Commentary; Posted: 3/15/06
City was thoughtful, reasoned
Charles Robinson
Guest Columnist
Elected city officials are chosen by residents to make thoughtful and responsible decisions that benefit the entire community.
Though not all residents of the Forest Lake community may agree with a particular decision, city officials use reasoned deliberation and informed views to act in the best interests of those they serve, and to act within their authority under the law.
With that in mind, it is clear that the Forest Lake City Council made the right decision last month in voting to grant a subdivision and conditional use permit to Duffy Development and its partner, Human Services Inc.
The permit will allow development of affordable housing units at the former District Memorial Hospital site.
The decision represented a positive step in resolving well- publicized issues that have been part of community dialogue and debate for several months. Late last year, Duffy approached the city of Forest Lake with two proposed developmentsóeither a 48-unit apartment building or a town home project, each option with seven units to be owned and administered by HSI.
The developer initially chose the apartment option, and approached the city council for approval of a CUP. The proposal made its way through the review process and was initially rejected by the city council on November 21, 2005.
In voting to deny the original request, the city council determined that there were several unresolved questions regarding the District Memorial Hospital site.
Two major factors were at issue: questions about the status of restrictive covenants on the hospital site, and the fact that the conditional use permit for the Lakes International Academyóa school also located on the siteócovered the entire hospital property.
Following the councilís action in November, Duffy and HSI brought a lawsuit against the city for denial of the CUP and damages.
On the restrictive covenant question, additional research obtained by the city clearly substantiates the legal opinion stating that the covenants are no longer valid and have expired.
Upon resolution of the restrictive covenant question, the city council on January 30, 2006, approved an amendment to the Lakes International Academy CUP, reducing the amount of property used by the academy and thus eliminating any question about a conflict with the Duffy proposal.
Having resolved these two issues, the council concluded that the proposed development met the cityís planning, zoning, engineering and other ordinance requirements. Accordingly, the city council granted the CUP on February 15th.
Members of the council are frank to acknowledge that the decision to approve the request was a difficult one, given our residentsí sentimental and historic attachments to the hospital site.
Members of the council themselves expressed sentimental and historic attachments to the hospital site.
However, even though some residents opposed the project, the application met all the zoning requirements for a developer to obtain a subdivision and CUP.
Once the covenant questions were resolved, the city of Forest Lake had no legal reason for denial.
Although the developerís lawsuit against the city remains in effect, we expect that the councilís action last month renders the suit without a purpose and believe that all parties can now move forward with the apartment project.
The City will also continue to work with the developer on an alternative town home project.
Affordable housing is an important component of housing choices in Forest Lake, and has potential benefit for the entire community.
Now that the city council has reached a thoughtful and reasoned decision regarding the subdivision and CUP, the city looks forward to working with Duffy and HSI to create a great development for our city, and to welcoming new residents to our community once the housing project is completed..
Charles ìChipî Robinson is city administrator in Forest Lake.
Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605