CCP 09-30-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Cleveland and County Road D which will affect the flow of traffic and change the landscaping. . We want the Planning Commission and City Council to know that we want them to enforce the requirements of the zoning ordinance. We want them know that homeowners will not be taken advantage of by businesses or anyone else trying to exploit the new neighborhood business district zoning ordinances. We are concerned about our property values and proper screening as adjacent and close proximity neighbors. In the last approval process, the homeowners felt overwhelmed by the developer who is a lawyer and has the advantage of knowing how to work the law and ordinances to his benefit. We are asking the city council to help protect us by enforcing the neighborhood business district ordinances. This time, we are using our collective voice to let our elected officials know our concern as neighborhood homeowners. We have also talked with many neighbors who have agreed with us and are willing to support us jfthis new proposal goes any further. We will not support city council members who do not uphold our zoning ordinances or protect us from developers who have an advantage against us. We see the PUD as a way for developers to get around zoning ordinances. It is a loophole that works in the mvor of the businesses. The land was recently rezoned neighborhood business because it was too restrictive. We are concerned the PUD will not take into account the intent of the current zoning. All we ask is that you follow the ordinances set up by Arden Hills. Please require the developers live by the spirit of the zoning ordinance. . 1. We do not want the building to be oversized! All the adjacent houses are one story ramblers. The neighborhood business district purpose states in C: To place limitations on the type, size and intensity of uses within thi~ district, given its proximity to residential uses. 2. We want proper screening! If the building is going to be bigger, the ordinance states in Appendix A that there should be more screening provided. At the last November planning commission meeting, Mr. McGuire explained the difference in elevation between the property being developed and neighboring properties and was assured the existing fence was going to stay were it was. Mr. Nelson changed his mind or was confused as to what was said. He told the city council the fence would go on the property line. This change results in very little screening to the north. 3. We want the new building to blend in with the surrounding homes and make sure there is proper landscape screening for adjacent neighbors. The proposed river birch trees provide very little screening in the winter, grow slowly and were not recommended by a landscape design engineer or the Minnesota horticultural society. However pyramidal arborvitae will provide screening .