1980 05 21
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Chanhassen Planning Commission - May 21, 1980
The issues were separated as the outline was discussed.
With each issue, we should discuss whether we feel this issue would
be the same for all of the developments or is an issue that has
differences with the Lake Ann and Lake Susan West. If the issue
is consistent with all three developments, we will go ahead and
apply to all three developments.
Clark Horn: If we make a decision on it, then we feel that the
issue is equally applied to all three developments. We will not
act on that particular issue again when we give our final approval
on the other development so that we don't have to go three times
through the list. If we agree that they are the same kind, we will
take our action retro-active, when we make our final approval.
Tom Hamilton: Before we get started, and for the record, I don't
approve. I don't think that is the way the motion was intended
to read or intended to have it done.
Clark Horn: The minutes of the meeting and the methods indicate
this is the consensus of the group and this is the way we should
attack it.
We will address the item and then we will give the relative
comments from staff. And, then we will go around and poll each
of the commissioners as to his feeling on that particular issue
and then we will try to come to some type of consensus on that
particular issue.
Bob Waibel: Many items have been picked up in previous reports,
with varying degrees of detail and I had planned on commenting on
some of these areas in even greater detail also in my wrap up report
next Wednesday night. There may be some changes or add-ons to
some of these comments before the final recommendations.
We are discussing housing types of Lake Susan West and Lake Ann.
Types as noted in the previous planners reports are permitted uses
within the P-I district. Working with the preamble of the P-I
district, they are not found to be in violation of such and there is
also reservation that certain portions of this, such as the town-home
apartments and the areas other than the first phases of each of these
developments have to be certain of large reservation or a fair amount
of reservation as to the realisticness of a safe plan that is being
submitted when it is probably a year from construction.
The types involve single family. We have the architectural renderings
of the possible builders in the first phase. As far as the archi-
tecture goes, the Planning Commission should see fit to have tha~
also as an it~m to be brought back when the subsequent phases come in.
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Chanhassen Planning Commission - May 21, 1980
And have that written into the Development Contract. As the
next phases are brought in for their Sight-Plan Review or
their preliminary plats, that the perspective builders submit
architectural renderings.
Clark Horn: Is it your impression, Bob, that at this point, we
will be acting on the architectural renderings we have reviewed
so far as part of our recommendation or should it be limited to only
a type?
Bob Waibel: The types are too involved; it is part of it. The part
of the Preamble thing. The possibilities of the market housing.
The provision of Market Housing which comes back into the ratio and
mix thing.
Clark Horn: For our recommendation coming up with tonight and next
Wednesday, do you feel that we are to deal with the specific
architectural renderings that we have submitted or are we supposed
to be giving our recommendation based on that type of housing
whether on these renderings or other renderings?
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Bob Waibel: The renderings only pertain to the first phases. The
first phases like Susan West and Lake Ann, those are the only two
for sure committed builders we have at this time. The layout of
the lot doesn't have a bearing. Density doesn't have a bearing on
architect unless cluster versus row house versus some other sort
of architect.
Clark Horn: Is our recommendation tonight supposed to take in Phase
I of Lake Ann or any of the phases that have quadrominiums? Are we
to consider quadrominium type that is being proposed for that phase
or a quadrominium in general?
Bob Waibel: There isn't any difference in looking at it. The ordi-
nance does request it and we've seen and heard comments about it.
Architecture relates to the Planning Commission and we are to
discuss whether that is in fact an issue. I don't know why
the ordinance has it in there1: or whether it is beneficial. We are
dealing with the layout of the land, street patterns.
Art Partrige: I have reservations about the idea quads as being
a concept. Quads are a better usage of land. Quadrominiums are a
better use of land than a big box on a small square with two big
driveways with it and leave nothing left. The proposal is to
plat these things as 4 separate lots. In the proposed preliminary
drawings that is the way they are layed out. I trnink the space
given to a quad could probably be better served by linear or
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something that would bring the houses together. Basically, the
average of the quad lot is about 18,000 sq. ft. Granted, they
are a marketable commodity. I have reservations with the Lake
Ann proposal because of the way it starts out with nothing but
quads.
Jim Thompson: For the type of housing, Lake Ann PUD and also Lake
Susan South PUD, they should both be changed to the concept of
PRD. The downtown area will be sufficient for any commerciali-
zation. I agree, you need a plan development concept of various
housing. Single family, duplexes, apartments, townhouses. I
agree with Art that I would much rather see clustered townhouses
or linear townhouses rather than quads and eight plexes.
What is an eight-plex?
My understanding is that an eight plex is two quads back to back
or side to side.
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Tom Hamilton: The developer has apparently contacted New Horizon,
Chaparral, Orrin Thompson and Sacks about building all or part of
the PRD. These buildings are not of the quality that have made
Chanhassen the quality community it is today. Many of the homes
in Chanhassen have been built by H & K, Scholer Madsom, mostly
independent builders who construct ~uality and diversified imagin-
ative homes. The spaciousness and rural atmosphere has been
preserved in the past and must be in the future. As has been
expresses, by the many residents who attend the public hearings
and took the time to write the commission and/or council, the type
of housing being proposed is not what the residents of Chanhassen
want to see built in their community. Unless the three or any other
proposed builders can be more creative than they have been in the
past in other communities, and in one case in Chanhassen, they
should not be allowed to build their homes in this community.
That is what the housing portion for Lake Susan West shows.
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Bill Johnson: The housing is more specific. The items to be
addressed are types, mix in each of the particular units and
the buffer zones. Especially address buffer zones to existing
home owners in the surrounding area. Address both the developers
and existing land use to owners. Address the right to reserve
approval. Bob addressed, that we will have another shot at the
type of homes being built. Particular developers, the process
probably allows that, but we want to at least have that right plus
to approve a homeowners association. As far as land use versus
building, it seems that we could d~vise a method of ratio. We
are all concerned about density. We should have a better under-
standing of PUD. Have some flexibility. Perhaps a ratio of single
family to the multiple housing. I agree with everyone, especially
Tom. We don't want to create another Chaparral, yet we don't want
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to prohibit somebody to be creative or allow somebody else to come
in. Address by saying there be a certain mix of multiple family.
End result of mix a higher cost quad or a higher cost of quality
townhouses. A mix ratio of single family to this multiple family.
Then voiding out apartment land...
Clark Horn: Are you suggesting that we should delay our decision
on the particular concepts for the architecture that we reviewed
and defer that to a later point and pick a type now that is accep-
table but not an architectural styling?
Bill Johnson: It's too difficult to dictate an architectural
styling this early in the process. It's appropriate to use land
use ratio. Saying that we would like the denisty dictated by the
x number of most families, we need to have single family involved.
Clark Horn: As far as the particular types of things that make
up that ratio, do you have any feelings about the type of quad?
Do you prefer the row house to the current style that is being
proposed?
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Bill Johnson: I think it would be more appropriate to use the
style that I see growing in Chanhassen to utilize more green area.
Within an x number of homes, maybe a grouping of ten and then a
green area around that. I like the cluster concept. Please leave
latitude for developer to move around in the PUD and still maintain
the high quality.
Clark Horn: Do you have a feeling on deplexes as they were proposed
on the architectural renderings?
Bill Johnson: The same concept applies all the way through.
Specifically, strive to get a higher quality than has been proposed
by the perspective builders who would come to Chanhassen.
Clark Horn: I don't like the current proposal of quad type of
housing. I think a quad in a row type area would be much more appro-
priate use. I see the four-plex or quad as being somewhat a compro-
mise of trying to get the visual impact of ownership of a piece of
property without the benefits of ownership of a piece of property
which too many people are doing the yard work and that which are now
done by the group. The group maintains the lawns. This tends to be
somewhat of a compromise you can use both ways. The row type house
can be put together and clustered more effeciently in types of road
systems and leave open spaces around it. The PUD concept is that
you cluster things. Maybe the lot sizes are smaller than We are
used to, but compensate by that and your gross densities don't
change. PUD doesn't mean higher density. PUD is a different concept
of arranging land. Another thtng that didn't look appropriate was,
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especially on cul-de-sac. Multiple housing looks out of place.
More of an architectural issue with both the quads and the duplexes.
It figures more of an architectural thing and I don't favor the
whole thing....Chaparral or Orrin-Thompson type of quads.
Jim Thompson: 1 think you could have duplexes and quads in the same
area and clustered together and be very attractive. I think the
total number of quad units in the proposed: area would be just too
expensive. And, would not be what I want for Chanhassen.
I am concerned that all of the quads are basically
the same building. Just different shades of earth tones. They
look like a box.
Jim Thompson: There is something you can do, though. If you have
less land to work with then your basic cost goes up. You have to
build a more expensive quad to recapture the land cost. What we
looked at is basically all the same price range and that means the
land basically - starting price range - so, it seems we can control
the quality a little bit and ranges of requirements of a......
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Clark Horn: Can we separate the housing types from the mix? Can
we come up with some kind of consensus that would either combine
types with ratio and mix or separate them? Can we come to a
consensus?
The current figures are 21.5% of the land is single
family. The rest is all multiple. I think that is abominable. It
is a density issue.
If you solve the density problem, you are going to solve the mix.
Our density figure is a very important number for us to arrive at.
As far as mixes and ratios, there are many different ways you could
put that ratio together to get that density. Unless we have a strong
feeling about one particular type, that should be more or less up to
the developer to incorporate his PUD as he sees it. It is the
developers job to develop what the ratio is going to be. But, we
still need to approve that. I have examples of what I see as ratios.
I did them for myself.
If we can put together, at a minimum, an acceptable building type
that we can accept a density figure at least be giving ball park
figures to shoot at. If we want to, we can also mix a ratio in
with that. We can, up to our descretion, dictate a.......or we
can say that as long as we stick by the housing type.
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The second option may create a problem. For a fact, at some point
in time, multiple family develop will be more lucrative. Be it
quads, apartments whatever. Maintain quality of single family and
provide alternative housing. Make sure the r~tios are a proper
mix in Chanhassen.
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Clark Horn: How do we see transitions from one housing type to
another? The current proposal has it very much segregated.
Single family is in one area, duplex, quads. Some of the previous
planning commissioners believe there should be a mix of housing
types within each area. Up until I took the tour, I was very much
against that. What I've seen, is that when you get too many of one
housing all together, it gets boring. I wouldn't wan to mix housing
types in an established neighborhood. But, on a PUD concept, it
might be much more imaginative and appealing if some of these were
mixed.
Change the concept and say, a little better quality. Demand a little
higher quality. If we give the people a little higher quality in
housing, a lot of the problems will be solved.
It was stated that we were philosophizing and need to get down to
some type of particulars on the type of development. It is needed
to get to the specifics on this development.
How do you define "density"?
No problem in mixing types. We can address density and types.
We don't have the biggest problem with types (quads) called fourplex,
as we do with particular architecture view of that as presented in
what we have seen.
It isn't quality as much as style.
$80,000 or $90,000 for 1200 sq. ft unit in a quad would indicate
poor quality.
We rleed to decide on how to control it. What will we recommend?
Two people recommend that it be a row type four unit building rather
than one on each corner type.
We don't want redunduncy. There you get into esthetics.
Our concern is that the initial step is to rezone this property
from ROI-A to PI to anything and in effect and rezoning sections
within there. Individual rezoning of blocks within the property.
Therefore, saying this area is forever multiple, this area is
forever single, based on lot size. The only way to change it, is
for someone to buy a quad and bulldoze so they ~ould have an 18,000
sq. ft. lot. So, what I am concerned with is that you are setting
aside areas where you are basically saying this....this is the way
the proposal is as I enterpret it.
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On a quad lot, the proposal is to divide it into four single segments
whatever size. Some of the plots are considerably larger than 18,000
sq ft. Basically, they are four lots.
There are two basic concepts. Draw an X through the middle of the
sight which would be in effect down the common wall of each unit,
to the property boundary. The maintenance of all of the lawn is
done by the association, but privately owned.
There has been another development of involving ownership which the
person owns the actual segment or quadrant that their house occupies.
All of the land then is jointly owned by the association. It simplifies
easments, getting of easments for in the various houses for utilities
and driveways.
That particular concept, however, is one that you look at, I think,
properly when you are looking at a sight plan associated with a
preliminary plat.
Are we in a position to being asked to propose a preliminary plat
which specifically delineates boundaries or quadrants?
The proposal, before us, defines land-uses and density is general
and is not sight-specific at all. That is another process entirely.
That will follow this. That process follows the general rule
land-use concept and den~ity.
In the land-use concept, are we not talking about such things as
the proposed homeowners association, covenants, development contracts,
with yourself and other items, on what Art is asking?
Craig Mertz: At the very tail-end of the process, we would be doing
the development contract with the developer. It would require some
sort of guarantee that streets were going to be constructed in
accordance with the plan and that they were going to in fact establish
the homeowners association and properly incorporate the homeowners
association.
We could specify that there is a mix of types and also a mix of
architectural styling of those types.
It was originally the intent, Lake Ann was that the single family
would be the furthest away from the main road. The minimum traffic
flow would be taken place through the intermediate areas.
The current proposal is 42% quads in Lake Ann.
What particular density for what particular phase?
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There are two things that we can separate. Low and moderate income
type. And transportation doesn't apply.
Maybe land-use issue is what we want to address with the exclusion
of transportation.
Land use included housing, density, MUSA, commercial development
recreation and open space and phasing within the development and
within the outline.
Community Impacts which include many of the other items we have
on here.
Art: Lake Ann with a limited number of bodies needs a small
commercial area and Lake Susan needs one. Then I should think
Lake Susan West needs one also. Lake Ann commercial corner isn't
needed.
It is a 12 acre parcel. It is at an intersection of four major
roads and not conducive for housing.
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The Lake Susan Hills West area is being requested zoned PI, PRD, is
not allowed commercial development. Thus, this issue is not applica-
ble, since none will be allowed in the Lake Susan Hills West area.
The Lake Ann PUD has a commercial area proposed on the corner of
Highway 17 and Highway 5. Proposed area within 1/2 mile of the
proposed CBD, which in my opinion is a conflict of good developing
sense of logic. I propose that Lake Ann area sa defined by the
developer be allowed PI, PRD, status only. No commercial
development be allowed within the bounds of this district.
We have seen only one proposal for that piece of land. If a
commercial building can be built there, a residential building can
be built there. The busyness of that corner won't create a problem.
We owe it to the developer to say what our opinion is at this time,
so they can make a counter proposal if they wish.
Clark Horn:
is density.
One of the big things we really haven't discussed yet
I'd like to get some comments at this time.
Bob Waibel: Density I had in my report. As far as ratio or mix, I
had planned on getting that in my next report. The communities I
have reported on are Burnsville, Eagan, Woodbury and Maple Grove.
I would like to have more research done on the ratio and mix.
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Jim Thompson: I think the density proposed should be lowered. As
far as density at Lake Ann, I think it should be a maximum of 2.2
units gross density. Lake Susan West, maximum 2.4 units gross
density. For Lake Susan South, a maximum of 2.0 units gross density.
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Bill Johnson: I favor changing the PUD concept somewhat by approaching
the density as a grid system with a mix of single family including
the multiple family or saying each particular area we're going to
have a density ratio for the multiple family and density ratio for
single family with X number of green area within a big grid.
Clark Horn: If you felt you put it together in your concept and
you looked at each of these in a total, what do you think would
be a ball park figure?
Bill Johnson: 2.75 to a range of 3. Three, you're going to have
more green area. My total proposal is what they're wanting to do
is not bad, it's just that we need to have a little more control.
Tom Hamilton: Lake Susan West. The density is one of the most
critical issues that have to be answered. The developer's have
not presented any alternative plans. The Dunn and Curry proposal
calls for 27% of the units to be single family detached in the
Lake Susan West addition.
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I have two proposals. I have allowed a minimum of 60% single family
detached. Proposal Two would be most desireable to me. To clarify
my position on units per acre, my proposal is as follows: RIA wnuld
be one unit 2.5 acres, Rl as 1.0 to 2.9 units per acre, single familY
detached only; R2 1.0 to 2.9 units per acre duplexes; R3 is 2.9 to
5.8 units per acre quads, eights and townhouses; and R4 would 5.8 to
9.0 units per acre which would be apartments. Single family detached
homes to be built 15,000 sq. ft. lot net acreage.
On Lake Ann proposal, density and this is the most critical of all
issues to be resolved. There must be hundreds of developing schemes.
Until the developer submits at least two separate alternatives, a
of possible configurations cannot be made. 65% of single
family detached (new construction), 28% could be multiple, 1% stayed
and 6% apartments. The Dunn & Curry proposal for Lake Ann PUD calls
for 21.5% single family detached, 5% duplex 41.5% quads and 32%
apartments. I have attached a copy of Dunn & Curry's proposed
units by using a minimum of 60% single family detached facilities.
The proposal is much more reasonable, but still not what I would
consider a final solution. I challenge Dunn & Curry to submit
other proposals meeting my guidelines which I h~p~ will be adopted
by the city.
My proposed densities are as follows: the same as I just read a
moment ago.
Single family homes to be built on lots of not less than 15,000
sq. ft. net acreage. The lake Ann Development which backs on to
e the Greenwood Shores Development, which consists all of 3/4 acre
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lots, should have no less than 21,780 sq. ft. or 1/2 acre lots on
the northern most lots of the development. This would also be
desireable for lots along Lake Ann, but not mandatory. All of
these lots have to be for single family detached units. This
could conform to Section 14 P-l, 1401 paragraph 1.
Clark Horn: I see you have outlined a square foot for single family,
but basically what your proposal is, is that the PUD concept then
would apply more to the multiple housing rather than single family.
If you took the ratio that you are suggesting along with the density
that you're suggesting, have you done that to find out what an
average would be?
Tom Hamilton: The Lake Ann PRD as proposed by Dunn & Curry was
4.73 net density, 3.66 gross. I have one proposal applying my
figures which comes up with 3.42 density and 2.59 gross (Lake Ann).
On Lake Susan West ...~..........the maximum which I would allow,
their net density would be 3.6 and gross would be 2.64. Applying
the percentages they had and using my figures, their density would
be 3.41 net and 2.50 gross.
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Art Partridge: Basically, I realize you have to establish a minimum
lot size at some time. If you simply divide it into 15,000 sq. ft
lots, you'll still get 438 houses, which is not a significant decrease
in units.
I guess I would like to stick with at least 15,000 sq. ft. minimum
for single family. Again, we have a significant problem, which we
haven't addressed, which is low and moderate income.
Clark Horn: What I hear both of your proposals saying is you are
basically taking single f~mily out of the PUD and put on a minimum
15,000 sq. ft. lot. Then you have maintained the same density
figure for multiple housing, but the configuration might be on
different lot sizes, more traditional PUD concept.
If no other comments about density, I guess some of the other things
we need to talk about are, Tom brought up the issue of outlots. We
still have the issue of doing the things we are talking about and
how that ties into phas.ing. I think we should come up with some
kind of a consensus on how we feel that can be accomplished.
Control mechanism is basically what we're talking about.
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Jim There was some inpropriety in the MUSA line that
inc lude d all of the Dunn & Curr y De ve lopme nt. That's one phase
of the work in Chanhassen that I am very familiar with. Essentially,
the desire on the part of the Staff and Council throughout the entire
establishment of the MUSA line is one of attempting to get as much
of the entire community into the urban services as possible. The
primary reason for this is it establishes local control here. What
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we're really talking about here is sewer service.
Bob Waibel: Since January, 1978 when the City did submit its last
interum comprehensive plan, Chanhassen has been the MUSA line in
all planning and efforts as you have seen it. Previous Planning
Commissions have also endorsed that as being a line.
More discussion followed.
Bill Johnson: I guess I don't have any real comments on the MUSA
Line.
Art Partridge: (cannot understand because it is too soft)
Mark Koeqler: I'd like to make a general comment before we get too
far away from a couple points you touched on. Your consensus is that
the MUSA Line is not a problem, perhaps, it's how the City chooses
to grow within the framework of the MUSA that we have to operate
under.
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Currently, we are required in five year increments that we will be
extending sanitary sewer within the MUSA line area. We have maps,
it is in draft form as part of the comprehensive plan. It does
show areas 85, 850t 90. Perhaps some of you don't agree with the
way it is shaded at this time, that being the case, we should put
it on the agenda immediately and further discuss that point.
Ed Dunn: You have it in all of the documentation you have, we have
provided as a part of the necessary documentation for these PUD's, a
staging plan. Originally, it indicated that the plans would be
developed over ~ t07 years and we modified that as I pointed out
in our later documents to 5 - 10 years. This applies to each PUD
being treated separately, so we think both as to...... Just to
point out we have provided a staging plan. It does provide for a
quarterly development with a logical extension of the utilities.
Clark Horn: We've touched on about everything but recreation and
open space as far as the breakdown on land use. We should keep
this specific to the two developments we're discussing - Lake Susan
West and Lake Ann.
Tom Hamilton: Lake Susan West. Recreation and open space. I suggest
Dunn and Curry completely build a park for the city or that being
too expensive allow other more useable land for the park, it would
not be a tax burden for the city to develop.
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Lake Ann area. If anything, the Lake Ann PRD would impare or discourage
opportunities for better recreation. The Planning Commission has in
some of those cases asked for a better entrance to the park. The
developer to this time has not shown viable alternatives to his
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to his proposal. The frontage road concept is a must for park
entrance. It cannot wind through a commercial or residential
area. It should access the park of the southern end of the park
near Highway 5. The land for the addition to the park should
extend from the frontage road north ,to the 80 foot path which
will follow the lakeshore.
A hedge of Russian Olive type shrub should be planted at the
developer's expense along the path and around the Greenwood
Shore's beach area. This development cannot be done without
violating Ordinance #47, etc.
Bill Johnson: My comments are quite similar to what Tom said.
I would like to address more specifically, the more open spaces,
recreational areas within the development. It is extremely
important that some provision is made that all open space beyond
what they've proposed here..........it seems we should have some
sort of definity planned where either by a number of units or
something that there will be recreational area within a reasonable
walking distance.
Jim Thompson: I'm pretty much in agreement. I have a change in the
Lake Ann suggested park area. I feel that the topography of the land
around Lake Ann is such that it would be more desireable to include
the area up to the top of the hill, maybe decrease the area that is
proposed now. I don't think houses can be built on the clip side
very well and I think that area should be put into park. There
could be wider trails or maybe two trails. I tend to extend that
80' around the lake to include the topographical nature of the
area. The western edge of Lake Susan West should have a park
area that could be suitable for ball parks, etc. Again, I think
Lake Ann South should have an area on the eastern side.
Art Partrigge: I would like to see the area on the north
end of Lake Ann firmly be designated as some sort of conser-
vation area. I'd like to see that it stays the same condition it
is now.
Ed Dunn: The parks we show are those which are the recommendation of
the Park and Rec.
Clark Horn: I think what we're looking for is an overall recommendation.
I think we're in agreement on most of the issues.
Let's go on with the transportation.
Bob Waibel gave a report.
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It has always been intended that l7 is the access to Chanhassen
off of Hwy 212.
Bill Johnson: It is going to increase traffic, but there is nothing
we can do about it.
Tom Hamilton: I agree with Bill that it's going to aggravate the
problem, however I don't feel that we can limit development based
on that premise alone. Where do you draw a line on who can develop?
Ed Dunn: I think we can work with the community to help improve
even the existing level of service on that road.
We will be building something like 100 units at a time.
Clark Horn: We are ready to move on to the community impact.
First section is environment.
Bob Waibel: As far as the overall environment, it's been proven
that actual census of wildlife does increase as human habitation
does.
Jim Thompson: I think it would be great if we could keep 100% of
tree cover. I think we should look at homes that maximize energy
efficiency.
Art Partridge: I don't have anything.
Clark Horn: How do you feel about single family by the lake?
Art Partridge: I thought we had a verbal understanding with the
Lake Susan homeowners.
Jim Thompson: I don't see a need for single family units to be
around every single lake.
Bill Johnson: I agree.
Clark Horn: Let's move into economics, tax base.
Bob Waibel gave a brief report and discussion followed.
Clark Horn: Are there any comments on anything?
Motion to adjour. First and seconded.