02-15-1972CITY OF RICHFIELD
HEARING ON COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
(Area No. 2)
MINUTES
February 15, 1972
The Council of the City of Richfield met in special session at Sheridan School,
64th Street at Sheridan Ave., at 7:30 p.m., February l5, 1972.
Mayor Law called the meeting to order,
Present: Anderson, Jacobsen, Kenealey, Luettinger and Law.
Absent: None.
1. Introduction.
Wayne Burggraaff, City Manager, reviewed the history of the proposed Comprehensive
Development plan for Area No. 2 (Bordering on Xerxes Avenue).
2. Presentation.
Robert Worthington, Planning Director, described the planning proposal contained
in the Comprehensive Plan for the area under consideration and explained why the changes
in the existing land use of this area are again recommended by the Planning Commission.
Mr, Worthington also stated that the proposals of the Comprehensive Plan for the area
along the Edina/Richfield border were undergoing some revaluation by the Planning
Commission because of the recent proposals contained in the Yorktown development project.
This project is being proposed for the glacier gravel pit area in Edina and, therefore,
some influence on the long range land use pattern of the area of Richfield located
immediately adjacent to it.
Duane Edberg, 6401 2nd Ave. So., Chairman of the Planning Commission, elaborated
upon some of the points made in Mr. Worthington's presentation. Mr. Edberg explained
what some of the factors were that caused the Planning Commission to propose that a buffer
area be created in the City of Richfield to protect single family homes from the com~
mercial development to be expected in the southeastern area of Edina. He also gave
some thoughts on what the Planning Commission's current thinking was for changing the
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I'eb. 15, 1972
Comprehensive Plan's proposal to fit in with the Yorktown project.
Greg Luce., Edina Village Planner, described some of the more important factors
of the Yorktown proposal to the audience. He explained that Edina originally proposed
that high density uses be located in the gravel pit areas from 70th Street to Highway
~~494. However, recent traffic information indicates that the high density uses would
be incompatible with the existing street system which would be required to serve these
uses. Therefore, the original concept had been abandoned and a new concept adopted by
the Village of Edina, which would reduce the intensity of land use and thus the traffic
generated by these land uses to be more compatible with the existing street transporta-
Lion system serving this area.
Dick Wolsfeld, Planner for the Yorktown project, and Mr. Gene Rancone, of the
Yorktown Investment Company, developers of the Yorktown project, were present to provide
additional information on the transportation and land use patterns of the Yorktown
project and to offer their assistance in making this project compatible with the long
range plans for the City of Richfield.
Gordon McKinnon, 7308 Upton Avenue, inquired about the Adams Hill Park expansion
and the ponding area of the parka
Al Spencer, 6937 Vincent Avenue, inquired as to whether left turn lanes at 66th
Street and Penn Avenue have ever been considered.
C. I® Tharaldson, 7427 Washburn Ave., asked the following questions:
Question: How big is a "walkup" building?
Answer: (Bob Worthington). It is a multilevel building, much as an apartment, which
provides access to each level by means of stairs. This means that persons
occupying the building .can easily walk up from one floor to the next.
Question: Haw do you define a "townhouse"?
Answer: (Bob Worthington). A "townhouse" is a housing unit which is designed for
single family type occupancy. The basic difference between a "townhouse"
and an "apartment" is that a "townhouse" is owner occupied, while an
"apartment" generally is occupied by renters.
Question: Does a "buffer area" indicate that your home is going to be condemned and
that the owners would have to move?
Answer: (Bob Worthington). No. The changes recommended by the Comprehensive Plan
will only be carried ®ut by private developers and not governmental action.
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February 15, 1972
Bob Johnson, 1612 W. 66th Street, spoke in favor of a change in land use along
66th Street.
Dean Decker, 3005 W. 70 1i2 Street, inquired as to when the new plan would be
published...before or after the council adogts the plan.
Mayor Law responded that should the Planning Commission recommend a change in
the plan and should the council initiate changes before the final adoption of a
comprehensive plan, it would be the intent of this council that everyone in Richf~.eld
would receive a copy of the revised plan before the council took final action on it.
Motion by Kenealey that the Planning Commission be directed to make a change
for Xerxes Avenue in this plan end to have another hearing on this area.
1~Totion lost for lack of a second.
The following persons also spoke:
Fred Vincent, 2901 W. 70 1/2 Street
Michael Bartelme, 7545 Washburn Avenue
John Simacek, 7538 Logan Avenue, inquired as to what kind of access is planned
for along 66th Street. Would it be closed or open?
Answer: Tt would 'fie o,~en access.
Jim :Mohr, 2~~1 ~1. 70th, Street, said that he thought traffic on 70th Street was
being 'soft pedaled' by Edina planners, and that he would like to see 69th and 70th
streets closed.
4. Ad3ourt1ment.
Meeting was ad3ourned at 10:00 p,m. The Area ~k3 meeting is scheduled for
February 29, 1972 at West Jr. High School, 75th Street and Oliver Avenue.
Date Approved;
February 28, 1972
Mayor
Thomas J. n City Clerk
C'~/ • ~ Mana er
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