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Storage unit project set in Columbus |
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Wednesday, 30 April 2008 |
Mary Bailey
Columbus Reporter
Expect more major developments along I-35 in Columbus.
At the April 23 meeting the Columbus City Council approved the preliminary plat for Park Place Storage Condominiums on 20 acres on the east side of Hornsby Street.
Park Place sells large, heated storage condos for boats and RVs, plus office and warehouse condos. Each unit has its own gas furnace and security code access. Association fees cover electricity, grounds upkeep, snow removal, and insurance.
Current locations are in Burnsville, Corcoran, Hastings, Minnetrista, and Stillwater, with Columbus and Shakopee scheduled to open in 2008.
Five steel storage condominium buildings totaling 126,000 square feet will be built first. The development will include two office/warehouse buildings (one 7200 square feet and one 36,000 square feet), and a 3000 square foot detail center. The four lots will share one access onto Hornsby Street.
Other projects
The council also approved a conditional use permit for Minnesota Utilities and Excavating at 13915 Lake Drive. At the previous meeting this property was rezoned from part residential to all commercial/industrial.
This 6-acre lot, across from Rybak Inc., is only 220 feet wide. It is bordered on both sides by houses.
Neighbors have expressed concern about the hours of operation and the noise generated by crushing and grinding demolished concrete and paving materials one or two weeks per year.
Charlie Wilson, president of Minnesota Utilities and Excavating, said the 6 a.m. start time is required in the construction business, but agreed to a 7 a.m. start for Saturdays, except in emergencies.
Wilson also proposed a change in the tree spacing on the south to screen a larger area. Council member Jeff Duraine said a higher berm would provide more sound deadening and asked whether the neighbors would let part of their land be used for the extra width required.
The permit was approved subject to staff review, changes in the landscape plan, and a Saturday 7 a.m. start time.
Plan reviewed
The council extended for 30 days the preliminary plat proposal for Robert and MaryAnn Neeser, 17800 Xingu St., to divide their lot in two. Because of a large wetland, two homes share one road access. If the Neesers divide their lot, there will be three homes.
City Administrator Elizabeth Mursko said there is evidence from section maps that the driveway may have been designated a public road. The extension will allow time for the city to determine the legal status of the driveway.
City Attorney Bill Griffith, Jr., is waiting for the Neesers’ attorney to submit a commitment of title.
Wetland review
Rice Creek Watershed District Administrator Doug Thomas discussed goals and strategies for preserving and restoring wetlands. This topic is of particular importance in Columbus, in which about 65 percent of the city is wetland or open water.
Both the freeway area and Lake Drive have drainage issues.
One strategy is wetland mitigation banking. Using this approach, a person wishing to drain or fill a wetland can purchase wetland credits from someone who has already restored or created a wetland.
For example, Columbus could purchase credits from Forest Lake, and the state’s goal of no net loss of wetland would be achieved.
The watershed district serves as the banker. Landowners in the metro area are being paid an average of $63,000 to $70,000 per acre to purchase credits from a wetland bank.
Thomas said when a few large parcels of wetland are protected, instead of many small parcels spread out over a large area, the resulting wetland corridors have higher value to the overall ecology. Another benefit of using the new approaches is that upland areas can be included and degraded wetlands restored.
Thomas said the Rice Creek Watershed District has budgeted $200,000 for a resource management plan and also intends to provide ongoing assistance to both the city and developers. “We really view this as a partnership,” he said.
Site reviews, early coordination on city projects, and identifying and funding joint projects are all potential areas for cooperation between the city and the watershed district.
On Pine Street, which serves as the border between Lino Lakes and Columbus, Thomas said the costs for culvert repair would be shared equally among the two cities and the Rice Creek.
Thomas was accompanied by Jason Nabers of Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc., an engineering consulting firm.
Change order
The council approved a change order for Rice Lake Construction Group to provide a concrete slab for the new stationary generator at Well Pump House 2 for $3,100. The bidding process for a 250 kW diesel generator and fuel, weatherproof enclosures, etc. will begin on Wednesday, May 21.
An additional $43,710 was approved to reroute the sewer line on the construction project north of TH-97.
City Engineer Larry Bohrer continues to work with Anoka County on the I-35/CR-23 traffic planning. The council authorized Bohrer and TKDA to spend another $1500 on additional road designs.
Roads, culverts
A petition was presented showing 18 homeowners interested in paving 153rd Avenue. Four homeowners are opposed.
This is enough interest to support a neighborhood meeting in which the city administrator and city engineer will answer questions and present cost estimates. The date will be set by city staff.
Also on 153rd Avenue, Public Works Superintendent Jim Fraley reported that the rusted-out steel culvert was scheduled for replacement the day after the meeting.
The council awarded two 2008 contracts to Bjorkland Trucking, who submitted the low bid for both gravel ($9.48 per ton) and truck hauling ($83.00 per hour).
Park board
Council member Mark Walsh reported that new playground equipment would cost about $40,000, including surface material, and a survey would cost $3,800.
Plowing snow from the walking trail last winter cost $715. The park board intends to get feedback from the public to see if this is needed next winter.
The council authorized expenditure of up to $1000 to make new signs for Hidden Park, Howard Lake Drive Park and Columbus Park. To add No Parking signs to the west side of Notre Dame and the north side of 156th, which become congested during FLAAA tournaments and Sunday night adult league games, would require changing the city ordinance.
The council voted to have staff amend the ordinance to allow No Parking signs.
Arbor Day
The Columbus Arbor Day celebration on Saturday, May 3, will include tours of the new maintenance building and a school art contest.
The open house starts at 9 and the tree give-a-way, raffle, etc., at 10.
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