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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-29-1971 SMAGENDA Maplewood Village Council 7:30 P.M., Thursday, April 29, 1971 Municipal Administration Building Meeting No. 71 -15 (A) CALL TO ORDER (B) ROLL CALL (C) PUBLIC HEARINGS 1 Zone Change (M -3 to B -C) - Southeast corner of Frost and English UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Request for Reconsideration - Inland Construction Corporation 2. Legislation E) ADJOURNMENT Minutes of Maplewood Village Council 7:30 P.M., Thursday, April 29, 1971 Council Chambers, Municipal Building Meeting No. 71 - 15 A. CALL TO ORDER A special meeting of the Village Council of Maplewood, Minnesota was held in the Council Chambers, Municipal Building and was called to order at 7:35 P.M. by Mayor Axdahl. B. ROLL CALL Lester G. Axdahl, Mayor Present John C. Greavu, Councilman Absent Harald L. Haugan, Councilman Present Patricia L. Olson, Councilwoman Present Donald J. Wiegert, Councilman Present C. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Zone Change (M -3 to B -C) - Southeast corner of Frost and English. a. Mayor Axdahl convened the meeting for a public hearing on the zone change request from M -3 to B -C for the property legally described as: Lots 1 through 7, Block 3, Gladstone Addition (Southeast corner of Frost and English). Administrator Sieda read the notice of hearing along with the publication dates. b. Manager Miller presented the staff report which recommended approval of the zone change for the following reasons: (1) The streets in the area are insufficient in design and traffic carrying capabilities to accommodate heavy industrial use traffic. (2) The intersection of English and Frost is incapable today or, for apparently the foreseeable future, of accommodating industrial traffic. (3) This office cannot subscribe to the proposition that heavy indus- trial traffic should be brought into the Gladstone area to this specific area on streets that must pass through residential areas to get to the area, and yet today, the heavy manufacturing zoning would in fact, en- courage and promote that. (4) If the Village of Maplewood, its citizens, and its businessmen in this area intended to really be serious about trying to plan-`and devel- opment a commercial convenience center, then all of them must come to the realization that they cannot accomplish that objective if it is the decision that heavy industrial zoning should be retained in the Gladstone, Frost and English, area. We suggest that it is folly on the part of the Village to continue to hold to the current zoning pattern of heavy in- dustrial zoning in this area of the Village in that they cannot reason - ably expect entire heavy industrial uses to utilize the existing zoning - 1 - 4/29 for the area, and more importantly, to take advantage of the extremely small parcels such as this which were so zoned for that use. The thrust of this item is that this particular zone change represents a challenge to the Village to have to decide what is the desired planned usage for the Gladstone area in terms of commercial usage versus heavy industrial usage. This also includes such properties as the Northern Pacific Rail- road Property to be East of English Street and West of the railroad tracks. This office's recommendation is for approval of the rezone request with the condition that 10 ft.of right -of -way be dedicated along the north and west property lines for additional street widening to accommodate the commercial traffics that will be generated to and from the site. Secondly, the Village of Maplewood should on its own initiative, act to initiate and order a public hearing for the prupose of vacating Ridge Street in its entirety from Skillman Avenue on the north to 320 ft. South of Ripley. Said street is adjacent to the Northern Pacific Railroad right -of -way and has a 30 ft, platted width. Such vacation condition is suggested in that this street presently does not function as a public street and has no apparent worth either today or for the future. It, therefore, should be officially abandon and integrated into development possibilities of adjoining properties. c. Administrator Seida read the following Planning Commission recommen- dation: Proposed Rezone M -2 to B -C (SE corner Frost - English) The Planner presented his written recommendation for conditional approval. Commissioner Singer moved that the Commission accept the Staff Report as the Commission's report and that the Commission recommend approval to the Village Council the zone change indentified as Zone Change 3 -71. Commissioner Mogren seconded. Motion carried. Ayes - all. d. Proponents: Perry Shortridge, applicant, spoke on behalf of the pro- posed zone change. e. Apponents: Mayor Axdahl called for formal objections. None were heard. f. Mayor Axdahl closed the public hearing. g. Councilman Wiegert moved to delay decision on the Zone Change until the May 6th meeting to allow written testimony to be filed, Seconded by Councilman Haugan. D. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Ayes -all. 1. Request for reconsideration - Inland Construction Corporation. a. Manager Miller presented a letter dated April 23, 1971 from Inland Construction Corporation requesting reconsideration.for their proposed - 2 - 4/29 multiple dwelling development. He further stated the decision to delay action was made on the basis of waiting for a Transportation Study Design that was to be made by the Metropolitan Council. The staff would like to report that this study design is to define the goals, methods and economics of achieving a comprehensive transportation plan which covers the St. Paul East Area. b. After considerable study, no motion was made for reconsideration at this time. 2. Legislation a. Manager Miller stated he had placed legislation on the agenda because the legislation is in session and perhaps Council would have an item to be discussed. He further stated that on April 30, 1971 at 7:30 P.M., there will be a hearing on the House Tax Freeze Bill. Councilman Wiegert stated he had attended the meeting on Tuesday and the organization of counties appeared in opposition to the bill, b. Mayor Axdahl stated that a week ago he had attended a discussion at Lino Lakes with respect to Metropolitan Park Reserve Proposal under Leg- islation. The group in that area are strongly urging everyone to join in sending resolutions to the Legislature opposing this particular bill and the Additional property tax provisions. Mayor Axdahl read resolutions from Lino Lakes opposing several bills that are proposed. (The bills refer to House File No. 1678.) Councilwoman Olson moved a resolution similar to the one proposed by Lino Lakes. There was no second. Council requested more information. Mayor Axdahl introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: 71 -4 -61A RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FILE NO. 1678 WHEREAS, the Village Council of the Village of Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota, has considered the implications of H.F. No. 1678, "A bill for an "act relating to the organization, powers and duties of a metropolitan park reserve board... "; and WHEREAS, the said Council looks with disfavor at the granting of the right of eminent domain upon yet another public corporation; and WHEREAS, the said Council desires to retain the property tax base to support those activities currently so intended and dependent thereon and opposes expansion of useage of the already overburdened property tax base, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Village Council of the Village of Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota, that it opposes passage of said House of Representatives File No. 1678 on grounds that it proposes an unwarranted extension of the right of eminent domain and a further burden on the property tax base. - 3 - 4/29 Seconded by Councilman Wiegert. Ayes - all. C. Councilwoman Olson discussed the Ramsey County Plat Commission. She stated Ramsey County did not have a surveyor and before action can be taken regarding the Plat Commission, a surveyor would be needed. She read a letter from Mr. Thomas Kelley, Ramsey County Auditor. After considerable discussion, Councilman Wiegert moved to table this matter until the next meeting. Seconded by Councilman Haugan. Ayes - all. d. Councilwoman Olson commented that she attended the Ramsey County Commissioners Meeting and wondered if Council was aware that it has been authorized to lease the Goodrich Triangle to the Village. e. Councilman Wiegert requested a detailed report on the sanitary sewer situation on County Road C. Village Engineer Collier stated a full report will be given at a later date. f. Councilman Wiegert stated he had received a communication from the Park and Recreation Commission regarding an additional tract of the land for the Demont - Flandrau Park Site. He questioned if it were necessary for the Commission to be authorized to precede with negotiating for the additional track or had this already been given? Manager Miller stated Council had authorized to procede with negotiations. Administrator Joyce requested Council approval for buying the smaller tract of land outright rather than contract for deed. There is sufficient money budgeted for this. Staff recommends authorization to purchase this land as per recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Councilman Wiegert e Demont - Flandrau Park Area at the Seconded by Councilman Haugan. Ayes - all. g. Councilman Wiegert stated that the Board of Adjustments and Appeals proceeded to relieve conditions on Shopper's City by the Council. It is rather difficult to believe that this is part of their function. " I am not even convinced in my mind that we require a Board, but I won't fight it because perhaps at some time we will be required to have one. I find it difficult to accept that they eliminate Council set conditions ". Councilman Wiegert requested staff redesign the subdivision, regarding the Board of Appeals and Adjustments. - 4 - 4/29 Manager Miller stated there is no reason why Council can't appeal the - Board's decision, then it would go to District Court. He didn't believe staff agrees with their findings. If ever this Board feels an ordinance is wrong, they should deny the variance and recommend to the Council that the ordinance be changed. Council asked Staff to redesign the parking requirement and to study the situation and brief Council on what should be done about this decision and also to study the Board of Appeals and Adjustment. h. Manager Miller requested that the load limits be removed, effective May 1, 1971. Councilman Wiegert moved that the load limit restrictions on Village roadways be lifted effective May 1, 1971. Seconded by Councilwoman Olson. Ayes - all. i. Manager Miller also said all those interested in going to the League Conference are to give his secretary the information so she may make re- servations. j. James Hagner stated that the Maplewood Citizen's Association will concern itself with real estate taxes at its next meeting, Wednesday of next week. This is not a "gripe" session, it is intended to be educational and informative only. k. Mayor Axdahl stated that recognition should be given to the number of individuals, including a group of J.C.'s for the fine job they did on the clean up. Councilman Wiegert moved to publicly thank in the "SDrinE Clean Uo ". Seconded by Councilman Haugan. E. ADJOURNMENT 10:15 P.M. yCitq Clerk - 5 - 4/29 Ayes - all. ved