CC 08-29-2005 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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, . e ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 29, 2005 6 Couucilmember Larson asked for clarification on the reduction of the road. Mr. Brown stated the back-to-back was comparable to the existing width, but there would be a loss of 2 drivable feet. Councilmember Holden asked if roundabout were included in the price. Mr. Brown replied they were not. Dave Carlson, 3535 Siems Court, thanked the City Engineer for his work and stated he was excited about this project. He appreciated that the residents were given the opportunity for input. He stated the residents had a lot of stake in this neighborhood. He stated if the City needed his northern yard, they could have it. He noted he got most of the drainage from Siems Court and the drainage was eroding the lot between him and his neighbor and now he would now need to get some fill. He expressed concern about tree loss on his lot and stated ifhe was to lose any trees, hc wanted to lose trees along the street and not along the lake. With respect to the driveway, he has been maintaining it and the retaining wall since he had moved in and put over $10,000 into the driveway before he realized the City owned it. He stated if the retaining wall was not replaced now, they would spend three fold in a few years. He indicated the retaining wall was falling down and he would like to see it rebuilt, but he did not want to see the driveway extended. He stated he wanted to see the driveway vacated and put in something more accessible and user friendly. With respect to the roundabouts and sidewalks he was opposed to these and did not believe they were necessary. He stated he was also opposed to curb. Diane Pearson, 1556 Arden Place, stated she was opposed to the roundabouts. She inquired about the wetlands and the ponds. She asked ifrain gardens were a part ofthis plan. Mr, Brown stated he had met with the Beach Club and Rice Creek Watershed and rain gardens were infiltration basins and in this neighborhood there were some areas conducive to rain gardens, but noted they would need plumbing to drain them. He stated in his report they had a merging of two ideas with infiltration basins along the wetland itself where there was natural vegetation. As a general rule, they had to have the right type of topography and he did not believe the topography was right for this project. Ms. Pearson stated she was not in favor of curbs, but if there had to be curbs, she was not opposed to surmountable curbs. She stated she was not in favor of sidewalks. Steve Nelson, 3475 Siems Court, asked how they could allow buildings to be built in the high water mark on Lake Johanna. He requested the Council look at this. Mike Hagen, 1540 Arden Place, stated he was opposed to sidewalks and roundabouts. He asked if there was any difference in drainage with the curb options. Mr. Brown stated a 6-inch curb would get them another couple of inches of protection and the surmountable and 4-inch curb were the same protection. He stated whether there were surmountable curbs or not, they would have individual driveway aprons. He stated there was not a "no curb option" because the drainage issues would not be addressed with no curbs. He noted with surmountable curbs, there was the possibility of sod being pulled up in the winter by the plows.