2006 11-13 CC WORKSHOP MINUTES - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF GEM LAKE MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP 13 NOVEMBER 2006 Mayor. Ellicott convened the November City Council Workshop at 7:22 PM in thefirstfloor meeting room of Tausley Ford, Mayor Emeott, Councilors Bosak, Schilling, Rasmussen and Watson were present.: Also present were City. Clerk Magnuson, Mark Sweet of the Business Development Committee, City Engineer Justin. Gese, City Intern Wally Powell. Also present were Ken Kirchoff, Barry Zevan, Jim Lindner, Bob and Kim Anderson: Uxpen and Dale and Gretchen-Artig Swornley, Tom and Lenore Bolfing. Mr. Magnuson then made opening remarks regarding the efforts to create a vision for the 2008 Comprehensive Plan and indicated that tonight's workshop will combine.with. the December workshop to create the vision statement for the Comprehensive. Plan. To assist in preparing the vision. statement, Magnuson noted that: the City Planner advises there is no single format that iscorrect and that in addition to a singlevision statement (macro or big picture), it is often necessary to create vision statements for eachdistrict within the City. To this end, the City Council has received a packet of three examples of vision statements. plus the .existing vision statement from the Gem Lake 1997 Plan (Section 4.0). Mayor Ellicott and the Councilthen discussed openly with the community the many individual visions that have been discussed including recreational open space, natural open space, city parks andtrails, regional trails and future development. It was determined early that based upon the current conditions in Gem Lake that the City should be. considered fully developed with less than 15% ofthe City's total land available for development. Discussion of how this would be determined and it was generally agreed that the total land mass of Gem Lake at 721 acres should be the denominator for the equation: Hence, by adding the two. Hansen parcels on County E: at 35.64 acres to the Hoffman Corner parcels at 14:57 acres, approximately 50.21acres are currently available for development. The further addition ofup to 35 acresto be developed by Kunin andHoeschlerbringsthe total to 85.21 acres. When. the 85.21 acres is divided by 721.acres, the equivalent is 11.8°%0 or less than the 15% required for fully developed communities in the Metropolitan Council Planning Handbook. Mayor Emeott noted, however, that these final developments will acceleratethe total housing in the City substantially beyond the 4 units per year that was predicted in 1997..It is possible thatat full development (100%), housing units in Gem, Lake could total over 500 or more than 3 times or current inventory. It was noted that the bulk of this housing wouldbe contained in a mixed use development ofthe current retail district. There was general concurrencethat the density allowed in a mixed use development in the current retail district Will assist th community in maintaining much of the current status ofthe residential .community. Magnuson indicated perhaps a map showing all :the new changes should be created to provide for the basis of a "macro" vision of the community as it unfolds. Using this as a tool, an overall .(`4nacro"). statement could evolve followedby more specific visions for each:district {`Micros"). There was general concurrence this would be a helpful tool and the Clerk was charged withcreating same as soon as. possible for use by both. the Planning Commission, City Council and:.Intern as part ofthe community surveys. Both intern Powell and Engineer Gese felt this: could:facilitate the process although Ms. Swomley expressed some concern that it might lead residents to conclusions. Emeott supported the use indicating pictures stimulate the visual processand tend to facilitate discussion. As the Planning Commission is primarily charged with development of the 2008 Comp PIan, it was suggested that development of the vision statement might be facilitated if worked an jointly by the City Council and Planning Commission. To: this end, it was determined to be 'in the best interest of the commtnity for the two bodies tomeet collectively on 04 December 2006 and have 05 December 2006 also available so time constraints can be lifted. Magnuson was ordered to publish same. Following additional discussion,.Mayor Emeott thanked all in attendance for comingthis evening. The workshop was adjourned at.9:04 pm. AUTHORED:: 13 Nove2nber 2006 APPROVED: 20 November 2006 ATTEST:' . ATTEST: Frederic.C:.' gnu +n.. Paul R. Emeott City Clerk Mayor eh1e; Minulesl20061206unvwm.wpd Page 1 of l