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<br />Printer version: Growth worries Vadnais Heights; some want less boom, more room <br /> <br />Page 1 of3 <br /> <br />startribune.com <br /> <br />Close window <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Last update: February 8,2005 at 1:08 PM <br /> <br />Growth worries Vadnais Heights; some want less boom, more <br />room <br /> <br />Sarah Me Cann <br />Star Tribune <br />Published February 9, 2005 <br /> <br />Vadnais Heights is showing that smaller inner-rung suburbs can boom with the rest of them. <br /> <br />The planning commission and the City Council are reviewing five major development proposals in <br />February alone. <br /> <br />Increased demand for housing, changing demographics and attempts to balance interests are spurring <br />growth. Along with the plans comes the usual slew of controversy: too much density, not enough open <br />space, inappropriate zoning. And although the complaints are typical, it makes them no less emotional <br />for people who chose to live in one place and find another place growing up around them. <br /> <br />One such conflict happened with the Oak Creek Ridge development. Last week the council voted 4-0 to <br />approve the plan, which will turn two back-yard parcels into 12 single-family lots. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />A small neighborhood park has been near the 6.2 acres for years. Some neighbors wanted the city to <br />acquire all the land and greatly expand the park. Others wanted only a smaller park because they feared <br />recreational activities would add too much noise and activity. Others wanted it left alone. What they'll <br />get is a larger park area and 12 new homes. <br /> <br />"We're a community of 14,000 people and don't have a lot of areas to grow, but we have areas that are <br />available. <br /> <br />There are three or four housing projects right now, and this is something unusual that you don't see <br />every day," said planning and development director Tim Benetti. <br /> <br />Mayor Susan Banovetz said she thinks the growth has been continuous over the past 15 or 20 years. <br /> <br />"This year we anticipate having $100 million worth of development in front of the council," she said. <br />"Vadnais Heights has deliberately positioned itself so it has a good commercial tax base. Not only does <br />that provide services for residents, it also provides jobs to people in the Twin Cities and a good, solid <br />diverse tax base." <br /> <br />Benetti said people call him all the time looking for available housing space. He said businesses want <br />more housing and some affordable housing so employees can live, work and get services in the same <br />community. <br /> <br />"All this hopefully coattails off each other, and that's our goal. Any development is good development <br />for a city of our size," he said. <br /> <br />. In an attempt to diversify the kinds of housing, a couple of the plans are aimed at seniors. <br /> <br />http://www.startribune.com/dynamic/ story. php ?template=print_ a&story=5224708 <br /> <br />2/9/2005 <br />