11/21/1995 - City Council Special
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
Eagan, Minnesota
November 21, 1995
A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Tuesday, November 21, 1995 at 5:00 p.m. at the
Eagan Municipal Center. Present were Mayor Egan and CouncUmembers Awada, Wachter, Masin and Hunter. Also
present were City Administrator Tom Hedges, Director of Public Works Tom Colbert, Community Development
Director Peggy Reichert, Park & Recreation Director Ken Vraa, and Finance Director Gene VanOverbeke.
VISITORS TO BE HEARD
Dave Vogt, 4115 Lexington Avenue, made a request to the Council to reconsider the approval of the
Soderholm Addition due to the fact that he was not notified of the public hearings relating to the Soderholm Addition;
wrong or misleading Information was given to residents; and safety and traffic Issues. He stated he doesn't feel it
fits with the Immediate area.
Doug Reid, Chief Building Official, reviewed a problem with accessory additions In Thomas Lake Heights
and Thomas Lake Heights 2nd Addition. He noted that during a recent plan review of a building permit application,
it was discovered that the three season porch and deck were proposed to be built outside the platted lot lines of
the existing townhome. He noted that the building was built within a foot of the property line. The complex was
built by four different contractors between 1980 and 1985. He Indicated that over time, new decks and
porches/additions were attached and some existing decks were converted Into porches over the property line into
the common association property. When the owners applied for building permits, they presented a letter from the
homeowners association agreeing to their plans. He noted that building activity Is regulated by a homeowners
association, and protective covenants are not enforced by the City. He Indicated that this situation raises a concern
about fire walls. He reviewed several options as to how to address this situation. After some discussion, the
Council consensus was to prepare a policy to allow all existing structures to be maintained and new additions to
be constructed with the consent of the homeowners association in accordance with approval from the City.
Direction was given to allow the homeowner to proceed with their building permit.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
Community Development Director Reichert gave an update on various community development Issues.
Regarding the John Doe Planned Development, she indicated they are trying to move as fast as they can
on this, but there are some problems that need to be worked out. She reviewed a Comprehensive Guide Plan
problem with the Airliner Motel. She noted that a resident called her recently indicating they witnessed a vagrant
coming out of this vacant motel. She indicated she needs to most with the owners to resolve this problem. She
feels it should be tom down. She noted there will be neighborhood meetings on this planned development before
it comes back to the Council. The main issues are access and land use. Blue Gentian Way Is currently a gravel
road, and homeowners In this area feel the road is fine and have Indicated they are not willing to pay to upgrade
the road If the area develops.
She briefly reviewed the post office plan for a payroll facility at The Waters. She also reviewed a Rottlund
Homes proposal for the Bieter property. She noted the plan is for a commercial comer, and 500 residential units,
including a mix of townhomes and single family units. The Council was not enthused about the commercial
component. Community Development Director Reichert Indicated there is commercial property to the south. She
noted they are asking for narrower lots and setbacks between the buildings. They have Indicated they have some
new housing concepts they would like to introduce. The Council may want a presentation on it. Councilmember
Awada suggested this be executive housing. Community Development Director Reichert noted that the developer
EAGAN SPECIAL. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES; NOVEMBER 21, 1995
PAGE 2
has a concern about land prices and feels the commercial component is necessary to make the project work
financially. Councdmember Awada Indicated that land prices do not affect zoning decisions. Councilmember Hunter
concurred, noting that 65 foot lots are not the city's standard. Community Development Director Reichert noted that
If the city's goal Is to create affordable housing, the city may need to look at the numbers for different types of
housing stock. Councilmember Awada Indicated she voted against the Livable Communities Act and no goals have
been set yet. She doesn't support high density. There was little support from the Council for the proposed plan.
Community Development Director Reichert reviewed a concept drawing presented by Pulte Development
Company for the development of the Carriage Hills Golf Course. She noted that the City has not received anything
official from them and that this plan is just in the concept stage. The concept plan calls for a mixture of townhomes,
twin homes and single family homes with the higher density housing to the north and single family homes to the
south. Councdmember Hunter stated that support for this concept will depend on what happens to the property to
the north. Administrator Hedges handed out a letter for Counciimembers he received by fax from some constituents
regarding the sale of Carriage Hills Golf Course. Mayor Egan noted that the people surrounding the golf course
spent more money for these homes to be next to the golf course, and they had a reasonable expectation that it
would remain a golf course. Some discussion followed with Councilmembers again expressing their concerns about
density.
Community Development Director Reichert then reviewed a proposal by Pulte Development Company for
a development north of the Promenade project and adjacent to the bulk mad center. Councilmember Awada stated
she doesn't feel residential should go In that area. She feels it would better as Industrial.
Community Development Director Reichert noted the city sent a letter to Opus telling them what their share
of the public Improvements would be. They are not pleased with the results and staff will be meeting with them
regarding that. She noted they are calculating the excess capacity credit differently and feel they owe much less
than the city's calculations.
She then reviewed a proposal from Centex for apartments north of Duckwood Estates and adjacent to Town
Centre Drive. This property has gone tax forfeit. The Council did not express support for residential In this location.
Administrator Hedges Indicated he had a meeting with the potential owners of the Northwestern Mutual site
and discussed the city's plans for a golf course and community center. They Indicated they would like the property
for a warehouse and additional development. After some discussion, the potential owners agreed to go back and
rework their plan, and agreed that perhaps they wouldn't need the entire 200 acres. In turn, the city agreed to
attempt to revise the golf course layout to see If it could work on less land. Councdmember Awada suggested the
city swap that land with the tax forfeit land that was proposed for a park near Gopher Smelting. Parks and
Recreation Director Vraa Indicated that that was done through the legislature, so a land swap would have to go back
to the legislature. Community Development Director Reichert added that the potential owner has said they want 200
acres but there Isn't 200 acres available anywhere else In Eagan which is why they are both looking at the same
property. Parks and Recreation Director Vraa indicated he presented the plan for a golf course and community
center on the Northwestern Mutual site to the Advisory Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Commission and they
were very supportive of the idea.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. to the regular City Council meeting.
DLP
November 21, 1995 PA ~aA OA2
Date ls~ City Clerk