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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973 07-04 New controversy hits continuing Beam saga REVIEW New controversy COntinuing BBeam saga yik5 , 1175 by Scott Carlson was never platted in 1962 as a cul-d-sac elusion I would think that the average Background in the news and that once it was designated a state- normal citizen might think the road would The atmosphere was ripe for a political aid road "that would seem to indicate it be extended when it dead-ended at the argument and a crashing head-to-head would run from one major street to west." confrontation. On one side there was the another". In this case that would be Maplewood council which claimed that McKnight and White Bear. But most of the citizens claim they never plans had always called for Beam ave. to thought the road would be extended. They link up to White Bear ave. On the other How many people might have known that maintain they envisioned the area side was a hostile crowd of Maplewood Beam was or was not going to eventually remaining residential. Heights residents insisting with equal become a through street is still another vigor that no such plans ever existed. unanswered question. Ray Hite, "We never dreamed that the road might Maplewood's superintendent of public go through,"said Mrs. Diane Bruton,2224 Despite statements made by councilmen works, said that upon checking village Beam ave. "We didn't even think about John Greavu and Donald Wiegert, the records the first building permits came the street being widened." She and her council did not desire to press the matter trickling in by 1964. By 1966 he estimates husband Robert bought their home in at its last meeting. Obviously the council 70 percent of the homes were built. 1968. will be perplexed and hard-pressed to make the "right" decision when the time "That doesn't indicate what a Mrs. Judy Smiczek, 2183 Beam ave., was comes. Least of all it wants to worry policymaker had in mind however," Hite another homeowner who didn't notice the about the past, something which none of said. And it appears even less that the wide street. We had four days to buy a the councilmen can change. citizens had any idea of what was coming. house because my husband had been transferred and we just bought in this Whether the council carries through its Mrs. Jackie Henderson, 2109 Beam ave., area on faith," she said. resolution of intent in making Beam, never imagined the road would go Lydia and Woodlyn ayes. corridor con- through or become any wider. She was Smiczek added that their realtor never nectors to White Bear ave. and a $30 one of the original homeowners before the said whether the road might go through. million shopping center, expected to be road was widened in 1967. completed next year,or whether the area The summary seems to indicate Beam residents, united under a group called "As far as for checking with the village ave. was intended to be extended. By Citizens Against Residential Exploitation we didn't do that but we talked to Robert admission on their part the citizens in- (CARE), can successfully stop the road Tilsen (developer) and understood the terviewed said they never checked with extensions remains to be seen. road wouldn't become any wider," the village to find out what might happen. Henderson said. She added that she was But the initial sparks of the June 21 surprised when neighborhood lawns were Much of what happened before might be meeting unearthed the latest con- torn up to make the road wider. troversy in the continuing Beam ave. due to communication mixups.At the last saga.It is an issue nagging at the back of At the last meetingcouncilman Greavu council meeting one citizen, who was inquiring on the status of Beam ave. many peoples' minds. said Tilsen told homeowners the road because he intended to build a home along would go through. And councilman the road,said manager Miller had written Was it always intended that one day Donald Wiegert said he saw a map in- to him and said nothing had been planned Beam ave. would connect to White Bear dicating the road would go through to on connecting Beam Ave. west of White ave? Or has that proposal only recently White Bear ave. emerged with the development of the Bear ave. to Highway 61. shopping?There is a lot of speculation but Contacted at his home Sunday, Tilsen no definite answers. said, "While I sympathize with the A check of the correspondance files finds people, if anyone ever asked me the that the citizens inquiry had been in A person who would have been in an question I know I never told them that regard to a council decision on Beam ave. excellent position to know is Maplewood Beam wouldn't go through. No cul-de-sac east of White Bear ave.; not west of that manager Mike Miller. However he came was ever planned. to the village in 1969, three years after north-south road. Beam was designated a state-aid road "As far as I was concerned I had always and widened to 44 feet. assumed it would go through to White Misunderstandings on other aspects of the Bear ave.,"Tilsen said. "I've talked to 50 situation could have also occurred. But "I cant answer for what anyone said in different people along Beam and frankly I they should continue no longer. The 1966," Miller said, referring to citizen don't think the people are being honest original Beam ave. feasibility study has claims that they were told the road wasn't with themselves if they didn't think the been expanded to include Lydia and going through. "I just can't imagine why road was going through. Woodlyn ayes. and will include extensive anyone would like to the people if they citizen imput, something which is un- did." "I know a lot of the people up there are precedented in scope according to Miller. businessmen,Miller, however, added that Beam ave. corporations. Ito isonlya logicn from al con- reports are made--at he citizen public s afterth" P hearings."