03/25/1996 - City Council Special 00089
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
• EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
EAGAN, MINNESOTA
MARCH 25, 1996
A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Monday, March 25,
1996, at 6:30 p.m. at the St. John Neumann Catholic Church at 4030 Pilot Knob Road.
Present were Mayor Egan, Councilmembers Awada, Hunter, Masin, Wachter. Also
present were City Administrator Tom Hedges and City Attorney Jim Sheldon.
Mayor Egan opened the public meeting of the evening regarding a request by Pulte
Homes of Minnesota for a comprehensive land use guide plan amendment from PF,
Public Facilities, to D-II, Mixed Residential (0-6 units per acre) for approximately 120
acres of property located south of Yankee Doodle Road between Lexington Avenue and
Wescott Drive in the South 1/2 of Section 14. Mayor Egan noted that this public meeting
immediately follows the Advisory Planning Commission's public hearing on the same
item and that the matter is before the City Council for discussion by Councilmembers and
City staff.
Councilmember Hunter stated that he refers to the letter of John Bloomquist of the
• Carriage Hills Coalition of the stated rationale for denying the request. Member Hunter
further stated that the City has always relied on the comprehensive guide plan to support
and deny use changes. Member Hunter concluded that the applicant or the property
owner is not without a reasonable use of the property, that a golf course is a reasonable
use of the property and has been for approximately 30 years.
Councilmember Masin noted that the applicant and the property owner have every
right to make the request it made and that they deserve respect from the neighboring
residents even if their request is opposed. Member Masin stated that while she sat on the
City Park Commission, the concern has always been that the City does not have enough
recreational facilities. She stated that because the change to the designation would result
in the loss of a recreational facility for the City, she opposes the application.
Councilmember Awada stated that she opposes the request for all the reasons
stated by the residents during the APC meeting and by the APC members. She noted that
through streets through the residential neighborhoods should the proposal go through is a
grave safety issue.
Councilmember Wachter stated that he was an Advisory Planning Commission
member when the property owner came to the City for approval for the golf course. He
• stated that he supported the use back then and as an environmentalist and conservationist,
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March 25, 1996 00090
EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
•
he supports the continuing use of the property under a PF designation. Member Wachter
further stated that residential development would create too high of a density in the area.
Mayor Egan noted that the property owner and applicant have a significant burden
of proof and are required to show that Eagan will be better off with a comprehensive
guide plan amendment to Mixed Residential. Mayor Egan stated that the applicant or
property owner did not provide any evidence of a material change or a mistake in the
original designation as to justify the change in designation now. Mayor Egan stated that
he opposes a designation change for the following reasons: (1) the change would have an
adverse environmental impact to the trees and wetlands on the property; (2) the infra-
structure, including streets, access and utilities would be adversely affected; (3) the
surrounding area would be adversely affected by a decline in the property values of the
people who purchased the property in reliance on the plan designation and present traffic;
(4) the City's housing and supply goals are currently met and the change will surpass
those goals; (5) the existing school systems will be adversely affected; and (6) the change
will result in a loss of open space, wildlife habitat and recreation facility for the City.
Mayor Egan further noted that the applicant's only evidence to support the change is that
there is a market for the type of housing proposed which is merely an economic reason
• for the applicant.
Councilmember Awada moved to direct the City Attorney to draft a City Council
Resolution denying the application and Councilmember Wachter seconded the motion.
All approved in favor.
ADJOURNMENT
Member Awada moved, Member Wachter seconded, the
motion to adjourn the March 25, 1996, Advisory Planning Commission meeting at 9:40
p.m.
All present voted in favor.
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City Clerk