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Regular City Council Meeting <br />Monday, August 25, 2008 <br />Page 15 <br />under Minnesota Rule 4410.36610 did not apply; and requested that the City <br />Council require an EAW for the plan in order to better understand impacts. Mr. <br />Suh opined that the neighborhood supported "reasonable" development in the <br />area. <br />John Franey, 1950 Brenner Avenue (south side of Brenner, adjacent to pro- <br />posed project) <br />Mr. Franey advised that he'd built his home in 1979, but that he'd owned the land <br />for several years prior to constructing the home to determine the nature of sur- <br />rounding structures and their visual impact to his property. Mr. Franey opined <br />that he was not interested in everyone in a 60-story building peering into his <br />backyard, creating a "fishbowl" effect. Mr. Franey asked that the City Council <br />look at what's right and wrong, consider the intent of the law rather than the letter <br />of the law; and asked whether Councilmembers would like such a monstrosity ad- <br />jacent to their single-family residence. <br />Mark Ertl, 3064 Evelyn Street <br />Mr. Ertl opined that, had he know such a development would come into the <br />neighborhood, he would have never purchased his home. Mr. Ertl opined that this <br />development would affect the welcoming nature and character of the existing <br />neighborhood, and prevent interest in others wanting to move into the neighbor- <br />hood. <br />Pat Trudgeon <br />Mr. Trudgeon corrected and clarified several assertions made by Mr. Suh regard- <br />ing the project's consistency with the City's Comprehensive Plan land use desig- <br />nation of Business Park and anticipated office use within the Twin Lakes area and <br />defined Business Park; opining that this use is consistent with the AUAR and <br />Comprehensive Plan; and further advised that the zoning was not proposed as <br />Business Park, but Planned Unit Development (PUD) allowing for deviation from <br />City Code at the discretion of the City Council, being guided by underlying zon- <br />ing. Mr. Trudgeon noted that the proposed building height is allowed; and clari- <br />fied that the EQB does not provide any assistance, guidance, or make determina- <br />tions, but only passes on a citizen petition to the RGU if the required twenty-five <br />(25) signatures are evidenced, and not because of any assertions that they think <br />there's validity or significance to the solar access concerns. <br />Councilmember Ihlan opined that visual and solar impacts were significant envi- <br />ronmental impacts. Councilmember Ihlan questioned whether these single-family <br />homes would be impacted in installation of solar panels due to this project; and <br />reiterated her opinion that there was basis for reopening the AUAR for further re- <br />view and to address these additional environmental issues. <br />City Attorney Anderson responded to legal considerations in reviewing the pro- <br />ject's exemption; noting that anywhere the map in the AUAR discussed housing, <br />