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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[00] Memo to CouncilMEMORANDUM As you are aware the City has many projects underway, I would just like to provide a quick update of some of those projects: Master Plan: Veronica Anderson of SEH has part of the draft document ready for the Park Board to review. We have placed this information on the website creating a separate tab for the 2008 Master Park Plan. We will be building on this section as we move through the process. Surveying the parks illustrated that properties abutting the parks have encroached on City property. In fact, one parcel had a pool located totally on City property. We have notified all residents of encroachments we are aware of and asked to have the matters remedied as soon as possible. The residents have been very compliant. The City has also noticed that we are encroaching private property on Millstream, particularly the compost site. We are working on this encroachment and provide the Council with more data as it becomes available. The Park Board will be meeting on August 18, 2008 to continue the process. Comprehensive Plan: The Comprehensive Plan is moving along and the next meeting is scheduled for the August 27, 2008 at 6:00 PM. The focus of this meeting will be housing. Commercial Development: You may have noticed that the utility work on the Coborn's site has slowed down. Bonestroo failed to secure the necessary permits for the utility extension and they have been stopped by the Department of Labor and Industry. The City was proactive and before they began the project they were told to secure the required permits. This process is out of the control of the City and the developer is working through the process. I will be meeting with a developer on Monday to discuss a commercial project on the west side of CR 133/12th Avenue and CR 75. The proposed project is a professional building with a construction start date of fall 2008. As more information is available it will be provided to the Planning Commission and City Council. Centra Care has received all the necessary permits and the construction is underway and going well. Graceview Development: Many of you have received calls or emails regarding the construction of a proposed apartment buildingJs in Graceview Estates. The Planning Commission conducted the public hearing on August 4, 2008 and tabled the matter for additional information. Concern has been expressed on the location, height and landscaping of the apartment building. Another concern expressed was the residents stated they were not aware of the future plans. PO BOX 668 PHONE (320) 363-7201 25 College Avenue North Fax (320) 363-0342 clty of st. Joseph 5t. Joseph MN 56374 E-MplL jweyrens@cityofstjoseph.com wea sr~ http://www.cityofstjoseph.com Some of the confusion is how the property is zoned. At the time that the PURD was approved the Ordinance did not require that the underlying property within the PURD be rezoned. Rather the developer is allowed to develop the property as an R1 with mixed uses. Therefore the zoning maps illustrate the property is Rl. Today when the City does a PUD, we actually zone the property how it is being used. For example the St. Joseph Parkway Business is zoned a mix of B2 and Industrial. If the Graceview Plat were being considered today, the zoning would be a mix of R1, R3 and R4. I have .met with the developers and engineers to continue discussing the building and mitigating efforts they can complete. The staff has recommended the complete a 300 foot section of street to connect to 7th Avenue. This section of street will eventually be required. We have also asked the developer to provide a new landscape plan that included berming or additional plantings. This information will be available prior to the September 8, 2008 Planning Commission meeting.. SCAWAC (St. Cloud Area Wastewater Advisory Commission): SCAWAC has met last. week and they will start reviewing the new sewer use agreement that all participating Cities will be required to sign. The goal of the new agreement will be to clearly identify the responsibility and cost sharing of all entities and that seems to be a point of confusion at this time. St. Cloud will begin construction of the update to the Parkwood 8 lift station later this year and the facility will be renamed the Tri-City lift station (St. Cloud St. Joseph Waite Park). The City is responsible for paying for 20% of the costs of this upgrade or approximately $ 216,000. St. Cloud will be coming to your meeting irr September to further discuss the project. Filing for Office: Just a reminder that filings for office begin on August 26, 2008 and will remain open until September 9, 2008 at 5:00 PM. The City Office will remain open until 5:00 as it is a Statutory requirement. Upcoming Meetings: August 18, 2008 6:00 PM August 21, 2008 7:00 PM August 26, 2008 5:30 PM August 27, 2008 3:00 PM August 27, 2008 6:00 PM Sept 4, 2008 7:00 PM Sept 8, 2008 7:00 PM Park Board, Master Plan Regular Council Meeting City Council, CIP Budget Regular EDA Planning Commission, Comp Regular Council Regular Planning Commission Budget: I have received the levy limit from the Minnesota Department of Revenue and the number came in lower than presented on your budget sheets. The maximum, levy for the City is $ 1,184,246. Staff will work on the budget and see how this will impact the proposed budget.