12-11-1995 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Elk River City Council Minutes December 11, 1995 Page 2 e Tom Droegemueller, owner of a business in the Industrial Park and resident of Heritage Landing, indicated that it appeared that his taxes increased 13 percent and questioned how this could happen when the city is claiming that there was no tax rate increase. Sherri Emerson, Guardian Angels, indicated that taxes for the Guardian Angels property on Lake Orono increased 100 percent. Lori Johnson indicated that the Guardian Angels situation could be due to a tax classification change. There being no further comments, Mayor Duitsman closed the public hearing. Mayor Duitsman indicated that the City Council would be considering the proposed adoption of the budget and levy on Monday, December 18, 1995, between 6 and 7 p.m. The City Council recessed at 7:55 p.m. and reconvened at 8 p.m. 8. Consider Action on Comprehensive Plan e City Planner Steve Ach spoke on some of the concerns of the residents from the previous public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan. He reviewed the issues of cluster development, the urban service area, and the ramifications of not looking to the future and not providing an area for urban growth. He explained that the idea of a large urban service area is to accommodate long term urban growth. Steve Ach reviewed maps showing portions of the proposed urban service area that are wetlands and lands that are already developed. Councilmember Scheel indicated her concern regarding George Deschenes property and why it was not zoned industrial. Hank Duitsman indicated that he felt the Council should discuss the areas of concern prior to making a decision on the Comprehensive Plan. Urban Service Area Mayor Duitsman indicated that he supported the proposed urban service area of the Task Force. He further indicated that he sees the benefit of having a larger urban service area as suggested by the Planning Commission, however he also sees the advantage of keeping Elk River rural in nature. Mayor Duitsman offered a modification to the Steering Committee I s urban service area which included property north of County Road 12. - Councilmember Dietz indicated that the urban service area is a critical issue for the development of the city. He indicated he felt that there is too much wooded and wetland area in the Planning Commission's proposed urban service area. Councilmember Dietz stated that he concurs with the Steering Committee's recommendation for an urban service area.