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Home My WebLink AboutITEM NO_ 14; Item Description_ #17-3944 Westwood Professional Services o_b_o Ugorets 9098 LLC, 2520 Shadywood Road, Rezoning and Master PlanFrom:judy.fredrickson@ubs.com To:Denny Walsh; Richard Crosby; Wendy Dankey; Aaron H. Printup; Victoria Seals Cc:Jeremy Barnhart Subject:ITEM NO: 14; Item Description: #17-3944 Westwood Professional Services o/b/o Ugorets 9098 LLC, 2520Shadywood Road, Rezoning and Master Plan Date:Monday, July 10, 2017 2:57:09 PM Attachments:disclaim.txt Importance:High July 10, 2017 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Judy and Dave Fredrickson, 2507 Kelly Avenue, Excelsior, MN 55331; 612.916.6084 SUBJECT: #17-3944 Westwood Professioanl Services o/b/o Ugorests 9098 LLC I would like to offer comments summarizing my personal views as well as those of many of my neighbors on Kelly Avenue and Lydiard regarding the proposed 40 unit condo project on Shadywood Road. As you know, the planning commission voted to deny this project 6-0 at their last meeting based on a wide variety of reasons such as the height AND strong, negative feedback of nearby property owners who wish to protect their property and avoid traffic issues. I also have a real concernwith the inadequate notice of this meeting when the City knows how many people have a true interest in their neighborhood. Makes me feel that items are snuck onto the Agenda in hopes that “the neighbors won’t show up – especially vocal ones”. At the last meeting, we received a postcard alerting us to this project being on the Agneda. We got the postcard the Friday before the Monday meeting and comments were due the same day???? That is not advancwe notice nor transparency from the City. We respectfully ask that you deny this particular project as it stands for the following reasons: 1. Recommendation: I find it disheartening that Jeremy Barnhart is recommending this project after all of the negative feedback it has received. I understand that there is a requirement to bring projects in front of the City Council even if the Planning Commission has voted against it. I also understand that the City Council does not have to abide by their decision. However, to make a recommendation in support of the project is extremely disappointing. If the City does not stand by the people who live in it and who pay the taxes for it…what are the priorities of the staff? 188 people signed an on-line petition against this project after a well-attended April open house by the Developer. We took the time to ask questions and be informed. We are NOT the neighborhood of NO. There was no big opposition to the Cudd 7 unit townhome project. I personally wrote a letter in support of that project (right across the street from the Freshwater) because it was “consistent with the neighborhood” and I knew the quality of the builder. I would like to know how many neighbors have written you in support of the project? I urge you to take the time to read the concerns of the 188 petitioners. Your decision today will set a precedent for Orono. 2. Character of Orono: please don’t change the character of Orono and this neighborhood. Navarre/Spring Lake park is a sleepy lake side town – Orono has cat tails on the logo. This is NOT Wayzata. Orono has a rural feel with beautiful roads weaving through the countryside – the City Conservation Plan calls on you to protect the unique qualities of our lake side City. This condo building is too massive for the location and small lot. It is 4 stories high and close to the street. There is NOT enough parking and it will dramatically change the look and feel of our neighborhood. The condos built in Wayzata tower above the town. It has changed the character of Wayzata. This proposed condo building is very modern, cold, a lot of iron/steel and does not at all have the look and feel of a smaller, lake inspired community that could actually enhance the surroundings rather than look completely out of place. I like modern buildings but they belong in downtown Minneapolis not Orono. When I look at the steel siding of the freshwater business center, I think it too look out of place. Nothing about this condo design speaks to a lakeside community. We are very opposed to changing the zoning to allow a 40 foot height structure. Just like the previous Delaney project, we heard that “unless we can build X number of units, we can’t make money”. Whether the Developer can make money is NOT a reason to approve a project. The project should be approved if it Adds to the look and feel, the character of the area – not because the plan being proposed is the only way the Developer will move forward. 3. Parking: the current Orono plan speaks to Shadywood NOT being conducive to high density housing. This fact was recognized many years ago when the current plan was written. They saw that the traffic was already too congested. You may have done a traffic study but we live here and at 8 a.m. or 5:30 p.m., cars coming west on 15 are backed up around the corner by Culvers. Think about adding 40 condos, 80 cars plus resident cars to this congestion. And then think about the owners actually living in their homes and having parties and guests over. Alex is proposing 40 underground parking spots and 40 above ground spots. At the open house, I asked him about this number and he said “I need the condo project approved because I don’t have enough parking for my current building (the Freshwater Business Center” …what? If he has parking problems for the business center, a condo building with the bare minimum will not solve his problem. Where will the overflow go when anyone has more than 2 cars, has friends or a party or there is an event at one of the lessors at Freshwater? It is NOT safe to park on Shadywood. Will they park at Lunds and try to walk across the busy road? The lot simply does not have enough space for the parking required. We have a lot of bikers who bike along Shadywood. 4. Traffic: if things are backed up on Shadywood…. the escape route is right down our quiet streets: Kelly Avenue and Lydiard. We already have many trucks and cars who cut through our neighborhood trying to avoid the 4 corner lights at Shadywood/15. Unfortunately these commuters don’t follow the speed limit and come racing down Kelly to access Shadywood. Increasing the through traffic on Kelly is not safe or desirable for our residents. 5. Property values: my understanding is that they will price the condos at $750,000. I would like to see a market study to see if condos on a busy road, with little parking or green space and a view of a swamp could sell for this price. The interesting thing is that The Mist in Spring Lake Park tried this experiment and could not sell their condos and they are now rental properties. The Mist offered full water, gorgeous views of the lake (vs. a swamp and no lake access). There is no market data to support the attraction to such a place especially at this price point. If the units don’t sell, then the price point will have to be lowered or they will turn to rentals – neither scenario is a plus for nearby property values. 6. Impact on the Environment: this project would be entirely built along a wetland. I have talked to many a homeowner who were denied exceptions for hardscape. This project will be nothing but hardscape – there is not room for anything other than the building and asphalt. IF he had 5 acres to develop, something more desirable could be built. Thank you for your consideration. I appreciate you erading this letter. Judy Fredrickson 612.916.6084