2012-02-01_PC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, February 1, 2012 Page 13 Member Wozniak concurred with the observations of Member Boguszewski in the narrow 613 focus for Commission deliberations in approving property boundaries and transfer of City- 614 owned property to a developer to facilitate a development. Member Wozniak stated that it 615 was his belief that what was being proposed for this parcel was consistent with the 616 Comprehensive Plan and retail use; and advised that he would support the property 617 transfer and Preliminary Plat as proposed. 618 Member Wozniak noted the comments he’d heard about the City “railroading” this 619 development; and stated that he strongly disagreed with that comments. If the proposal 620 seemed to be moving fast, Member Wozniak reminded the public of the Statutory 621 requirements for land use considerations and the time available for a City to act on a 622 given proposal. 623 Member Wozniak clarified that the use itself as proposed was outside the scope of 624 tonight’s discussion, and was a permitted use not requiring discussion. However, 625 Member Wozniak suggested that, while outside the scope of tonight’s discussion, it was 626 apparent that talking about the proposal may be a need for the community and 627 encouraged Wal-Mart and their development staff to open dialogue with residents about 628 their presence in the Roseville community, since it the proposal was successful, Wal-Mart 629 would need to positively interact with the residents it sought to serve. Member Wozniak 630 encouraged Wal-Mart representatives to look for opportunities to interact with the 631 community on the positives they bring to the community, and not just allow the negatives 632 or perceived negatives to remain in the forefront. 633 Member Lester advised that Members Boguszewski and Wozniak had effectively 634 covered most of his comments. Member Lester advised that his analysis attempted to 635 look at the end result, and after almost thirty (30) years of the City attempting to develop 636 the Twin Lakes area, bringing in a potential use was a good thing, no matter who it was 637 as long as it was meeting City Code requirements. Member Lester clarified again that 638 tonight’s request was focused on the Preliminary Plat, not the use; and discussions were 639 based on a vacant piece of land on which a viable company was being proposed. 640 Member Lester opined that Wal-Mart was a stable company; and further opined that the 641 Comprehensive Plan supported such a retail use; and the need was evident for bringing 642 in an initial development to further future development of the area. Member Lester 643 advised that he supported the proposal and would support it. 644 Member Gisselquist thanked the public for their comments. Member Gisselquist advised 645 that the Preliminary Plat portion of the request was an easy decision; basically 646 assembling parcels of land for a proposed use, and it made sense to approve that 647 request. 648 However, Member Gisselquist advised that he struggled with disposal of the land when 649 applying it to the Comprehensive Plan until he reviewed the Twin Lakes Master Plan on 650 line and reviewed that language. In referring back to previous discussions about a 651 proposed Costco, Member Gisselquist opined that it appeared they had been chased out 652 as the big box “bogey man.” 653 Member Gisselquist advised that he would support the Preliminary Plat and land 654 disposal. 655 In recognizing that the big box use served as the elephant in the room and remained 656 present, Member Gisselquist opined that it had nothing to do with the request before the 657 Commission; but assured that the Commission had heard the concerns expressed by 658 those speaking tonight; and noted that Member Boguszewski had shared considerations 659 on the other side of the issue as well. 660 Member Gisselquist stated that one part of being a Planning Commissioner was that he 661 didn’t like hearing criticisms of those seeking to come into the community. As a former 662 “Richfield guy,” Member Gisselquist advised that he took comments personally when they 663 dished his former neighborhood. After thirty (30) years, Member Gisselquist opined that it 664 was time to do something in the Twin Lakes area, referencing his personal observations 665