01-23-2001 PC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning Commission Minutes January 23. 2001 Page 5 . Commissioner Baker asked if the County would have to move the County seat from that location. if they ran out of space. Mr. Benson stated that the County seat would not be moved. but that the offices would have to be split up and some would move to another location. Commissioner Baker asked if purchasing the property to the west were an option to the County. Mr. Benson stated that it was his understanding this property was sold. Ms. McPherson stated that the only piece of this property which as been "spoken for" is the piece north of Business Center Drive and that the property to the west is platted as one large lot and is already guided and zoned for business park development. She noted the City has not received any proposal to subdivide the property. Trunk utilities traverse the property east-west at the same location of the south boundary of Sherburne County's property. Steward Wilson stated that when he spoke to Sherburne County staff prior to Mr. Benson being the County Administrator, the County was not interested in purchasing highway frontage property because of the additional expense and because they did not need highway frontage. Because of that, the County has never pursued purchasing any of his highway frontage property or the property immediately to the west of the County. Commissioner Baker asked what the process would be for the County to purchase a portion of the property to the west. Ms. McPherson stated that the property would need to be platted in the same manner as any other plat. . Nicole Bahr, 18222 Ogden street, resident of Sandpiper Estates, stated that she would be living directly across the street from the proposed business park. She stated that she has been through the jail expansion issue and that the residents were told it would be an office expansion. She expressed her dissatisfaction with the fencing installed by the County. She stated that the 80 percent opacity means "at the fence" and that the fence does nothing for their view of the jail when looking out the window from inside their homes. She asked that the Commission consider the impacts on the residents. Ms. Bahr stated that the County is concerned about keeping their offices together in one location, but that children are being bussed all over because the schools cannot be kept in one location. Caroline Koch, 19176 Ogden Street, stated that she sent a letter to the Commissioners and City Council. Ms. McPherson noted that the letter was in the Commissioner's packets. Stated that her property faces the jail and she feels it is ugly. She does not feel the City needs so much business park; that it takes away from the residential beautification of Elk River. She stated she is saddened that Mr. Wilson did not sell his property for residential when he was given the opportunity. She asked the Commission to consider the residents living there who have children. She felt that the Softpak building is an eyesore and she felt sorry for the people living in the town homes across from Softpak. Chair Mesich questioned if it would be fair to potential residents living in Outlot F (if the zoning remained residential) to be next to a business park. Ms. Koch stated that these residents would already know it was zoned business park when they bought their property. .