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Baker asked Mattila about the parking for the park. Mattila responded the Park and Recreation Commission <br />met with the developer and the neighbors and they worked out a proposal to share parking on the proposed <br />coop site. <br /> <br />Gould responded that they would donate twenty-four stalls on the Rice Creek Center property for park <br />parking. Bessler asked if they would be marked as such. <br /> <br />Zisla called for a point of order because he could not follow the remarks going back and forth without coming <br />forward. <br /> <br />Zisla asked what about the zoning for multi-family. Mattila responded that would be an R-3 District. Zisla <br />asked what is the density in an R-3 district. Mattila said eight to ten units per acre with a 30-foot height <br />limitation. Zisla asked why is there a three-story ninety unit building in an R-2 District. Mattila responded the <br />City overlays any R-1, R-2, or R-3 District with the PRD ordinance in which there is no height limitation. <br />Zisla asked about the backyard setback in the R-2 district. Mattila responded 5 feet. Under a PRD ordinance, <br />the setback is 25 feet or the height of the building, whichever is less. Zisla said, then in an R-1 zone a house <br />can be within 5 feet of the backyard and the neighbor could do the same. Mattila responded affirmatively. <br />Zisla asked about the backyard setback in an R-2 District. Mattila answered 5 feet. <br /> <br />Zisla stated there is no question that this is part of the PRD. The problem here is not Brightondale, but the <br />undersized single family homes that are too close to their lot lines. Livingston asked if the single family <br />homes should be able to use the park and add another unit to their property. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />O'Brien stated this problem comes down to the fact that years ago something was done and the residents were <br />led to expect a certain result and O'Brien said he did not feel it was fair to change that. O'Brien said he did not <br />have a problem with the senior coop, but he does have a problem with the Alzheimer's unit. Zisla asked if <br />O'Brien felt that way because of what people were led to expect before or because of the nature of the <br />development and the site itself. O'Brien responded objects to the nature of the development and the site and <br />that they led the residents to believe there would be a greenspace. <br /> <br />Knuth said most of the comments made this evening were on an emotional level regarding views. The <br />neighbors on 28th thought certain restrictions existed. The residents moved to Brightondale expecting the <br />amenities such as the view that were in place. Knuth said she thought we should honor that. <br /> <br />Zisla said often people had come to Planning Commission meetings and objected to a proposal because it <br />would spoil the view or another amenity for them. The problem is those folks like what happens on property <br />that does not belong to them. The benefit of view cannot control what the property owner can do with his <br />property. Technically, the argument about covenants is that in 1985 there were such vehicles as covenants, <br />but no covenants were done in this case. To say there was an agreement there is not true. There were no <br />written agreement or covenants. Two Planning Commission members who were on the Commission in 1985 <br />explained what they thought the agreement was. That causes some problems because the restriction the <br />neighbors thought was there never existing in writing. <br /> <br />O’Brien asked Zisla if he felt the PRD provided those restrictions. Zisla answered yes, but the PRD is subject <br />to change. Technically, that is the problem with a PRD. People may think the PRD protects them, but in fact <br />the City has the authority to change it at any time. Baker said all parties to the PRD has to be considered. The <br />City cannot amend part of the PRD without considering the entire PRD. <br /> <br /> <br />I:\COMMISSIONS\PLANNING\MINUTES\1998\01-20-98.WPD <br />12 <br /> <br />