HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 08-09 PC MINUTESAugust 9, 1994
Paul R. Emeott, Mayor
3960 Scheuneman Rd.
Gem Lake, Mn 55110
Dear Paul:
The Gem Lake Planning Commission met Monday, August 8, 1994,
7:30 PM, at Tousley Ford. Present were Gardner, Leider, Titcomb,
Nielsen, and Arend, as well as the Mayor, City Council, and
Clerk. Also present were Tom Newcome and Ray Wlaschin.
The primary item of consideration was the application for
special use permits to fill land on Hoffman Road by Peter and Deb
Oswald (#3516,present), Vince Johnson as personal representative
of the Estate of Agnes Anderson (#3524, represented by Edgar and
Annette Johnson), Summit Farms Realty Co. (#3538, represented by
Rob Hansen), and Lorraine Birkeland (#3542, represented by John
Birkeland).
In response to the City's request, the applicants had sub-
mitted evidence from the City of St. Paul that the source of the
fill material was free of chemical pollution. A letter to that
effect from the project engineer was accompanied by the complete
"Report of Geotechnical Explorations and Review, Grand/St.Albans
CSSP City Project #94-5-8099/#94-P-8080, St.Paul, Mn" as prepared
by American Engineering Testing, Inc. (#93-1212). This report
has been excerpted for our purposes and returned to the City of
St.Paul. The Planning Commission and the City Council agree that
the question of soil contamination has been adequately addressed.
The applicants have also submitted a grading plan prepared
by Development Engineering PA which has been reviewed by SEH in a
letter from Mr. Timothy C. Hanson dated August 8, 1994. SEH
raised several issues for consideration which were discussed at
length with the applicants. The Commission also, again, raised
the question of future use of the properties and received the
following responses:
Oswald: intend to continue their residential use, the
filling making their land more useable, easier to mow, etc.
Hansen: the property is destined to be used for commercial
purposes and the filling will make the property more useable
Johnson: same of Hansen
Birkeland: use will continue to be the established nursery
business, the filling making the land more useable.
Ultimately, Gardner, Nielsen, and Titcomb voted in favor,
with Leider abstaining, of recommending approval of the special
use permits subject to several conditions:
1. the project must meet the general requirements of the SEH
report, and specifically:
a. the project must be approved in writing by the
Washington -Ramsey Metro Watershed District,
b. the project must be free of objections by the City
of Vadnais Heights
c. the east property line must be staked, and invasion
of Burlington Northern property avoided,
d. erosion control,as defined, must be implemented
immediately,
e. the trees on the Anderson -Oswald boundary, and any
other trees which are significantly threatened by the fill,
must be removed immediately,
f. an as -built grading plan must be submitted upon
completion of the grading, and,
g. the area must be seeded and mulched within 3 days of
finish grading, with particular care devoted to the steeper
slopes as specified in the SEH report,
2. the applicants indemnify the City of Gem Lake against any
future claims resulting from this filling activity, as per an
agreement to be drafted by Mr. Newcome,
3. all expenses incurred by the City (legal, engineer,
inspection, etc.) relative to this project be paid by the
applicants, and,
4. no permit may be issued until all conditions are met, or
no later than 45 days from this date.
Mr. Nielsen then reported that the 135E Corridor Study was
nearing completion and requested comments from the Commission and
the Council. After considerable discussion, the Commission
resolved unanimously that we are generally in favor of the recom-
mendations of the Study, particularly the Otter Lake Rd. realign-
ment, but are concerned about the LaBore Rd. connection to White
Bear Parkway as we feel we have inadequate information regarding
projected traffic flows.
Mr. Gardner reported that Mr. LeRoy Harwell, dba Factory
Direct Furniture, has been issued two citations for violations of
the zoning ordinance and intends to plead "not guilty". A court
date would likely be mid -September. Also, Tousley Ford is near-
ing completion of their landscaping plan, but it has been delayed
somewhat by the requirement of a handicap ramp. Mr. Gardner re-
quested that the City authorize no new building permits for
Tousley until these old outstanding items are resolved.
There being no further business, the Commission adjourned at
8:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
David K. Gardner, Chairman
Gem Lake Planning Commission
cc: Planning Commission
Arend
Magnuson
City Council