HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973 05-09 Maplewood approves 3M special use permit REVIEW Maplewàod approves
am special use permit
by SCOTT CARLSON
Citysuburban communities which would "NSP has agreed to enter into the uniform
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing
(3M)was granted a special use permit to bargain collectively with Northern States franchise agreement with any community
Power (NSP) on electric rates. which joins the Metro Rate Authority, if
undertake a multi stage construction
the municipalities representing at least 60
project on a 146 acre tract north of Con
way ave. by the Maplewood council last Manager Miller feels the Rate Authority percent of the customers in the
Thursday night. can be effective despite the absence of St. Metropolitan area join the rate authority
Paul. on or before July 31, 1973.
The council voted for approval based on
"It appears St. Paul is afraid it will lose ". . . Under the terms of the uniform
village staff and Community Design
its gross earnings taxing if they go into franchise the activities of the Authority
Review Board conditions. Mayor Les
this Metro Rate Authority," village at- will be financed by annual contributions
Axdahl, a 3M employee,abstained during
the two council votes. torney Don Lais told the council. by NSP in the amount of $150,000 and
Ma lewood's involvement in the for- $160,000 for 1973 and 1974 respectively."
First phase of the project includes con- p
mulation of the Rate Authority began The council and Miller hailed creation of
struction of a 302,000 square foot
indirectly in June, 1971 when the council the Authority since the village currently
research office building adjacent to
passed a resolution protesting NSP ar- operates with little or no rate regulation
Carleton st. and north of Conway ave.
bitrarily increasing electric without a nnthority.
The proposed building will be three demonstrated need.
stories high on the north end and one story
on the south end with an overall flat roof Twenty-nine other communities asked for
design. an investigation into rate review and
regulation.
Councilmen re-zoned the 146-acre tract
A steering committee of the community's
from Farm-Residential (F-R) to Light
Manufacturing(M-i) last December. The was established last June and George
council ordered the village staff to review Hess, nationally recognized utility rate
nine concerns for possible applicability consultant and the law firm of Howard,
LeFevere, Lefler, Hamilton and Pearson
towards furture 3M building.
were hired to act as consultants to the
However those conditions were not made committee.
pre-conditions for special permit ap-
proval. The council stated it would not The fruits of the committee work are a
delay permit approval until the alignment uniform franchise agreement and joint
of McKnight rd. between Conway and powers agreement," Miller stated. "The
joint agreement creates an organization
Larpenteur ayes. was established by
Ramsey County. to administer the rate making regulation
feature of the uniform franchise.
Council approval of the 3M plans, subject
to several conditions, was declared
compatible with the purpose of the
Community Design Review ordinance.
3M is anticipating occupancy of its first
building in January 1975.
Village Manager Mike Miller told 3M
representatives they would have to
petition for village utility improvements
luickly if the project is to complete a
schedule and in conjunction with village
Manning.
N OTHER ACTION the Council approved
ink teading of an ordinance which would
la't e MapleW0Qd a member of the Metro
ate Authority.
a llewo0d wonldbe one of several Twin
t