05.01 - Req for Tax Abatement-Oppidan, Public Hearing

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September 15, 2009 The Honorable Nancy Adams, Mayor, Pequot Lakes Members of the Pequot Lakes City Council City of Pequot Lakes Planning and Zoning Administrator and Commissioners My husband, John Pollnow, and I, Jeanne Pollnow, would like to address several issues related to the grocery store and gasoline station proposed for development on the property immediately adjacent to ours. While we are opposed to this development due to its probable negative effect on our quality of life and property values, we understand the zoning allows this type of use. Before we purchased this property, it was part of the total property owned by Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. At the Pequot Lakes Planning and Zoning Commission meeting approving the subdivision which created this separate lot, the Commission approved the residential use for our property and should take the nature of its use into consideration in placing conditions on the commercial development of the adjacent properties to mitigate the overall impact of this development. Our concerns are primarily in four areas: privacy, noise, light pollution, and traffic. To mitigate these concerns, we respectfully request the following. 1. Construction of a privacy fence, 6 feet in height, the length of the property line that forms the border between our property and the developing property to the south. 2. Trees and other shrubs that will attenuate the noise associated with the new store (automobiles, delivery trucks, snow plowing, etc.) should be planted between the fence and the paved parking surface. 3. Reasonable hours of operation be established for the store operations, delivery trucks, and snow plowing. _ Our request is for the hours to be limited to 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, seven days a week. 4. Lights on the exterior of the building should be directed downward at the minimum light output necessary for illumination and security. Light poles in the parking lot should be located such that the illumination does not extend beyond the mutual property line. 5. That any realignment or expansion of Olson St. does not result in the removal of any of the trees on property adjacent to our western property line. Secondly, that speed control measures — bumps, etc, be used to help control the speed of the traffic on Olson St.. The city should also consider the likelihood of the development and Olson St. becoming a new thoroughfare between Hwy 371 and Pequot Lakes High School.