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<br />Planning Commission <br />May 8, 2001 <br />Page 5 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />4. <br /> <br />T own home Development Moratorium - Public Hearing <br /> <br />Chair Pederson relinquished the gavel to Vice Chair Baker and stepped down at <br />this time. <br /> <br />Director of Planning Michele McPherson explained that at its April 9th meeting, the <br />City Council directed staff to draft an ordinance establishing a moratorium on <br />townhome developments in the City of Elk River. The purpose of the moratorium <br />is to provide staff adequate time to draft a revised ordinance to address density, <br />building materials, open space, pedestrian connections and building setbacks. <br />No townhome development applications will be accepted during the <br />moratorium period. Ms. McPherson noted that letter was received from John <br />Peterson of Oakwood Land Development, requesting a waiver from the <br />moratorium restriction for the Elk River Station development proposal. <br /> <br />Vice Chair Baker opened the public hearing. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />John Peterson, Oakwood Land Development, stated that his group has been <br />working with the City on a proposal to develop a 75 acre site owned by Leonard <br />Pratt and that he will be closing on the property Wednesday, May 9th. When he <br />began working with the City, he was told that the existing townhome ordinance <br />was outdated and that he may wish to develop the property under the PUD <br />(Planned Unit Development) ordinance. He stated even with a new townhome <br />ordinance, they could design a better project under the PUD guidelines. The City <br />will have the ultimate authority on the design standards. He requested that the <br />Elk River Station project be waived. <br /> <br />Commissioner Baker asked Mr. Peterson what his timeline was for the project <br />schedule. Mr. Peterson stated that he was prepared to submit his application for <br />the April 30th deadline when he received notification of the moratorium. If his <br />project were waived from inclusion in the moratorium, he would be able to <br />submit his application within a matter of days. He noted that he would like to <br />start work in the fall. <br /> <br />Don Patten, Vice President of D.R. Horton (Trout Brook Farms), stated that he is also <br />requesting a waiver from the moratorium in order to develop the recently <br />purchased Stoffel Reitsma property. Mr. Patten explained that they will be <br />requesting a rezoning to PUD in order to develop the site with single family and <br />multi-family housing. He stated they currently have 108 units under construction in <br />the $120,000 - $150,000 range. The "coach" 4-plexes will sell for $250,000. He <br />stated that of the 60 villas sold, there are only 10 children. 35 of the 70 units have <br />been sold to seniors and there are only 4 children. He stated that they will be out <br />of product in 180 days if they are not allowed to continue development of the <br />Reitsma property. He stated that the construction type will be the same as what <br />is currently being constructed in Trout Brook Farms. <br /> <br />Chair Pederson closed the public hearing. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Commissioner Baker asked how staff felt about the requests for waivers from the <br />moratorium. Ms. McPherson explained that Mr. Peterson's group (Elk River Station, <br />LLP) has already been before the Planning Commission and City Council. There is <br />a commercial component to their project, in addition to townhomes. She stated <br />