services, yet roadway network.
produces no net gain in tax dollars to the The council had tabled
village," Bucher said. original
rezoning for six months at its Jan. 25
"It seems to me we should take care of meeting.
the peoples' needs first," Bucher said. The shopping center proposed would be
Village Manager Mike Miller continued mall-designed and include small retail
to lead staff opposition against the businesses.
rezoning until a roadway study of Beam,
Woodland, and Lydia avenues is made. Parkhill is interested in getting
rezoning approval before the property
Miller reiterated his position that a rush owner decides to sell and split up the
job on the street system would dictate parcel which would hurt our chances for
land use. getting the mall," he said on April 19.