Agenda 07-06-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 •2C C ' FRIDAY,JUNE 9, 1995- SAINT PAUL PIONEER PRESS SUBURBAN EDITOR: Les Suzukamo PHONE: 228-5475 SUB FAX: (612) 228-5500 �BB� MARINE ON ST.CROIX r o ix developerMari•ne on St. C o ` ' .not exempt fro clusterng plan JIM BROEDE STAFF WRITER posed subdividing his 175-acre resorting to clustering "because tract into 32 five-acre lots. they want no development at all." A But Judge J.E. Cass ruled Tues- Knaak questioned whether any housing developer wants to day that the city acted properly in developer will find clustering in do things the old way in Marine on denying Edmundson's plat if for Marine on St. Croix acceptable, St. Croix. no other reason than it failed to because they must give up half of But he may have to settle for meet the requirements of the old their land in order to develop. the controversial new way — clus- zoning ordinance. "The developer isn't even al- tering new homes on half of his Edmundson still has the option lowed to retain ownership of the property and leaving the remain- of platting under the new rules. land that remains open," he said. der of the land as permanent open "Actually, he would be allowed "It's supposed to be given to a space — because of a Washington 35 homes — three more than un- homeowners' association, to an in- County District Court decision. der the old ordinance," Mayor dependent trust or to a public In January, the city of 602 resi- Greg Ludvigsen said. "But he agency such as the DNR." dents became the first community would have to cluster those homes Knaak said that mayconstitute in Minnesota to make clustering on half of the property." an illegal taking of lad without mandatory in all new single-fami- City officials tout clustering as compensation to the owner. ly home subdivisions. a way to preserve the city's spe- Edmundson could appeal the Deyeloper Blaine Edmundson, cial charm and rural character. District Court decision or file an- however, claimed in a lawsuit that Also, they say it's the most effi- other lawsuit that directly chal- he got in under the wire by sub- cient, economical way to grow be- lenges the legality of the cluster mitting a plat before the new cause it results in fewer streets rules were adopted. and condensed service areas for ordinance. So he said the city was obligated 'street maintenance and police. "We haven't decided what to do to approve his development with- Edmundson's attorney, Fritz next," Knaak said. "We'll weigh out requiring clustering. He pro- Knaak, accused city officials of all our options." •