CC 12-08-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 8, 2003 3 . Michelle Owen, 1428 Arden Oaks Court, stated she disagreed with the comments in staff's report. She indicated she did not think the Ordinances adequately addressed the unique nature of her lot. She noted she felt the Building Official did not have proper regard for the neighborhood and the neighbor's concerns. She expressed concern about the usage of hcr property and the impact this structure had on her property value. She asked if staff had addressed the request for additional landscaping, She stated she thought it was incorrect that Mr. Beamish had not contacted the City until November. She indicated she had contacted the City last summer regarding her concerns about the structure. She expressed concern that if the structure was within the setback requirements, they had no rights as neighbors. She stated she felt nobody was looking at the impact of the structure on the neighbors, She asked the Council to take all of the circumstances into account. She stated she wanted the City to direct the property owners to move the structure to another location on their property, Mayor Aplikowski noted Mr. Beamish was within his legal rights to place the structure where he wanted to on his property and he had indicated this was the most appropriate place for this structure, She stated it was not up to the City to dictate where a structure should be placed on a property, as long as the City Ordinances and setback requirements were followed, She noted landscaping may be installed by all parties involved, and not just Mr. Beamish, . Councilmember Larson stated he had not viewed the Byers property representing the Council. He indicated he went there at the request of Mr. Byers. and had told Mr. Byers he would get in touch with City staff regarding the resident's concerns. He stated statThad informed him of the same infonnation that what was in their report. He stated he had called Mr. Byers back and informed him that there was not much the City could do because the Beamish shed was in compliance with the Municipal Code requirements, He noted there was only so much the City could do with respect to aesthetics, which he believed was the issue, He stated he believed the neighhors were asking the City to do something it could not do, He noted if a structure was placed within the guidelines the City had, it was not necessary to have Councilor the Planning Commission approve it. He suggested the residents put up a privacy fence or more landscaping ifthey were not satisfied with the landscaping Mr. Beamish had installed, Councilmember Rem indicated the City respected the rights of private property owners and if residents were within the Ordinances and setbacks, the City did not interfere with those rights. Reed Byers, 1416 Arden Hills Court, expressed concern that his property values had diminished because of this structure, and now they were being asked to incur additional expense for landscaping which was unacceptable, He stated he intended to follow this through to fruition, 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS . None, - ---