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Pines at Elk River, LLC <br />City ofElk River <br />13O65Orono Parkway <br />Elk River, IVIN 55330 <br />RE: Tall Piney U <br />Dear Mayor and City Council: <br />Thank you for considering our proposal for one -level detached townhomes. You will hear testimony <br />discussing the profile of our more than 140 Elk River buyers in Tall Pines 1, West Oaks, and Elk Run <br />Village (where they lived before, why they decided to sell their family homes and move to their new <br />tovvnhomes in Elk River). These one -level tnwnhomesare attracting residents from many other <br />communities, helping Elk River grow and prosper, <br />When we purchased this land, we relied on the fact that the comprehensive plan shows mixed use, the <br />same as was shown for the adjacent Tall Pines I land, which was previously rezoned to mixed use. <br />City staff recommends approval of Tall Pines 11 based upon the city's objectives being met, which are <br />addressed in the staff report and the fact that our rezoning request is in compliance with the city's <br />comprehensive land use plan. The staff report describes numerous conditions which weneed tomeet, <br />all ofwhich vvehave agreed to. <br />We feel it is important to discuss the recent Planning Commission vote recommending denial of our <br />project. This year's Planning Commission vote was a surprise to us, because last year the Planning <br />Commission voted 4to1for approval for the same development. This year, Commissioner Johnson who <br />dissented last year, said he was satisfied that his concerns about traff ic and a walkway to the Twin Lakes <br />trail system had been satisfied. During the meeting many questions were asked and all seemed tobe <br />adequately addressed, sothe vote todeny came asashock. VVehad the Planning Commission minutes <br />transcribed so we all have easy reference to the Planning Commissioners' comments. <br />The Planning Commission's denial of our second application note no specific findings;however, <br />paragraphs #1and #3ofthe staff report were cited intheir motion 1odeny. Nnevidence orfacts were <br />presented to support their motion, and it is a contradiction to the city's professional planner's <br />recommendations contained in the staff report. <br />Our development offers stability for the subject parcel, providing affordable market rate housing to <br />future residents and anincrease inthe citvstax base. |tprovides anopportunity for Elk River residents <br />to change from their older residential homes to updated new maintenance -free living while staying in <br />