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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 2011 Gem Lake Newsletter January, 2011 Volume 5, Issue 1 Gem Lake News Special Interest Articles: • Hillary Farm Requests Change • City Buried in Snow • City News-Page 4 Upcoming Recycling Dates: December 31 January 12 January 26 Gretchen Artig-Swomley, Newsletter Editor McNulty Homes, the developer of the Hillary Farm Housing Development in Gem Lake has requested the re-platting of a section of the overall parcel. The change would increase the number of lots from 29 to 37. An application for re-platting was submitted to Gem Lake on December 14 on behalf of Hillary Farm, LLC, and will be the subject of a public hearing at the next Gem Lake Planning Commission Meeting on January 4 at Heritage Hall. The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. The public is urged to attend and provide feedback. Hillary Farm was originally platted for development in 2004 with a total of 29 lots. (continued on page 2) Hilary Farm Requests Re-platting to Allow Greater Density-Meeting January 4 December 11 Blizzard Buries Gem Lake in Snow Gem Lake residents were more or less snowbound for the weekend of December 11- 12 during the largest snowstorm since the Halloween blizzard of 1991. By the evening of Saturday, December 11 between 17 and 22 inches of snow had fallen, depending on where you live. This fell short of the 28.4 inches of snow that fell in the 1991 storm, but still left most people unable to get out, go to work, see around the corner, attend planned functions, etc. As every where else in the Twin Cities, normal life ground to a halt in Gem Lake. The continuous snow fall left people wondering if the snow plows had come through. Schiftsky's, which has contract to plow Gem Lake streets, came through at least twice during the weekend, but roads were still a snow laden mess. (continued on page 5) Jessie Hart, Gem Lake Treasurer Parts of the Gem Lake Hills Fence were buried in snow during the December 11 blizzard Gem Lake News Page 2 of 6 Hilary Farm Requests Re-platting to Allow Greater Density (continued from page 1) Since 2005, four homes have been built by McNulty Homes. In addition, the large lot containing the original Bemis family home has been purchased and a remodeling project is underway. In 2009, one lot was sold but the construction of a home is on hold, for the time being. The new application for re-platting deals with 28 acres of Hillary Farm that are generally on the eastern border of the parcel, along Scheuneman Road. (See the left edge of the diagram above.) The diagram above shows the overall make-up of Hillary Farm and the section along the left side where eight additional lots would be added. The area in question is the section involving current lot numbers 18-28. The new plan would involve turning this ten lot area into lots for 18 homes. The plan would also involve changing the current road configuration slightly, moving a cul- de-sac and adding more landscaping around the properties. Each of the new homes would have an average lot size of 1.47 acres, down from the 3 acre average size of the original plat. (continued on page 3) Gem Lake NewsPage 3 of 6 After a gala grand opening, on November 20, the Vadnais Heights Sports Complex was in the news again on December 12. This time the news coverage was not quite as upbeat. Massive snowfall over the December 11-12 weekend caused a huge build up on the inflatable roof of the complex. This build up apparently blocked the air intake system, causing the dome designer and manager Mark Bigelbach to decide that an organized "deflation" on December 11 was urgently needed. Practicing teams were sent home and staff members deflated the ceiling, to prevent further damage. According to the White Bear Press, it took 19 minutes to deflate the dome, and everyone inside was safely evacuated first. Sports Complex Gets Deflation Complex Unlike the Metrodome, the Vadnais Sports Complex roof does not have all the seamed panels that could have individually torn. The complex re-inflated the dome on December 12 without incident. Gem Lake City Council Member Tom Rasmussen was aware of the deflation on the evening of December 11 due to the sudden darkness south of his home. "Normally the dome is lighted during the evening hours and the brightness seeps through our southern facing windows at night. I knew right away that something had happened." The Sports Complex is located at 1490 County Road E. East in Vadnais Heights. Hillary Farm Requests Re-platting to Allow Greater Density (continued from pg.2) Hillary Farm, LLC has requested that these lots be changed from their current R-1 Residential Zoning to R-3 Residential Zoning. Current R-3 zoning requires a minimum lot size of 36,000 square feet and set backs of 35 feet on the front of the lot and 25 feet on the back of the lot. The idea of re-platting Hillary Farm was originally brought up at the December 7 meeting of the Gem Lake Planning Commission. Initial plans call for the homes in this area to average around $500,000. "We are looking forward to a thorough review of the application starting in January," said Gem Lake Mayor Bob Uzpen. "Getting feedback from our residents is going to be an important part of this process. As such, we are urging the public to attend the Planning Commission Meeting on January 4 and/or the City Council Meeting on January 18." Public hearings are one part of the review process of applications of this sort. Generally, various expert consultants also review data submitted for adherence to engineering, traffic flow, zoning, storm water management and comprehensive plan standards and regulations. If you have questions regarding the application, please contact Mayor Uzpen at the number listed on page 6 of this newsletter. Gem Lake News Page 4 of 6 City News Page Tree Trimming Completed After November 13 Ice Storm Various trees in the public right of way gave up their right of way on November 13 during the ice storm that walloped the area. Several weeks later, trimming of all damaged trees was completed by Langer Tree Service. The tree service also hauled away damaged limbs and trees that had been brought to the street by residents who had done their own trimming on these boulevard trees. Everything is all better now. Liquor License Renewals Approved by Council for Two Local Businesses Two liquor license renewals were approved at the City Council Meeting held on December 21. Applications for renewal were made by The Country Lounge and the Gem Lake Hills Golf Course. The Country Lounge received a 2011 license renewal for on-sale liquor, Sunday on-sale liquor, optional 2 a.m. liquor sales, charitable gambling and tobacco sales. The Gem Lake Hills Golf Course received a 2011 renewal for on-sale liquor and Sunday on- sale liquor. 2011 Budget Adopted The Gem Lake City Council recently adopted the 2011 City Budget of $326,156 in general fund revenues and $411,755 in general fund expenses. The difference between revenues and expenditures will be made up by transferring some of the city's fund balance into the general fund to balance the budget. Gem Lake is expected to have a general fund balance of $1,055,552 by January 1 and plans to whittle this down a bit in order to keep property taxes lower. Wind Tower Ordinance Approved Following Public Hearing A draft of a new ordinance dealing with wind energy and wind turbines was approved following a second public hearing on December 21 at Heritage Hall. The ordinance deals with the rules and requirements for putting up wind turbines within city limits. The ordinance evolved as a result of months of meetings at the city council and planning commission levels. For more information, please contact Heritage Hall at 651-747-2790. Gem Lake NewsPage 5 of 6 December 11 Blizzard Buries Gem Lake in Snow (continued from page 1) Mayor Bob Uzpen found himself plowing through a huge snow bank at the end of his driveway at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday morning December 12. He was picking someone up at the airport and had to get out. On his return he became stuck in his driveway, necessitating a great deal of work to dig himself out. City Council Member Jim Lindner played dueling snow blowers with his neighbor, as each competed to see who could plow out their own and their neighbors' driveway faster. (There was nothing else to do.) Gem Lake resident Kathy Brown tried not to let the snow storm slow her down. She had to wait for her driveway to be plowed out on December 11 so she could head to the Emergency Room to take care of a small medical problem. However, it proved to be a good day to head to the hospital. "There were only two people in the E/R, no one else could get there! I had almost no wait," said Kathy, who like a true Minnesotan ignored the snow all weekend and proceeded to do almost everything she was planning to do anyway. "I'm involved in a lot of volunteer and other activities. I didn't let the snow stop me from doing what I had to do. My daughter was wondering where I was, but she knows me, so it was okay." Kathy's uncle, Gem Lake resident Dick Arcand lost power during the storm and went to spend a few days with his daughter in New Richmond, Wisconsin. For one resident of Gem Lake who works for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the storm itself was no big deal. "It was what to do with the snow afterwards that is the big problem." January/February Meetings Possible changes to the Hillary Farm Development Plat will be discussed. The following Gem Lake Meetings will be held at Heritage Hall through January and February, 2011 February 2, 2011 The City of Gem Lake Planning Commission PHONE: (651) 747-2790 Meeting at 7:00 p.m. January 19, 2011 FAX: (651) 747-2795 City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. City Hall Address: January 3, 2011 February 23, 2011 4200 Otter Lake Road City Council Workshop at 7:00 p.m. Gem Lake, MN 55110 City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. February 1, 2011 January 4, 2011 GENERAL E-MAIL: City Council Workshop at 7:00 p.m. City@gemlakemn.org Bob Uzpen-Mayor Phone: 651-492-5083 City Council Members: Gretchen Artig-Swomley Phone: 651-260-9742 Rick Bosak 651-426-9695 Jim Lindner Phone: 651-429-7597 Planning Commission Meeting at 7:00 p.m. Newsletter e-mail: gretchenas@comcast.net Your Gem Lake City Council To report incidents for the Neighborhood Watch program or for information on that program contact Block Captain Chuck Watson Tom Rasmussen Phone: 651-426-8854 651-653-8319; Charles.Watson@bdk.com We’re on the Web! See us at: www.gemlakemn.org CITY OF GEM LAKE 4200 Otter Lake Road Gem Lake, MN 55110 For more information on meetings, city ordinances, recent events, permit procedures, etc. please consult the Gem Lake web-site. The address is www.gemlakemn.org Each Gem Lake Newsletter is also posted on the web-site under the news section. Please email your ideas, comments and suggestions. See box at left for detailed contact information.