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Baker stated that the density is far too high for the site. Going to an R-1 with 22 units would be a more acceptable density. Baker said an R-3 zoning would be even worse than an R-2, which is unacceptable. The use of a PRD seems good, but the zoning class is the issue. Knuth commented that the subject proposal is for two units less per acre than the Rottlund development. Mattila said the Rottlund development is in the B-4 District, which is more flexible than other districts, but the Rottlund development does adhere to the R-3B District standards. Baker asked if anyone in the audience wished to speak. Paul Vik, 980 3rd Street NW, stated there are hundred-year-old oaks on the site. It’s a beautiful wild area. Vik said he was concerned about the elevation of the lot. Vik said he was concerned about the drainage from the lot onto his lot. Norm Peterson, 1101 3rd Street NW, said he was concerned about increased traffic from the 32 townhouse units. To get onto Old Highway 8, these cars will go through 3rd Terrace or the neighborhoods with young children. Has a traffic study been done? Mike Gustafson, 960 3rd Street NW, stated the Silver Oak people invited the neighbors to a meeting. The units were good units. The traffic is the number one concern. There are children who play in the street in the area. The county would have to install a stop light Old Highway 8. The elevation is another concern. Gustafson said he does get water in his backyard in the spring and does not want any more water. Gustafson commented he would miss the woods. Jake Cadwallader, of Silver Oak, stated he would like to answer the concerns about the density and use of the property. In answer to the question about whether the R-2 zoning with the PRD overlay might be a better option, there would be approximately 37 units on the site. Using the R-3B District or the standard townhouse zoning, this site would hold between 42 and 44 units. Cadwallader said he was proposing 32 units. At this point, then, the density is lower than what we’ve seen in other projects. Compared with the last PUD developed in New Brighton, our project would have a lower density. The Harstad development included 41 single family homes, 14 doubles and 72 townhouse units. The density of that development is 7.3. Our density would be 7.1 units per acre. Cadwallader stated the problem the Planning Commission seems to feel that the site looks too confined. The problem is that our units are one-story units with a full basement and a two-car attached garage. The footprint of our units is larger than other townhouse developments. Where we will have four units, a development like the Rottlund townhouses has eight units. Therefore, the question is not density as much as the number of units. Rottlund and Harstad have mostly one car garages. Silver Oak is looking for a different market segment. We invited the neighbors within 300 feet of the site to look at what we’re building. At that meeting, the neighbors expressed concern about two story townhomes. We have looked at moving the buildings farther to the west to leave as many trees as possible. The City Engineer says the problem is a city sewer line that runs right through the project. It may not be possible to move this sewer line. Cadwallader said, in answer to the question about the driveway elevations, we will maintain the perimeter of the project at the current elevation. We would raise the driveway side of the unit making a split entry type appearance on one side. O’Brien said his question was about the actual slope of the driveway. Cadwallader answered the slope of the driveways will be minimal. They will be almost flat. Cadwallader pointed out the problem with the sewer line on the site plan and explained the planning difficulties. I:\COMMISSIONS\PLANNING\MINUTES\1997\03-18-97.WPD 3