10-16-2003 Planning Commission Meeting

Home Browse Search

September 25, 2003 Joyce Mikesh and Jerry Solomon (by email and US mail) 22163 County Road 3 Merrifield, MN 56465 Re: Preliminary Plat Application City of Pequot Lakes Dear Ms. Mikesh and Mr. Solomon: We have received your application for a preliminary plat. We have scheduled your preliminary plat for a public hearing on October 16 at 6:30 PM. Assuming the Planning Commission takes action on your application at that time, the Council will receive their recommendation at their November 4 regularly scheduled meeting. It is my understanding that there has been some concern on behalf of your development team regarding the schedule for your hearing. Our records show that we received your application on August 21. This was after the deadline for submission for our September meeting. In a normal month we may have been able to accommodate a September hearing despite the late submittal, however, scheduling issues and the number of hearings already scheduled limited our ability to do so. We apologize if this has not been sufficiently explained to you already. At this point, of concern to us is the fact that you have begun construction of the roadway. Although we have met with your surveying team and expressed our optimism that the subdivision you have submitted will receive City approval,the decision is not made by the City Staff The public has the opportunity to comment at the hearing and Commission and Council members will have their opinions on your submittals, all of which may ultimately change the layout of your proposal. Constructing a road before you have received any approvals creates a difficult decision-making environment, one that appointed and elected officials typically don't enjoy, at best. We recommend ceasing construction of roadway improvements until you have preliminary plat approval. Additionally,when a member of the City Staff viewed the roadway improvements, it appeared that some hazardous materials, such as a propane tank, may be planned to be buried at the site. Clearly this would be unacceptable and inconsistent with the progressive development you have proposed. Please verify that these items have been properly removed and disposed of and not buried on the site. The City Staff prepares a report for the Planning Commission prior to the meeting. The report will discuss the pertinent ordinances and an evaluation and recommendations on your application. A copy of the report will be available at City Hall for you to read no