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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-28-1972 SMAGENDA Maplewood Village Council 7:30 P.M., Tuesday, March 28, 1972 Municipal Administration Building Meeting 72 - 8 (A) CALL TO ORDER (B) ROLL CALL C) PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Sanitary Sewer Improvement - Larpenteur, between Myrtle Street and Howard Street metering station (continued from March 16) 2. water Improvement - Larpenteur, extending 2000 -feet east from McKnight Road (D) ADJOURNMENT MINUTES OF MAPLEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL 7:30 P.M., Tuesday, March 28, 1972 Council Chambers, Municipal Building Meeting No. 72 -9 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 7:32 P.M. by Mayor Axdahl. B. ROLL CALL Lester G. Axdahl, Mayor Present John C. Greavu, Councilman Present Harald L. Haugan, Councilman Present Patricia L. Olson, Councilwoman Present Donald J. Wiegert, Councilman Present C. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Sanitary Sewer Improvement - Larpenteur Avenue between Myrtle Street and the Howard Street Metering Station (continued from March 16) a. Mayor Axdahl stated the public hearing for the Sanitary Sewer Improve- ment on Larpenteur Avenue had been held on March 16 and continued until this evening. b. Manager Miller read a letter from Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Gibbs opposing the proposed improvement. Manager Miller stated the Staff recommended the public hearing be continued for the following reasons: The Holloway Avenue Trunk Sewer Improvement bids have some problems as to the lowest bid. The next low bidder was $223,000.00 higher than the low bidder. The low bidder was awarded the bid, but stated he did not want the project. Staff has spent about thiYty days trying to find out if he plans to do the project or not. If he doesn't, and he should forfeit his bond, then the question arises of the feasibility. Secondly, the developers of Maple Woods advise us they are considering the possibility of requesting changes in the Planned Unit Development. This may have some affects on the sewer. For these reasons staff suggests that this hearing be continued until a later date and that the staff be authorized to notify the people involved, in writing, that the hearing will be taken off of the table. c. Village Engineer Bob Collier briefly outlined the sanitary sewer assess- ments. Doro, or Maplewood Properties, would be assessed at three times the remainder of the property for the drainage area. This was based on the fact that the density would be three times greater than single family re- sidents. Single family residents would be assessed $41.00 an acre and Maple Woods area $123.00 an acre. The next assumption made was that Maple Woods and the Priory property, which is zoned for Multiple Family, would be assessed at three times the other rates, which would come out to $90.00 an acre for the property north of Larpenteur and $30 an acre for that - 1 - 3/28 property south of Larpenteur. The other assumption made was that property at Maple Woods, Priory and at the Southwest corner of Century and McKnight would be assessed at three times the other rates. This would give the multiple areas we are speaking of $84.00 an acre and single family at $28 an acre. Staff recommended the the 17 acres on the south side of Larpen- teur be deferred until developed. These are areas, if developed, will have to be served by sewer from Larpenteur. Mr. Collier showed slides of the area involved. d. Questions were raised by the Council as to the specific conditions placed on the Doro Development when it was originally approved. They requested that a copy of the minutes should be obtained so everyone would be aware of what the specifics were. The Manager was also instructed to research: the petition that was presented for the Sanitary Sewer Improve- ment. e. Councilwoman Olson moved to have the minutes and the petition brought up to Council. Seconded by Councilman Haugan. Ayes - all. Mayor Axdahl called for a recess so the minutes could be obtained. Mayor Axdahl reconvened the meeting at 9:43 P.M. I. Manager Miller read the resolution introduced by Councilman Joyce (4/7/69) approving the Doro Planned Unit Development. Attorney Don Lais stated that a Planned Unit Development as granted at that time would be a valid permit or grant. It is too late now to do anything about it as it is well over the six month period. The petition was signed by the de- veloper of Doro. g. Mr. Gittleman, owner of Maple Woods, stated that when Doro embarked on the development of this project, they did have a committment for seven or eight million dollars with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. A substantial fee, something like $50,000.00, was paid in cash for obtaining this committment. This committment was arranged through Northland Mortgage Company. When Maplewood Properties came in and took over this property from Doro, the committment from Metropolitan Life Company was in effect and was in good standing; Maplewood Properties chose to renegotiate.,for a modification of that committment, simply because the committment was ob- tained in 1969 or 1970, it was at the peak of the interest rate. That committment was for either 10 or 11 percent. The rate:�today is something far less than that. Metropolitan Life felt Maplewood Properties were bound by that committment and would have to live with it; they were not willing to withdraw from that interest rate. Finally, after negotiations, Maplewood Properties paid in cash, three weeks ago, a $50,000.00 fee, as liquidated damages for a release from Metropolitan Life Insurance. Financ- ing today, sufficient for this entire complex, has been arranged with the First National Bank of St. Paul, through Mr. Clarence Frame. The Doro Corporation did encounter financial difficulties with this project, as well as other projects, resulting in unpaid bills, far in excess of the million dollars, in addition to the three and one half million dollars which was advanced by the Milwaukee National Bank. Maplewood Properties - 2 - 3/28 - has paid off the Milwaukee Bank and have paid off many thousands of dol- lars to satisfy outstanding bills on this property. Mr. Gittleman would like to invite all of the Councilmen and anyone else interested, in sixty days to come over to Maple Woods and see the part that has been developed; to look at finished landscaping. They are going to tear out most of the blocktopping which was not put in properly last fall. They have a new engineering firm and site planners from Chicago and they are going to have a fully and complete landscaped project. It consists of four - sixty unit buildings. Four'buildings are presently standing, a recreation building, play areas, garages and everything for a complete project, which will far surpass those represented to the Council as a Planned Unit Development and will exceed landscaping plans which have been presented to the bhgineering Department. As far as the balance of the land, there are seventy -four townhouses in various stages of construction, of which sixteen are completed. The Developers will meet before the Plan- ning Commission a week from this coming Thursday and are going to propose a modification of the planned unit development to enable them to take the existing seventy -four townhouses, by landscaping, berm ng of the ground, and installing separate :swimming pools and play areas and proceed to convert it to a condominium concept, to put property owners into the townhouses. The developers feel it would be a far nicer development. In so far as the balance of the land, they don't know. They are pretty well convinced that they don't want to go forward with the original concept that had been ap- proved by the Planning Commission and Council. Mr. Gittleman further stated they like to look at this as four separate developments. First Phase - the commercial corner. They have no immediate plans for this commercial corner. Second Phase - four existing sixty unit buildings, recreation center and surface garages. This is now known as Maple Woods Apartments. This section will be totally complete with all final landscaping and grading within sixty to ninety days from this date. Third Phase - the section where the townhouses presently exist, whether they sell them as condominiums or rent them. That section will be totally complete by early summer, including landscaping, playgrounds, etc. Fourth Phase - Remaining Land - that will be under construction, with an approved concept, this summer. If there is any grading or cleaning up to do, to approve the overall appearance, they will be glad to do it, prior to the time they begin construction. Mr. Gittleman further explained that Maplewood Properties is a corporation owned by two individuals, Charles Cox and Thomas King, both attorneys in Minneapolis. h. Mayor Axdahl called for formal objectors. The following were heard: Councilwoman Olson stepped down from Council to object as a resident. Patricia Olson, 1580 North Sterling Clarence McReynolds, 2384 Larpenteur Ray Chase, 2402 Larpenteur John J. Brennhofer, 1600 McKnight Road Bennie Swanson, 1560 McKnight Road Victor Swanson, 1580 McKnight Road - 3 - 3/28 Mrs. L. Mercier, 2376 Larpenteur Edward Junek, 2436 Larpenteur Harry M. Schmokel, 1630 Sterling Hazel Sorenson, 1608 Myrtle J. Mueller, 1568 Myrtle Roy C. Reichow, 1660 Myrtle Mrs'. William Peterson, 1654 Sterling Vern Tepe, 1610 Sterling i. Mayor Axdahl closed the public hearing. j. Councilwoman Olson moved to take the recommendation of the engineer and in view of the problems in the area, move that the project be cancelled Seconded by Councilman Haugan. Ayes - Mayor Axdahl, Councilwoman Olson, Councilman Haugan. Nay - Councilmen Greavu and Wiegert. 2. Water Improvement - Larpenteur Avenue from McKnight Road East 2000 feet. a. Mayor Axdahl stated the public hearing was held March 16, 1972 and continued to this evening. b. Village Engineer Collier explained the proposed improvement. He stated the improvement was needed to reinforce a 6" line going north from Lar- penteur Avenue along McKnight Road and servicing the area between Ripley and Holloway Avenues. This is an area experiencing low water quantity problems. If the multiple dwelling areas were assessed three times the rate of residential for the water line, the approximate cost would be $43,520.00, of which the north side of Larpenteur Avenue would be assessed $16.50 per front foot and the south side $5.50 per foot. The average cost per foot for water improvements are $8.00 per foot. Services for this improvement are estimated at $150.00 per connection. c. Mayor Axdahl called for formal objections. The following were heard: Ray Chase, 2402 E. Larpenteur C. R. McReynolds, 2384 E. Larpenteur Edward Junek, 2436 Larpenteur d. Mayor Axdahl closed the public hearing. e. Councilman Wiegert moved that the assessment follow the formula sug- gested by the engineer - the property on the north be assessed three times the rate of the orooerty to the south - aooroximately $16.50 on the north. Seconded by Councilman Haugan. Ayes - all. f. Councilman Wiegert introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: (approving the project) _ 4 - 3/28 72 -3 -67 WHEREAS, after due notice of public hearing on the construction of water mains, service connections, appurtenances and necessary street re- construction on Larpenteur Avenue from McKnight Road 2000 feet east a hearing on said :improvement in accordance with the notice duly given was duly held on March 16, 1972 (and continued until March 28, 1972), and the Council has heard all persons desiring to be heard on the matter and has fully considered the same; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA, as follows: 1. That it is advisable, expedient, of Maplewood construct water mains, and necessary street reconstruction Road 2000 feet east as described in and orders the same to be made. and necessary that the Village service connections, appurtenances on Larpenteur Avenue from McKnight the notice of hearing thereon, 2. Village Engineer is designated engineer for this improvement and is hereby directed to prepare final plans and specifications for the making of said improvement. 3. This improvement is hereby designated to be a part of Water Im- provement Number 72 -4. Seconded by Councilman Haugan. Ayes - all. Councilman Haugan stated he had a call from a neighbor who works for the State of Minnesota. The State is gathering data to bring a suit against the suppliers of cast iron pipe for price fixing for the years 1965 until now. He suggested that Maplewood should look into the possibility of joining in the suit. Staff will investigate. D. ADJOURNMENT 10:2.4 P.M. Cia Clerk - 5 - 3/28