Residents express development fears

Published 12:00 am Friday, January 28, 2000

A proposed 132-unit housing development next to a treasured nature preserve is, at this stage, only a concept.

Friday, January 28, 2000

A proposed 132-unit housing development next to a treasured nature preserve is, at this stage, only a concept.

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However, residents near the site of the proposed project area already are expressing concerns.

Just ask Curtis Krebsbach, 1902 10th Place NE, and Dean Dykeman, 1208 18th St. NE.

Before anyone considers the area north of 18th Avenue NE from Hangge Addition and across 21st Street NE from the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center prime for the largest residential development in Austin’s history, there already are existing extenuating circumstances.

Krebsbach and Dykeman addressed the Austin City Planning Commission Thursday night on the proposed housing project being promoted by David Wellstone, who hopes to turn 55 acres of vacant farm field into a residential housing development.

The idea was discussed Tuesday night at an informational meeting held in the Ruby Rupner Auditorium at the nature center.

The responses to the idea were mixed.

At that meeting, Larry Dolphin, director and naturalist at the nature center, expressed his concerns for the possible environmental impact of a project of the proposed magnitude.

The project has been the subject of public speculation, as much for its potential impact on a city that needs affordable housing, as the "players" involved.

David Morse owns the land, which Wellstone said Tuesday night is controlled by Greater Minnesota Affordable Homes.

Wellstone is the son of U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone.

Morse told the Austin Daily Herald he does own the land and he described the relationship with Wellstone’s group saying Greater Minnesota Affordable Homes has an "option to buy the land."

He declined on-the-record comment about anything else connected to the Wellstone housing project.

Hoium attempted to assure the planning commission members and citizens in attendance Thursday night that no official part of the process to have the land annexed into the city has yet begun. He also said environmental concerns of residents may be allayed this year when the city embarks on a stormwater improvement project there. Still, the concerns lingered from two residents.

Krebsbach said he has lived in the neighborhood bordered to the north by 12th Avenue NE for 27 years. He said farm field runoff grows each year and is filling Dobbins Creek and an existing lift station is unable to handle storm water drainage needs.

Krebsbach wanted to know what the city would do to handle the existing drainage problems and those expected to come from a large housing development.

Hoium said the city has plans to correct the residents’ sewer backup through infiltration problems in the 2000 construction season.

"Dobbins Creek is filling up with farm field silt so much that you can walk across it," Krebsbach said to emphasize his concerns of a housing development adding to the situation.

Dykeman asked whether Wellstone will be required to seek an environmental impact study on the project and Hoium said the platting review process calls for an assessment of the project’s expected environmental impact.

Dykeman echoed Krebsbach’s worries about more drainage problems in the housing development area. "This is going to exacerbate the problems we already have," he said.

He also said the Morse farmland has sinkholes.

He concluded his remarks with a suggestion. "Why don’t somebody look at public-owned property for a housing development like this," Dykeman said. "For instance, that white elephant of a Cook farm site?"

The purpose of Thursday night’s meeting was to share information and Hoium reminded both the planning commission and citizens in attendance at the Austin Municipal Building session, "It’s only a conceptual plan at this time."

"There’s been no petition for annexation. That would have to be the first step and then it would have to go through the platting process and that would include public hearings," he said.

"I know the residents out there have some real concerns about this," Hoium said, "but it’s only an idea at this time."

In other action Thursday night, the city planning commission:

n Appointed Brian Johnson, chairman, and Sue Grove, vice chairwoman, for 2000 and welcomed new members Sue Howard and Richard Bergstrom to the commission. Outgoing members George Moore and Pearl Schieck were praised for their public service on the commission.

n Heard Hoium remind them of the need to review a draft of the proposed revised city comprehensive plan. More input from the city planning commission and Austin City Council, as well as a consultant on the project is needed, before it will be ready to present to the public for their final comments and then the council for adoption.

n Heard updates on development projects, including the rezoning and platting of the northwest development site for Burt Plehal, including the future site of Cooperative Response Center; a proposal from Laverne Kehret to have 121 acres of his land in Lansing Township annexed into the city for the purposes of developing single-family and multiple-family housing and commercial development projects, plus a new connecting road to link Eighth Avenue NW and Mower County No. 27 west of the Target strip mall.

n Heard updates on Hormel Foods Corp.’s proposed renovation of the old Kmart building along North Main Street and the multipurpose building project of the Mower County Board of Commissioners. Of the Hormel Foods’ plans for the old Kmart building, Hoium said, "This looks like a very exciting project for our community." The company plans to create a museum, gift center, corporate office spaces, auditoriums and a food court at the site.

n Heard updates on the Austin Housing and Redevelopment Authority’s plans for an expansion of their Courtyard Apartments complex using the entire bloc immediate south of the building between Second and First Avenue and the Apex Austin Housing Development project. Of the latter housing project, that could qualify for a share of the Hormel Foundation’s pledge of $5 million to the city to meet housing needs, Hoium said, "They’re not rushing into any project that isn’t in the best interests of the community."