Laserfiche WebLink
Community Assets & <br /> Development Department <br /> <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> <br /> <br />DATE: April 17, 2015 <br /> <br />TO: Planning Commission <br /> <br />FROM: Janice Gundlach, Asst. Director of Community Assets & <br />Development/Planning Director <br /> <br />SUBJECT: LP2014-005, SP2014-005, ZA2014-002: Murlowski Properties, Inc. - <br />MPI (aka Belair Excavating) Expansion of 2200 Old Highway 8 NW <br /> <br />The purpose of this memo is to outline new information that has been gathered since the <br />last Planning Report dated January 16, 2015 (attached). Even though this item was tabled <br />at the January Planning Commission meeting, much of the analysis and background <br />information within that 1/16/2015 Planning Report remains relevant. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />Since a significant amount of time has passed since January, and since initial submission <br />of the land use requests, staff offers the following background information: <br /> August 1, 2014: The original land use applications were submitted and scheduled for <br />Planning Commission consideration on August 19, 2014. Per the applicant’s request, <br />those items were tabled so that a land ownership issue could be resolved. <br /> In late August 2014: The applicant discovered a parcel they originally thought they <br />acquired from the government, they didn’t actually own. This was discovered <br />because a City mailing regarding the expansion was mailed to the actual owner of the <br />property (Ramsey County Parks). This is relevant because that parcel was to be used <br />for ponding. <br /> In August and September 2014: The applicant started to negotiate with Ramsey <br />County Parks to use their parcel for ponding so that MPI could maximize their <br />expansion. This negotiation fell apart. <br /> September 16, 2014: The City Council approved a city-initiated Rezoning and <br />Comprehensive Plan amendment assigning certain zoning and guide plan <br />designations to the expansion property and other un-zoned property in the area. <br /> In November & December 2014: the applicant drafted an amended Site Plan and <br />Grading & Drainage Plan for the expansion, reducing the overall land area to 17 <br />acres, and sought approval of that plan from the Rice Creek Watershed District. The <br />land use approvals were scheduled for Planning Commission consideration on <br />January 20, 2015.