08-31-1987 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 3 e City Council Minutes August 31. 1987 5.1. Zone Change by Joe Kretsch/Public Hearing Mayor Gunkel indicated that Mr. and Mrs. Kretsch are requesting to zone change Lots 1 and 2. Block 15. Village of Elk River Addition from an R-3 zone to a C-2 or C-4 zone. She noted this item was tabled at the 8/17/87 City Council meeting. Mayor Gunkel indicated the land use map shows the area as Central Business and further that property adjacent to Lots 1 and 2 is zoned C-4. The Planning Commission reviewed the request and voted 5-1 in favor of the zone change. Mayor Gunkel opened the public hearing. Mr. Craig Willey spoke in favor of the zone request by indicating he was the proposed purchaser of the property and the current owner of Sherburne Title. He indicated this area on Main Street would eventually become commercial. He indicated most of the commercial property in Elk River was very expensive and felt there was a need for more moderately priced commercial property in Elk River. Mr. Roy Goodin of Century 21 Christian stated he was in favor of the zone change and stated there were not many people present opposing the request. e Mr. Kermit Bode stated it would be a mistake to zone Lots 1 and 2 commercial and not the entire area. Clara Meyer voiced her opposition and questioned if the Council was considering zone changing the entire area to Evans Avenue. Vern Scharber voiced his opposition in regards to the amount of parking lot space that would be in the area once it is zoned commercial. Norma Dunn stated her opposition to the request. Don and Lola Dreissen both spoke in opposition to the request. Mayor Gunkel closed the public hearing. Councilmember Tralle stated that the community is changing. and that commercial property is necessary to help support the tax base. He indicated that it seems logical to expand this area to commercial. He stated that a C-2 zone would give the City better control over what businesses go in the area than a C-4 zone. He indicated his support for the request to zone change the property to C-2. but stated he would prefer to rezone the entire area at one time. e Councilmember Schuldt stated he had no doubt the entire area would be zoned commercial at some time in the future but still was opposed to the rezoning at the present time. He stated he based his opposition on the quality of homes along Main Street; that it would not be fair to surround the homes with a commercial area or the uses which could be permitted in a commercial zone; and that Gates Avenue is the dividing road between a commercial and residential zone.