1983 10 03
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REGULAR CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OCTOBER 3, 1983
Mayor Hamilton called the meeting to order.
the Pledge to the Flag.
The meeting was opened with
Members Present
Councilwoman Watson, Councilman Geving, Councilman Horn, and Councilwoman
Swenson.
Staff Present
Bill Monk and Don Ashworth.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Councilman Geving moved to approve the agenda with the
following additions: Jaycee Liquor License Request and Boat Access Update.
Motion seconded by Councilman Horn. The following voted in favor: Mayor
Hamilton, Councilwomen Watson and Swenson, Councilmen Geving and Horn. No
negative votes. Motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA: Item (c) Council Compensation, was removed from the
Consent Agenda. Councilman Geving moved to approve the following Consent
Agenda items pursuant to the City Manager's recommendations:
a. Parking Restriction Requests: RESOLUTION #83-44
1. Lotus Lake Estates Entrance Road
2. Dakota Avenue (Highway 5 to Chanhassen Estates)
b. Finance Department Transfers and Closings. RESOLUTION #83-45.
d. Approve Plans and Specifications, 201 Program. RESOLUTION #83-46.
Motion seconded by Mayor Hamilton. The following voted in favor: Mayor
Hamilton, Councilwomen Watson and Swenson, Councilmen Geving and Horn. No
negative votes. Motion carried.
COUNCIL COMPENSATION:
Councilman Horn - I tend to relate salary to population because it is a per
capita kind-or-contribution. It's just like in business, a manager who
manages 100 people is compensated much greater than one who manages ten.
Councilman Geving moved to place on first reading an ordinance amending
compensation for members of the Chanhassen City Council. Motion seconded
by Councilwoman Watson. The following voted in favor: Mayor Hamilton,
Councilwomen Watson and Swenson, Councilman Geving. Councilman Horn voted
no. Motion carried.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS:
SUBDIVISION OF LAKE SUSAN PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT: Councilwoman Swenson
moved to waive ~visitor presentation procedure and consider the
subdivision request. Motion seconded by Councilman Geving. The following
voted in favor: Mayor Hamilton, Councilwomen Watson and Swenson,
Councilmen Geving and Horn. No negative votes. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION #83-47: Councilwoman Swensn moved the adoption of a resolution
Waiving Compliance with Subdivision Regulations conveying Parcel B of 20.9
acres and Parcel C of 7.1 acres to be separated from Lake Susan South PUD.
Resolution seconded by Mayor Hamilton. The following voted in favor:
Mayor Hamilton, Councilwomen Watson and Swenson, Councilmen Geving and
Horn. No negative votes. Motion carried.
Council Meeting, October 3, 1983
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PUBLIC SAFETY: Sheriff Jack Hendrickson was present to discuss the organi-
zational chart/duties/responsibilities of the Sheriff's Office and answer
questions.
PUBLIC HEARING I
1984 MUNICIPAL BUDGET INCLUDING PROPOSED USES OF REVENUE SHARING FUNDS
Mayor Hamilton called the public hearing to order. There being no one present
from the public, Councilwoman Swenson moved to close the public hearing.
Motion seconded by Councilman Horn. The following voted in favor: Mayor
Hamilton, Councilwomen Watson and Swenson, Councilmen Geving and Horn. No
negative votes. Motion carried.
1984 BUDGET INCLUDING PROPOSED USES OF REVENUE SHARING FUNDS:
COUncilwoman Swenson - We have discussed this so many times before I guess
all I really want-rD do is to bring to your attention the last paragraph on
the second page of the Manager's letter. For as long as I have been
involved in the City we have always left the maintenance of the streets
something that we have been kind of playing ball with and it always gets
cut off and if we don't do something about them pretty soon and establish
some kind of a program the people of this City are going to wind up with
some horrendous assessments or else they are going to continue to lose
wheels as they go around corners. This can be done with less than two
mills in which case we would have to levy an assessment on the property
owners. At the same time I think we have to consider that we have got to
have a Fire Marshal at least part time. We are also obligated, it seems to
me, to see that things do get done so that our citizens are protected from
nonconformance of the fire ordinances. The Fire Station re-roofing is
involved. We have to have that.
Councilwoman Swenson moved to approve an increased levy of two mills to be
designated in the following manner: $4,000 for part time Fire Marshal,
$16,000 for re-roofing the Fire Station, and, $100,000 for a seal coating
program. For the following four years, the entire $120,000 would be dedi-
cated to street seal coating program. Motion seconded by Councilman Horn.
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Councilman ~~ - I think it's a lot of nothing. I think you are asking
the Council, Mrs. Swenson, to dedicate two mills for the next five years to
another Council and you are obligating that Council for a considerable amount
of money. In the past we have paid for all the street assessments through
benefitting property owners. This system has worked and I believe that is
the way it should be. To skim off $20,000 to take care of some of these
other issues I have no problem with but to dedicate $100,000 this year and
$120,000 for the next four years is getting into the pockets of the people
that run this City and who live in this City and I don't believe that that
is the way we are operating. If I am going to be a Council Member next
year and the next four years I don't want to have to be committed to a
budget line item for $120,000. I want to start each budget year with zero
and work upwards. I feel very strongly about this. I know we have streets
that need seal coating and I know that they do deteriorate but I sometimes
feel that City Staff is trying to run many of the things that are costing
us a lot of money in this City. I am not in favor of budgeting two mills
for the next five years.
Councilman Horn - Why do we have to appropriate it for a five year period
at this tim~Why couldn't we do it for a one year program?
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ouncil Meeting October 3, 1983
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Don Ashworth - Legally you can't levy it for a five year program. I think
what Pat is saying is that the money that would be received in anyone year
would be dedicated for street purposes. If you are into a program, you are
telling people in advance we are into this program but it's up to each
Council each year to actually approve the levy. You will only be acting on
1984.
Councilman Horn - We are not commiting any future Council IS to anything.
Councilman Geving - That was the motion as I heard it.
Don Ashworth - You can establish a five year program and the allocation of
monies for that, in other words if you to fund all five years literally
tonight, you could do that. You can't bind a future Council.
Mayor Hamilton - Next year the Council could rescind it.
Councilman Geving - That was the point that I was trying to make.
Councilwoman Swenson - Is that the way it's handled under the Park and
Recreation five year programs and other programs.
Don Ashworth - Each year is a separate year. In establishing a program you
are trying to tell people what it is that you are going to be doing in the
future. It is a best guess as to what will be done two years from now.
Councilwoman Swenson - I shall amend my motion then to in accordance with
the City Manager's comments, for funds to be expended in 1984.
Councilwoman Watson - I guess what concerns me is last year we dropped the
mill rate and now we are going to up it two. I guess in my mind I could
see uping it one and getting the program going but we know we have other
things that are going to have to start being retired through taxation now.
Councilman Horn - If you look at the calculations here, it looks like we
are going t~y $2.50 per lineal foot street which is approximately
$14,000 per mile, if you take that over the period that says that to cover
up all the streets it would take somewhere over $500,000. If you don't
cover these streets for $2.50 per lineal foot, five to ten years down the
road you are talking about $40.00 per lineal foot to repair them. This
City has always bragged about keeping its taxes low but I bet you if you
look at a per person assessment roll this City has got to be one of the
highest in the area and I don't think that's right. I have to look at the
bottom line dollars whether it's a G.O. type of thing or whether it's an
assessment, I don't think it's fair to our citizens to say it's the other
guys problem, he can fix it. We have trouble collecting those assessments.
We can't get them collected. We have to go to court over them and it costs
us money.
Councilman Geving - We already have $18,000 in the budget for this purpose.
Councilman Horn - That would cover a little over a mile.
Councilwoman Swenson - It's always is an unpleasant thing. I concur with
Councilman Horn's assessment is that we have really always bent over back-
wards to try to keep the tax levy down, i.e. having reduced it one mill
last year which didn't have to be done. Had we not done it maybe we could
have taken that money and put it into a program like this.
Council Meeting October 3, 1983
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Councilman Geving - I think you are asking for a Cadillac when you could
drive a Chevrolet, Mrs. Swenson. A one mill levy would be more than enough.
Mayor Hamilton - I have given this a heck of a lot of thought and 1 guess I
nobody is more opposed to increasing the taxes than I am but there comes a
time when I think you have to decide what is best for all of the citizens
and one of the most over-riding items in this issue is the need for a Fire
Marshal. We are faced with a rather tenuous situation right now without
having a Fire Marshal. New buildings and existing buildings are going
without fire inspection because we frankly haven't the funds to pay someone
to do the job. Should we have a major fire in one of our local community
buildings that entertains hundreds of people nightly there could be a major
disaster. We aren1t inspecting those buildings currently and we need to do
that. The roads are certainly deteriorating. There probably isn't a
street in the whole City that isn't full of holes and cracks and absolutely
falling apart. 1 agree with Dale some that we have always assessed in the
past. I am not sure that that's a proper practice because 1 think all of
the residents use nearly all the streets. I certainly agree with Dale that
I would much rather pay $2.50 a lineal foot than I would $40.00 a lineal
foot. Is ther further discussion? If not, all in favor of the motion
signify by saying aye.
Councilwoman Swenson - Aye.
Councilman ~orn - Aye.
Councilwoman Watson - Aye.
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Mayor Hamilton - Aye. Opposed?
Councilman Q~~ - Aye.
Mayor Hamilton - Motion carries.
Don Ashworth - The action before you tonight is the adoption of the budget.
RESOLUTION #83-48: Mayor Hamilton moved the adoption of a resolution
Adopting the 1984 Budget, the 1984 Federal Revenue Sharing Budget, and
Establishing Tax Levies for 1984 with the change previously adopted.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Swenson.
Councilman Q~~ - What did we decide to do with the balance of $11,000 in
Fund 462?
Don Ashworth - It has not been addressed this evening. We are still recom-
mending the Council consider what it was originally intended for. If you
look upstairs right now you will see that there are maps laying allover
back in the engieering area. Most of those dollars are related to engi-
neering equipment. There is a humidification for the City Hall on there as
well. We are having problems with the duplicating equipment because there
is no humidity control in the building. If the Council would consider that
recommendation before any purchases were made the item would be back in
from of you but it's not being considered as a part of this budget.
Councilman Geving - Let's take a look at that in the future.
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Council Meeting October 3, 1983 -5-
Mayor Hamilton - Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor of the
motion signify by saying aye.
Councilwoman Swenson - Aye.
Councilman Horn - Aye.
Councilwoman Watson - Aye.
Mayor Hamilton - Aye. Opposed?
Councilman Geving - Aye.
Mayor Hamilton - Motion carries.
Councilman Geving - I am opposed to the two mill levy. I think one would
have been sufficient.
MINUTES: Councilman Horn moved to approve the September 12, 1983, Council
minutes. Motion seconded by Mayor Hamilton. The following voted in favor:
Mayor Hamilton, Councilwomen Watson and Swenson, Councilmen Geving and
Horn. No negative votes. Motion carried.
Councilwoman Watson moved to note the September 28, 1983, Public Safety
Commission minutes. Motion seconded by Councilman Geving. The following
voted in favor: Mayor Hamilton, Councilwomen Watson and Swenson,
Councilmen Geving and Horn. No negative votes. Motion carried.
Councilwoman Swenson moved to note the September 14, 1983, Park and
Recreation Commission minutes. Motion seconded by Mayor Hamilton.
following voted in favor: Mayor Hamilton, Councilwomen Watson and
Councilmen Geving and Horn. No negative votes. Motion carried.
The
Swenson,
GAMBLING ORDINANCE, FINAL READING:
Mayor Hamilton moved to approve an Ordinance Licensing and Regulating the
Conduct of Bingo and Gambling Adopting State Law and Providing for a
License and License Fees. Motion seconded by Councilman Horn. The
following voted in favor: Mayor Hamilton, Councilwomen Watson and Swenson,
Councilmen Geving and Horn. No negative votes. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION #83-49: Mayor Hamilton moved the adoption of a resolution
Establishing Bingo/Gambling License Fees. Resolution seconded by
Councilman Geving. The following voted in favor: Mayor Hamilton,
Councilwomen Watson and Swenson, Councilmen Geving and Horn. No negative
votes. Motion carried.
SIDE YARD VARIANCE REQUEST, 222 CHAN VIEW: Mr. and Mrs. Ron Roeser are
seeking-approval of a ten fo~front and 8 foot side yard setback variance
to construct a 20 x 16 foot attached garage onto the east side of their
existing residence. The Board of Adjustments and Appeals recommended the
Council deny the 10 foot front yard setback variance and approve the 8 foot
side yard setback variance.
Councilman Geving - This issue involves a one foot side yard petition, so
that really instead of 8 feet it should have been 9 feet. I am referring
to attachment #2, it has a proposed garage on there and shows a 16 x 20
foot garage, that if the variances were approved would come within one foot
Council Meeting October 3, 1983
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of the east property line. After looking at the property, and I think one
thing that was not brought out that evening, the land where you see the
proposed garage slants to the north and if that garage were placed in that
position as shown a certain amount of fill would be required to place that I
foundation in there. After discussing it with the board and the people
that were in attendance the motion was to decrease the front yard setback
to zero so that the structure, if it is built, would have to meet our ordi-
nance requirements of a 30 foot setback. There would be no variance given
for the front yard since the structure would not have a variance required.
The entire structure must be at least 30 feet from the street. What we
were recommending to the Council was one variance and that variance being
an 8 foot variance for the side yard setback.
Councilman Horn - What is the distance between the proposed structure and
the adjacenr-hOuse?
Councilman Gevi~ - I believe it's about 12 feet to the neighbor's home.
Councilman Horn - Does the fire department give any recommendations on
distance for-pfoper safety between structures?
Q~ ~~hworth - I have not seen anything.
Bill Monk - With rated walls you can basically get within five feet without
~m~of a problem but I have never seen a recommendation from them.
Councilwoman Swenson - My main question is, if a neighbor now or someone in
the future should decide to put up a fence along that lot line it would
seem that Mr. Roeser is going to have considerable amount of difficulty I
maintaining that side of his garage. My major problem is that I don't
believe that I have ever agreed to less than, unless it's a new develop-
ment, less than five foot setbacks for side yard and in this particular
case I am wondering what is the objection to putting the garage at least
past the neighbors house. I understand they have a kitchen window that
looks out there and the bedrooms face that wall.
Councilman Gevin~ - The proposal is to move it approximately ten feet north
from where you see it on the schmatic.
Councilwoman Swenson - Would that be beyond the rear of the adjacent house?
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Councilman Geving - Yes, I would say it's very close. I would say that
certainly could be a provision of our condition that that could be moved
far enough back. I think what we are asking here, when we look at this as
a variance, he is asking for a variance on the front yard, as long as he
meets that requirement for a 30 foot setback then he could technically
place that at the 30 foot mark. As a part of our negotiation here tonight
then possibly it should moved even further to the north, another three to
four feet or whatever it takes to clear the property line of his neighbor
to the east. I think that is a good suggestion.
Councilman Horn - There was an initial objection from the neighbor to the
east, was that-resolved with the modified proposal?
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~~~ Wittenberg: I still do, for many reasons. One, I don't believe that
gutters are going to help. He says he will take care of the gutters now,
maybe Mr. Roeser will do it, maybe he will sell in two years and the next
party won It take care of them. I believe it's a fire hazard to a point.
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Council Meeting October 3, 1983
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There are handicapped children living in that home now and they can take
care of their own up to a point but you can't dictate to a neighbor what he
can put in his garage. I you go back further, without knowing the lay of
the land, is he going to have to fill and if he does, is this fill and the
water going to run on to the backyard property to the east? I guess I
would have to check that a little bit further.
Councilman Horn - It looks to me like we really don't know the impact of
what's it going to be as far as fill and drainage. The question is if
there is fill brought in are we going to change the whole drainage pattern?
Councilman Geving - The fill that I was talking about is further to the
north where this proposed garage is. Where this is being moved back now,
whatever it is 10 to 15 feet, I don't believe it would require fill. I
don't believe there would be any additional runoff. If anything the runoff
should again go to the north.
Councilman Horn - I misunderstood which was the proposed.
Councilman Geving - Cross out where it says IIproposed garagell. The real
proposal is where it says IIproposed garage II down at the bottom with the
arrow. The Board of Adjustments and Appeals is recommending to eliminate
the front yard variance. One thing that we are very very much opposed to
is that overhang so whatever kind of structure is built there cannot
overhang hardly at all. When we talked about an 8 foot variance that roof
line is going to have to come down and practically drop right off here
because you can't have an overhang or it will destroy the throught that we
had in giving this 8 foot variance. We have to have a property line that
is respected by your neighbor and we want you to be as far back from that
property line as possible. The Board of Adjustments and Appeals agreed
that we were recommending an 8 foot variance which means that your struc-
ture would be two feet from the property line and that the overhang from
that garage should not over hang so greatly that it would also over hang on
your neighbors property or to the property line. We all recognize you have
to have some overhang.
Councilman Horn - Where is the water going to drain from the gutters?
Mayor Hamilton - You could run it to the driveway. Your driveway now
drains towards the street.
Mr. Wittenberg - Right now I have got leakage in the basement with no
garage or anything there.
Mayor Hamilton - I get water in my basement, too. It's not because of
anybody's driveway.
Councilwoman Swenson - I notice that this driveway is on a slant so the
condition would have to be that it could not be less than two feet at the
northeastern point. I just talked with the neighbor today and as I
understood it the major problem, perhaps I was mistaken, was having the
edifice directly adjacent and your objection would be somewhat appeased by
moving it back north which is what we are talking about now. It would
still be two feet from the lotline but the front of the garage will be
beyond the northwest corner of your house. The main reason for not going
back any farther than this is because of the terrain of the land and the
requirement of the fill. What we are trying to do is to come up with the
most equitable answer for both of you.
Council Meeting October 3, 1983
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QQ~ Schmieg - Is it normally a reason variances are granted is because of
some sort of a hardship or a difficulty with a lot?
Councilman Geving - One of the reasons.
Don Schmieq - I find it a little bit difficult to understand that by virtue
of not wanting a longer driveway is the only thing I can see that we
wouldn't move that structure to the back of the lot. Granted, you wouldn't
have to fill around the garage if you put a foundation in. All you would
have to do is build block up and fill the inside in and it would be sitting
out there with the back end two foot or three foot off the ground. I don It
see where the problem with filling would be a viable solution because you
could do it without fill. The lot could stay exactly the way it is outside
the garage, flat just like it is now. I don It see where by moving it back
and over five feet to give both property owners a chance to use a variance
by virtue of giving one property owner 8 foot of that ten you eliminate any
possibility of the neighbor doing anything with his lot. If they were to
put an addition on the house of any sort I am sure the Council would not
entertain any type of an idea to get their house, right now it IS presently
ten foot from the lot line, by virtue of giving the neighbor eight foot of
his side I doubt that you would give equal consideration to the next neigh-
bor. I think you are kind of putting the guilt on the guy that went there
first. Had the neighbor gone there first and asked for eight feet then you
would deny Mr. Roeser his eight feet. If you give Mr. Roeser eight I doubt
that you would give the next property owner eight on the other side.
Councilwoman Watson - That was what I was going to say. When we do
something and get so close to the property line we are placing the entire
burden for a reasonable distance between buildings with one resident.
Mayor Hamilton - It also seems that you have to look at each structure
Tndependently and it would seem to me, I don't know how they are going to
try to put an addition on the house on the corner it would seem to me that
this by virtue of the way the structure sits now and of the property they
are going to build to the north not to the west.
Mr. Wittenbe~ - I can't go to the north because that's where my garage is.
Mayor Hamilton - If you wanted to put an addition on that house you could
certainly move that garage.
Mr. Wittenberg - It we wanted to tear our building down and have to go
further north there would be a garage in the way.
Mayor Hamilton - Itls on his property. It's not in your way if you are
going to build north.
Councilman Geving - The Board and this Council has to look at what's hap-
pening now and try to plan for the future but what you are talking about is
a big "what if II and we have to look at that "what if II when it becomes
reality and we are faced with that situation when you give us a variance
request. At that time we would make the decision whether or not to grant
you a building permit to add on to your home. We have to look at Mr.
Roeser's request, that's the only one that's in front of us tonight and
weigh its merits.
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Council Meeting October 3, 1983
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Councilman Geving moved to approve the eight foot side yard variance to the
Planning Case #83-13 for the Ronald Roeser property, 222 Chan View, with the
condition that if the structure is built it must maintain proper drainage
with gutters moving the water away from the property owner to the east.
That the building would be set far enough to the north so it would be
placed further north than the northwest corner of the Wittenberg home.
The applicant file a Certificate of Survey showing the proposed placement
of the garage prior to the issuance of a building permit. Motion seconded
by Mayor Hamilton. The following voted in favor: Mayor Hamilton and
Councilman Geving. Councilwomen Swenson and Watson and Councilman Horn
voted no. Motion failed.
Councilman Horn - I guess I have to examine what a variance means in this
situation ana-T look at the Zoning Ordinance as a way to protect adjacent
property owners not so much as what allowing an individual property can do
but I am very willing to accept variances in a case where all the neighbors
are amenable don It feel aggrieved to it. I don It think that's the case
with this situation. I think that's the reason that we have Zoning
Ordinances to give neighbors the opportunity to voice their objections. We
can deviate when all of those objections are resolved and I don't think
that's the case here.
Councilwoman Swenson - I really am having a major problem with this. The
main problem I have is the granting of an eight foot variance on a side
yard and this really bothers me, five I could take but eight just really
bothers me.
SIDE YARD SETBACK, STREET FRONTAGE, LOT AREA VARIANCE, LOT 26, BLOCK ~ RED
ITDARPOTNT: - -
Councilman Geving - One of the things I asked staff to do for tonights
meeting was to provide to us a map of the area because the petitioners
brought in a number of people's certification that they were in agreement
with the request and they are listed in the packet but I wanted to know
where they live because I wanted to know if they were adjacent neighbors or
people who have lots that were similar to theirs on Red Cedar Point. If
you look at attachment 7 and what I did with my attachment 11, I put a pen-
cil mark on those lots that were approximately 40 feet and many of those
people that are shown on attachment 7 are in those 40 foot lots so they
have situations that are very similar to the Parsons. This is a very big
precedent setting type of situation. We always, on the Board of
Adjustments and Appeals, look at the neighborhood itself. The con-
figuration of the neighborhood. We more or less request that they ask
their neighbors if they would sell them a piece of their land and there is
a piece of property to the east of this, Mrs. Rask owns, and she flatly
said, no way would she sell a piece of land to make this parcel large
enough for us to consider. Some of the things that were later brought out
by our attorney in researching this and the fact of the matter is the
Parsons have owned this land for years and years, they have paid taxes on
it and they were assessed an area charge for the sewer and water that went
through there and so they have had a considerable amount of money that they
have paid to this City and the County for that benefit. We, at our
meeting, decided two to one to deny this variance request and again, it1s a
very difficult situation because you have several variances being requested
and if you look at 8,658 square foot lot area variance, I don't believe that
we have ever granted a building permit on a piece of land in Chanhassen
less than 10,000 square feet. This one here is roughly 6,342 square feet.
Council Meeting October 3, 1983
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Councilman Horn - Would the property owners on either side be willing to
buy it?
John Parsons - I remember a year ago when this was brought up before you~ I
The-question was raised again as to whether someone would buy it and at
that time both parties on either side said no they would not.
Councilman Horn - Is it actually being pursued for sale?
John Parsons - We own Lot 41 and one time considered selling that and we
caTTed up a real estate firm and they said forget it, you can't build on
it.
Mayor Hamilton - This is really a difficult one to deal with. I guess I
have to look at reports that we received from our legal counsel that tells
us a variance must be granted, if without it, the property cannot be put to
any reasonable use, the property owner's own action does not create the
need for a variance~ granting it will not cause substantial harm. I sup-
pose somebody could say substantial harm could be somehow they could deter-
mine that their property value on either side is going to be reduced by
some amount because a smaller home was put in there. 1111 ask Al, if you
put a smaller home in there, do you think it would cause a problem selling
a home on either side when it's a nice new home.
~ Klingelhutz - I think you can put up a pretty nice split level. I don't
know what the value of the homes on either side of him are and what the
size of them are. Sure if you let the home run down it would have an effect
on the value of the homes next to it but if it's a new home and well main- I
tained and well constructed, I don It think it should have much effect on
it. It seems to me that there was one lot on Red Cedar Point, Ric Anding's
lot~ is that a 40 foot lot or 50 foot lot? He did build a very nice home
on it and I can It see where that would detract from the value of his neigh-
bors. Sure you have got to build a home a little different than you would
on a norma 1 lot.
Councilman Geving - There are about 14 lots like that that are open right
now on the point that I saw when I looked at my map. There are about seven
without homes.
Mayor Hamilton - I would like to ask the folks here who gave us this peti-
tion-tonight, the only thing that your petition says is that you are
opposed to the variance request, is there some reason why you are opposed
to it?
We don't want to look out our window and see this home right
next to us.
Councilman Horn - I have more objection to the lot size than I do the side
yar~varTãnc~- A lot size like that on a lake, to me, is a big problem.
Councilman Geving - I think the big difference here is the Parsons bought
this in good faith years and years ago and if economic conditions had been
right for them they would have had a house on this particular property.
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May~ Hamilton - There seems to be several neighbors against it. There are
certainly some in favor of it. A 6~300 square foot lot is much smaller
than what we have even considered in the past.
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Council Meeting, October 3, 1983
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Don Ashworth - In terms of the lot area, they would have to meet things
such as side yard. This application does not meet the side yard which is a
basis for denial. You should not deny it on the basis of lot area.
Councilman Horn - Why can It we do that if we have a requirement of 15,000
square feet~hy is that any different than the side yard?
Councilwoman Watson - Because it is a lot of record.
Councilwoman Swenson - If this were a split lot or if it were in a new
division someplace, there is no question that it would be denied. The fact
that the lot has been there for umteen years, I guess I have some problem
denying it when faced with the attorney's recommendation.
Councilman Geving - I wish I knew tonight how many similar lots we have
like this on Red Cedar Point so that if this becomes a precedent are we
going to look at five or six or seven more.
Councilwoman Swenson - I know that since I have been involved the Council
and the Planning Commission have moved towards trying to combine lots in
order to increase the size and this one happens to be sandwiched in
between.
Mrs. Rask was at the meeting last Tueday night and she defi-
nitely said that she would buy that lot. They have offered to buy it and
the Parsons said no.
Mrs. Parsons - They have never made me an offer.
Mayor Hamilton - It would seem to me that when you have this many neighbors
that are opposed to an issue and, hopefully, you could be somewhat sen-
sitive to the needs of your fellow citizens and neighbors. They have a
piece of property that they have a difficult situation with and we could
certainly deny this for several reasons. I think the neighbors in that
area also owe it to the owners of this property to approach them and to ask
them for a buying price or a selling price from them. They are sitting
here with a piece of property that they are attempting to build a house on,
legitimately so, and everybody in the neighborhood seems to be against it
for one reason or another and you are virtually telling those people that
they have a piece of property that is worthless and you don1t want any thing
to do with them or their property. I think you owe it to them to approach
them to see if you can't reach some agreement to purchase it and if not, I
think we need to reconsider this item. I would move that we deny the side
yard setback variance request for Lot 26, Block 1, Red Cedar Point.
Councilman Geving - I would second your motion, Mr. Mayor.
Councilwoman Swenson - Could we table this for a specific period of time
giving the neighbors an opportunity to get together with the Parsons or see
if they can resolve this rather than having to make a definite denial or
acceptance of this?
Mayor Hamilton - Either way is going to accomplish the same thing.
like to see an attempt made by yourselves and by your neighbors to
property. I think they will find out rather quickly how receptive
neighbors are to their selling it.
I would
sell the
the
Council Meeting October 3, 1983
-12-
Councilman Geving - I think that if Mrs. Rask or the Morgans are really
serious about objecting to this piece of property and the potential for a
home here, this is their opportunity to buy it. If you don It want neigh- I
bors to the east of you ever, buy this piece of property and be done with
it. It's easy for me to say but that's a solution to the problem.
Mayor Hamilton - Any further comments? If not, all those in favor of the
motion signify by saying aye.
Councilman Geving - Aye.
Councilman Horn - Aye.
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Councilwoman Swenson - Aye.
Councilwoman Watson - Aye.
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Mayor Hamilton - Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.
HRA APPOINTMENT: Commissioner Tim Russell has resigned as a member of the
HRA. Mayor Hamilton moved that Mike Niemeyer be contacted to see if
he would serve on the HRA. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Swenson. The
following voted in favor: Mayor Hamilton, Councilwomen Watson and Swenson,
Councilmen Geving and Horn. No negative votes. Motion carried.
AGREEMENT ADOPTING TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN AND ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES
FOR THE ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING OFTA"XINCRTIfËNTTRANSACTIONS: Mayor
Hamilton moved adoption-or-fhe-agreement between the City of Chanhassen and I
the Chanhassen HRA establishing procedures for accounting and reporting of
tax increment transactions. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Watson. The
following voted in favor: Mayor Hamilton, Councilwomen Watson and Swenson,
Councilmen Geving and Horn. No negative votes. Motion carried.
JAYCEES LIQUOR LICENSE: The Jaycees are requesting a liquor license to
seTT~er at the Instant Web Open House on October 8th and at the Jaycee
Oktoberfest on October 22nd.
Councilman Horn moved to approve a liquor license for October 8th and 22nd
subject to verification of insurance. Motion seconded by Councilwoman
Swenson. The following voted in favor: Mayor Hamilton, Councilwomen
Watson and Swenson, Councilmen Geving and Horn. No negative votes. Motion
carried.
BOAT ACCESS UPDATE: The City Manager reported there has been no word from
the-State-as to their participation. This item will be on a future Council
agenda.
Councilwoman Swenson moved to adjourn. Motion seconded by Councilman Horn.
The following voted in favor: Mayor Hamilton, Councilwomen Watson and
Swenson, Councilmen Geving and Horn. No negative votes. Motion carried.
Don Ashworth
City Manager
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