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City Council Minutes Page 5 of 7 <br />May 6, 2024 <br />in a unit. <br />Mayor Dietz opened this item up for public comment. <br />Ken Lueck, 11388 198th Avenue - is opposed to the project per the comments in his handout. <br />Joshua Stark 503 Whitegate Lane, Wayzata, stated he works for the adjacent Harley Davidson business <br />and he is opposed to the project because it seems rushed and the area is already congested with traffic. <br />Mayor Dietz closed the public comments. <br />Councilmember Wagner agreed with the Planning Commissions consensus opposing the project. She <br />stated it is a good project but a bad location because the city is at a shortage of space for highway <br />commercial businesses and she would like the parcel to remain highway business zoning. <br />Councilmember Beyer stated it is a good project but not the right location or the right timing. He stated <br />the current traffic levels create a prime location for a business to want to locate. He further noted the <br />city is working on a housing study, has a lot of commitments for apartments being built currently, so we <br />need the completed study to determine future needs. <br />Councilmember Grupa concurred. He further stated workforce housing is a new name for subsidized <br />housing and he is not sure we need more of this type of housing. <br />Councilmember Westgaard stated he is not opposed to considering this parcel for a rezoning to allow <br />an apartment building. He noted the parcel has been vacant for 30 years and if it is such a prime <br />location, then why hasn't a commercial business built on it yet. He stated he does have concerns for <br />density on this parcel and he would expect all city requirements to be met, including setbacks, fire <br />access, and proof of parking. He stated there is a lot of traffic in the area but a permitted commercial <br />use may not produce any less traffic. He stated an apartment complex would make sense in this location <br />as a buffer between the commercial and residential areas. He stated whatever project happens on this <br />parcel, the park trail access would still need to be maintained. He stated there is a shortage of housing <br />statewide and a need for workforce housing that is affordable to all income levels; noting all businesses <br />need employees at all income levels. <br />Mayor Diez concurred with Council comments, noting this is a valuable commercial lot at a time when <br />the city doesn't have a lot of commercial space. He warned the neighbors that a commercial business <br />will generate a lot of traffic and that the new highway system makes the parcel more valuable. He <br />further expressed that the apartment building is squeezing too much onto to small of a parcel. <br />The consensus of the City Council is they are not interested in this project at this location at this time. <br />11.2 Waco Street Signal Flashing Yellow Conversion <br />Mr. Sandhoefner presented the staff report. <br />The City Council felt this project was not a good use of money at this time and the city should wait until <br />2029 when the project was due to be completed by MnDOT. <br />Page 13 of 430 <br />