HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973 12-12 Council attacks proposal for impact statements REVIEW Councilattacks r
p oposa
fo\f statements
by Scott Carlson Lais said. IN OTHER ACTION the council:
Maplewood taxpayers could wind up Lais added that if the proposed —Approved the building plan review of
paying for environmental impact studies development for a particular site kept an indoor roller rink at Gervais ave. Also
which they do not even petition to have changing "you could wind up doing a receiving building plan review approval
conducted under rules suggested by the number of impact studies on the same was Hillcrest Mid America State Bank,
Minnesota Environmental Quality site." 1815 North St. Paul rd. Receiving sign
Council (EQC), Maplewood councilmen permit approvals were Community Credit
said last Thursday. Lais said, "We have got to protect the Co., 2255 White Bear ave.; Forest
The council's attack on the proposed village and its people against(what could Products Supply Co.,1915 Castle ave.and
procedures for requesting and paying for be) an ungodly expenditure of money." an office building at 2599 White Bear ave.
environmental impact statements
became an issue in the approval of Twin
City Federal's bank building plan.
The bank will be located near the $30
million Maplewood Mall Shopping Center,
part of the general area of which CARE
(Citizens Against Residential Ex-
ploitation) has requested an impact
study. Manager Mike Miller suggested
developers pay "their proportionate cost
of any environmental impact study
required by Minnesota."
But councilman John Greavu wanted to
leave the condition out of the building plan
approval.He suggested the village should
fight any impact statement payment in
court rather than make the citizens pick
up the tab.
"I don't want anyone from North St.
Paul or White Bear telling us what we
should do," Greavu said about the
proposed rule which requires a minimum
of 500 signatures in calling for an impact
study.
Greavu said it would be possible, under
the proposed rules, to make the village
pay for impact studies which none of its
citizens have signed. "Anytime anything
is done it wouldn't have to include one
signature from a Maplewood citizen," he
declared.
GREAVU SAID, "You could be from
Alaska or California" and if your name
was on the petition— it would be valid.
"This is getting a little ridiculous," he
said.
Greavu said the taxpayers should not
have to pay for studies which might cost
thousands of dollars.Don Wiegert agreed.
"If anybody should pay it's the land
owner," he said.
The council went on record last month
opposing any rules which would make it
pay for environmental impact studies.
The council's resolution said that the
village has extensive tracts of un-
developed land and could not afford to
make impact studies.
MAYOR LES AXDAHL said, "We can't
budget for them."
The resolution added, the village would
not have control over the number of
proposals that could be made for
development and does not have the funds
to pay for the preparation of the studies
for private development.
Maplewood attorney Don Lais agreed.
"You could have 500 signatures on a
petition and require a single family
dW5lP.ng fo have an impact statement,"