PL 03/14/1973 - 30370i`�.,
j
�
�
CITY OF FRIDLEY
PLANNING COI�lISSION P'��TING MARCA 14, 1973
PAGE 1
CALL TO ORAER:
Chairman Erickson called the meeting to order at 8:05 P,M,
ROLL C�4I,L •
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Others Present:
Erickson, Minish,
Fitzpatrick
Jerrold Boardman,
Zeglen, Schmedeke
Planning Assistant
2. BECEIVE NOTICES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS FROM SPRING LAKE PARK
Chairman Erickson said these notices are for property in the
geaeral location North of Osborne Road and East of Central, bounded
by Lakeview Lane, oa the Porth aad East to be rezoned from R-1 to
C-2, and C-2 to M-1; a Special Use Permit to construct townhouse
dwellings; aad a subdivision of lots.
- Mr. Erickson asked Mr. Boardman to check the proposals with
^ Spring Lake Park to see if anything goin� into the areas would
iaterfexe with the residential character of the area in Fridley
that �s close to this property. He said it might be necessary
to give notices to people in pridley who could be affected by these
proposals.
�,'"1
K � �
,
MOTION by Minish, seconded by Zeglen, �or authorization of Pub�.ic
Hearing notices bein� sent to affected property owners in Fridley by
these proposals in Spriag Lake Park. Upon a voice vote, all voting aye,
the motion carried unanimously. '
2. COPTIN[TED; PtTBLIC HEARING: PROPOSEA COI�REHENSIVE PLAN
Chairman Esickaon said the Public Hearing on the proposed comprehen�ive
plaa wa� sti11 open.
Mrs. Baxbasa Hughes, represeating the I,eague of Women Voters, was
pres�nt.
� Mrs. Hughes said there we�e a f�w things the League would like to
br�ng to the attentio¢ of the Planniag Cammission9 She said the League
fe�ls its a goal plaa and are anxiaus to see it used for future growth.
We believe thexe should be coordiaa�ion between the various Subcommittees,
including the newly formed Eaviruntaental Quality Coam�ission, so the City
is aot going ia a variety of ways. We kaow that there are some things
touched upon in the comprehensive plaa that are problems of the Metropol�.tan
Council.'
Zto: �z
-� Pl�tu►int� Commission MeetiaR - March 14 1973 Ya�e 2
� —
,� Mrs. 8ughes said the League was eepecially pleased with the recogni�ion
' of using the natural envirornaent. We believe in protecting the natural
eavironment as pertains to land, water and open space, before and after
development, or keep sa�e land fra�m developtaent, if necessary.
We are concerned about open spaee. If the North Park area is left
as it is, or made into a nsture center, with Locke Lake, the Rice Creek
flood plain, and the river bank, we would have adequate open space for
recreational axeas. We have no further su�gestions for open areas.
Chairman Erickson asked if it was the League's position that the
City withhold developmeat in wild axeas.• Mrs. Hughes said we are not
suggeating that. She said she thought we ehould be retaining peat in
the North Park area for water regeneration.
Chairman Erickson asked if retaining peat for regeneration of water
is a local problem or a problem £or Metropolitan Council. Mrs. Hughes
eaid we can't expect our neighbors to be concerned about us. It has
to be conaidered by local people. Mr. Erickson asked if there was a
etand by the Metropolitan Council that wa�ex retention areas should be
preserved. Mra. Hughea said in our area there is very little to be
protected as yet. We do not kaow where the water regeneration areas are.
^ Mrs. Hughes said the L�ague felt there should be no development in
the flood plaia area. Mr. Boardman said by telling people they can't
-^ � use the land wi.11 cause the property to go tax delinquent. Mr. Erickson
said we had someone else at one of the Publ�c Hearings who wanted the City tt�
hold up developmeat of an area. Mr. Miai�h aaid that unless the City
owas the land auch a policy could force the City to pay damages.
Mrs. $u$hes said that part of the improvement of the North Park
area could include trails along the River. Mr. Boardman said the open
space plaa of the Metropolitan Counc�l does not include our side of [he
River. He questioned if we would b� able tv get Metropolitan funds if
ite aot iA the plan. Mrs. Hughes said if the question isn't asked, how
caa you get an answer,
Mr. Schmedeke said he was glad the Lea$ue of Women Voters are
canceraed about the environment. Ae wondered if he could,get them intexest�d
im haviug evergreena planted to replace the trees lost through Dutch E1m
di8ease. He said he also felt there ehould be no building in the peat
areae of �'ridley.
•' Mr, Schmedeke aaid he was concerned that people could buy homes �tn
the flood plaia araa and not be aware thep were in a flood plain,
�
l�ra. Hughes said the League would like to emphasize the role of the
Ci.tq Qf iaformit►$ the public on a contiauia$ basis . The citizens of
� Fxi.dley should kaaw the goals and objectivea of the City.
^ Mra. Hughe� aaid there were four poi�nts she would like to make in
regaacd eo land use, Oae was the +�aviron�ental impact of the development,
�l�o. �'he aai�ty factor in regard to the pepple and traffic, the intrinsic
eu9.tability of the land fon tl�e c�evelqpffient, and the transportation availabl�
for the land use.
'"� , Planning Commission Meetin� - March 14, 1973 Page 3
� Mre. Hughes said thaC in planning anq development, the City should weigh
the environmental cost.
I�Irs. Hughes felt there should be transportation available to
all parts of ths City. Chairman Ericksoa said that what was proposed in
the campreheasive plan will not hasten the development of any area.
Chairman Ericksoa,asked Mrs. Hughes if the I.eague thought the
Planntag Courmiesion was wrong ia any of its proposals. Mrs. Hughes said
the League fouad nothing wrong with the proposals as long as the ftorth
Park area was protected. ,
Mrs. Hughes said that in defining Fridley as a maturing coa�munity
to be careful in planning recreat�on for a more mature conm►unity, There
still are a lot of young children in Fridley. Mr, Boardman said they
had just recently platted the population ia all the blocks in the City
by age groups. We find we have recreational facilities that aren't
fuactional for some areas, Because our popula�ion is maturing, the
city-wide parks could be for all segments of the population and local
area parks should be provided for amall children.
Mrs. Hughee said the League strongly supports low income housing.
She said we should be replacing the loat coat hou�ing that was lost
� from the Hqde Park area someplace else ia Fridley.
^ ChairmaA Ericicson asked Mrs, $ughes if the League would support
the Porth Park Study if the proposal was different from a nature center.
Mrs. Hughes said we could go either way. The League has great confidence
in the atudy. We would prefer it be a nature center. We will be evaluating
the study when we get its reco�endation.
Chairman Erickson said let me try to sum up what you have given as
the poaition of the League of Womea Votera. You endorce the type of use
that we have zecon�anded for the five study areas. Y�u are concerned
with ths environmental impact from development, You are interested in
low cost houaing, providing open space, and concerned about pollution.
Mrs. Hughes said the League didn�t aee anpthing in the proposals that
would conflict with our position.
lydTION by Minish, seconded by Schmedeke, that the Planning Coa�ission
clqee the Public Hearing on the proposed comprehensive plan. Upon a voice,
vote, all voting aye, the motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Erickson said it would be in order to recouimend approval of
� the comprehenaive plan with aay changes the Co�ission might wish to make.
Mr. Minish said as he understood Mrs. �ughes, the Leage of Women
• Voters weren't recocnttending any cha�nges in the comprehensive plan, only
/"� a matter of emphasis.
�� l�r. Minieh said that one thing that did come up during the Public
$earinga were objeCtions to the railroad crossings on 79th and 83rd.
Mr. Erickson said �he people �eetped tp object to the crossing on 83rd
the moat.
w� Planning Commission Meetiag - March 14, 1973 Page 4
� Mr. Schmadeke said at the time thia ax�ea was studied, the elimination
of aa unprotected croasing and the two new proposed crossing e for the
commercial area seemed like a good plan. Now it seems posaible that we
could have been mistaken. Mr. Boardman said the problem with the street
plaa wae that it was set up five or six years ago before the City obta�ned
the park property. This was a�ood traffic plan for a commercial area.
Chairmaa Ericka� aaid we should probably have additional emphasis
an certain this�e. �
Mr. Miai�h said that one of the thiags Mrs. Hughes mentioned was a
, ueed for low coat housing. Iie said he didn't recall if we have this in
the plan. Mr. Boardman said a statement cou.ld be put in under Goals and
Objectivea.
I�TIOI� bq Minish, seconded by Zeglen, that paragraph one under
Population Objecti�es be a�nded by deleting �by encouraging the growth
of man�gerial aad professional sector of our population' and changing
the paragraph to read ' Eetablish a balaace of peoples within the
community by eacouragiug the provisioa of the appropriate industrial,
eom�aercial and housing facilities.' IIpon a voice vote, all voting aye,
the motion caxried unanimously.
� Mr. Minish said he didn't think there aeed be any other statement
��
on transit as�thie is a land use plaa.
MOT�ON by Minish, �econded by Ze$lea, to add an environment statement
to the General Objectives sectioa as paragraph six, ' Preserve much of
oux natural ecology in order to develop a� comfortable a living environment
as is feasibly possible..' Upon a voice vote, all voting aye, the motion ,
carried unanimously.
MOTION by Miniah, aeconded by Zeglen, to change paragraph six under
Residential Objectives fram ' Encourage the development of high cost
housing units to provide a balance of housing values in Fridley° to
'Provide a balance of high quality housing units for all income levels
within the City of Fridleq to insure the provision of social amenities
to low and moderate inc� families and the elderly.' Upon a voice
vote, all voting aye, the motion carried unanimously.
MOTION by Miaieh, seconded by Zeglen, that the last paragraph on
page 42 be amended to change the will to may in�the statement � There
may be additional crossings needeci as the No�thern part of the City
develops,' And add the sentence 'Further ��udy will be needed to determine
�the affects of additioaal croasin$s in thie area.' Upon a voice vote,
�11 voting aye, the mption carried unanimously.
^ I�OTION by Schmedeke, seconded by Zeglen, that the Flanning Coaunission
recomnend to Council approval of the comprehensive plan as amenzied. Upon
- n a voice vote, a11 voting aye, [he motion cazried unanimously.
�`"� Planning Co�isaion Meeting - March 14, 1973 Page 5
�
i'"�
n
�
�
�
.._.
Chairman Erickson adjourned the meeting at 9:55 P.M.
8espectfully submitted,
z�
orothy E nson, Secretary
�