05-10-1999 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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WINSTON LAW OFFICE April 14,1999 Charles Kelly . Compass Capital Management. 706 Second Avenue South, #400 Mirmeapolis, MN 55402 RE: James R. Renckens Subdivision Application Dear Charlie: I am writing to you, as you might have anticipated, to discuss with you further the James R. Renckens Subdivision Application and the outlot requirement imposed Monday night. The Council's decision has been troubling to my client and me ever since the vote went against us on the 50-foot oudot at the rear of the property. \Vhile I have appeared before the Orono City Council enough times to know the process, and while I have participated in the process, I always come away dissatisfied that a City Council hearing is not a good place to engage in a meaningful dialog with respect to the issues that the Council may face on any partiodar evening. I would much rather sit down with Council members in a less formal envirorunent with proponents and opponents alike and try to talk things out around a conference room table. That setting was not afforded us Monday night by reason of the process, and I understand the legal requirements that you are up against. Thus, let me take this opportunity to commence a less formal dialog. The rear outl t is a disaster for the property. You have heard our expressions of concern Mth resj. ect to privacy, safety and security. You will also see copies of my letters to the other Council members, and partiailarly my letter to Mr. Flint where I again state my concern as a neighbor of the property. Further concerns involve our now having to leave the rear 50 feet untouched, as this area is to be a separate outlot, and cannot be developed. That situation is exacerbated by our having to compute setbacks from the Southerly line of the outlot. Further, with this being a rear lot, my understanding is that the setback becomes 150% of the normal setback, and that, in this case, that would amount to 75 feet. In effect, the City’s taking of the 50 feet for oudot purposes creates a 125-foot wide no man’s land at the rear of the subject property. But it is not just the loss of 125 feet or the resulting loss of use of the acreage involved. What I would like you to do is to go back to Mr. Renckens' letter that is part of the City’s record. Jim’s April 2 letter, copied herewith, well sets forth the arguments against the oudot. 1 would like you to focus on those aspects of the letter 4420 IDS Center, 80 SoutK 8tK Street, Minneapolii, MN 55402 Tel: 6l2.341.9800 Fax: 612.338.6351