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Roger Kolstad, Rosedale Estates Case No. 2426 page 5 There may be some objection to this kind of access into and out of the apartment area. However, the housing goal cited above encourages a balanced population. All children in single family neighborhoods can walk or ride a bike with relative ease to their neighbors' homes on the city's streets and sidewalks. To physically seqrega~e the apartments and cut off this same oppor~unity for them would frus~rate people on both sides of the barrier. We should, with every detailed planning decision, encourage a community of connections, not of separations. Another issue related to the new homes would be the kind of landscaping or other buffer that might be provided in the back yards. We have not discussed this in detail with the applicant. Also related to this is the development of the open space around the apartments. If a majority of the open space buffer is being converted to homes, it would be appropriate to consider what might be done to the remaining open space so that it is a useable and attractive amenity for the apartment residents. This could include not only the walkway connections mentioned above, but landscaping or other recreational space improvements. As part of the PUD process, the City might also consider ways to encourage the continued maintenance or upgrading of the apartments themselves. The proposed new home lots cannot be platted without the city's discretionary approval of a PUD rezoning, and the city could tie the new PUD approval to specific improvements that might be appropria~e. We have not discussed this issue in any detail with the applicant. 4. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION The application in front of the Commission is for a preliminary sketch approval of a Planned unit Development. The final approval would be a rezoning to PUD with a specific plan noting the use areas, the si te improvements and landscaping, and an agreement between the developer and the city detailing any other issues that might be included. We have noted some of the history behind this application and some of the issues that might be considered in a new PUD. We believe the basic concept is a good one that makes for efficient use of the land and provides for new single family housing in the City. We urge positive consideration of the concept and look forward to any specific direction that might be given to the developer and City Staff in working out a more detailed plan for the formal PUD submission.