04-27-2015 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 13, 2015 7:00 o’clock p.m. __________________________________________________________________________________ Page 23 of 40 (7. #14-3686 JOHN BESSESEN AND TOM WASMOEN ON BEHALF OF DAVID DELANEY, 2500 KELLEY AVENUE continued) Market data provided by two different real estate agents in the Navarre/Minnetonka area show twinhome sale prices over the last 15 months ranging from $180,000 to $650,000. The twinhomes located on Kelly Avenue that have beautiful park like backyards, boat docks, and full lake access have sold for less than $400,000 in 2014. Fredrickson noted it is the real estate professionals’ opinion that the project will not be successful at this price and that the developer will have to lower the price to make the homes more competitive with the market. This reduced price level will certainly impact the $1 to $4 million homes located directly across the street. None of the neighbors, nor any of the realtors who have reviewed this proposal, agree with the City Assessor that building twinhomes in this location will increase the value of the neighborhood. Fredrickson stated the development would result in the destruction of trees and the environment. The property owner purchased this land knowing that it was zoned for single-family homes. While the developer included a side-by-side drawing of four single-family homes versus four twinhomes, knowledgeable realtors and those familiar with the neighborhood know that it is ridiculous to suggest that anyone would build an 8,000 square foot home on this site since it has no views of the lake and is subjected to highway noise. Fredrickson stated the current zoning of three single-family homes will have less not more impact on the site and would require less not more clear cutting of trees even with a yard, garage, and installation of another access road off Kelly. In addition, there are major flooding issues on Kelly Avenue. Each year in the spring and sometimes during major rain storms the street will flood. Homeowners along Kelly Avenue are unable to reach their homes for several weeks at a time. Fredrickson stated the neighbors are very concerned about the additional impact construction on the hill above Kelly will have on the flooding. Fredrickson stated the flooding concerns are well documented and many photographs have been included in the Council packet. Fredrickson noted the City has made minor progress with the installation of a new culvert but that the entire proposal as recommended by Bolton & Menk has yet to be approved and implemented. The total cost of the project is $117,200. The study also did not examine any further potential impact from flooding following construction on this project. Fredrickson stated the neighbors also have considerable traffic and safety concerns. Fredrickson noted Staff concluded that there are no issues regarding traffic on Kelly and that there is no difference between single-family and multi-family housing. Fredrickson noted there was no study of how dangerous it is to exit the parking lot at Lund’s grocery store onto County Road 15 heading west and then making an immediate left turn down Kelly. As detailed to the Planning Commission at the last two meetings, which is why, in part, they voted to deny the project, there are very valid safety concerns on both Kelly Avenue and Lydiard that must be addressed in advance of any construction on this property. The issue is not just the number of cars, but it is also the concern that traffic cuts through the neighborhood in the morning, throughout the day, and in the evening in order to avoid the busy, major intersection of Highways 15/19. City Council Meeting April 27, 2015 Page 25 of 257