09/27/1994 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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' ?„v superstore, so the city could deny them an occupancy permit. Mr. Thomas responded that they would be legal up to 999,999 square feet. Nlr. Gareau agreed that they could, but they had to stop somewhere, and most superstores come in at around 150,000. Mr. Gorris stated that Target Stores ru.n about 110 square fee and might settle for 999,999. In response to Mr. Thomas questions, Mr. Gareau advised that the Commission could ask a developer to share in the cost of a traffic control device or infrastructure improvement because it would benefit his property, but if one is imposed upon a developer, it is an impact fee -or a special assessment and if that is done, there would be an elaborate process to implement it. With an assessment, the city would have to prove that it improves the fair market value of his property to the extent that it costs him. The city has frequently had good luck with developers agreeing to put in a traffic signal. Shore West put in a signal and participated in widening the road, because it improved access to their development. If the traffic engineers believed that a signal was beneficial to the developer, they might agree, but he is not sure that tlie city can make them do that. Mr. Orlowski asked if the Commission would have to authority to eliininate one access to this property to enhance the traffic flow in a residential neighborhood. Mr. Gareau believed that it would depend on how they came the conclusion to tliat it would be beneficial, who determined it was beneficial. Mr. Orlowski responded that eliminating the access would eliminate future or present infirastructure enhancements. Mr. Gareau stated that unless the city has developed a standard of eliminating access points and if it d'vnuiishes the value of the property, then the city has to pay for that. Years ago he studied assessing Mill Road property owners for sidewalks, but they could only assess for it if they had access to the road. Mrs. Sokol asked if they could have some kind of help for their traffic situation. Mr. Griffith stated that the only way to solve the traffic problems would be to widen Porter Road and the city would have to convince the county to do it. He also suggested that she contact the county to encourage them to start on the Crocker/Stearns extension. Mr. Thomas recapped that since there were no plans at present to improve Mill and Dover Roads, the city would have the right to assess them. Mr. Gareau believed that it could be done, if the benefit to them as opposed to the benefit to the entire city could be determined. It would not be 100% of the improvement, since there are two sides of the road, but it could be partial. Mr. Gareau agreed that there is designation of a haul road for construction equipment and after a project is finished, the developer must pay for any damage that is done to that road. As, far as the assessments are concerned, this is done by Councilmatic action, Planning Commission could only recommend that it be done. Mr. Orlowski believed that it would be good planning to accept one of the altematives for the ingress and egress to the property and would basically show what infrastructure improvements are needed to move the traffic within the bound of this traffic. Mr. Gareau believed that this should be up to the experts, they would have to specify that. Mr. Orlowski stated that they are looking at alternative number 3, which Mr. Griffith has reviewed and made additions and deletions to it, and if that were accepted this process could go from there, talflng into consideration that the Engineering Department has looked at this and thought that it was the most efficient and adequate movement arou.nd this traffic and it would also show basically without any dimensions or figures, the infrastructure repairs and light additions, etc., that would be necessary. Mr. Gareau could not answer that. Regarding assessing benefited properties, Mr. Papandreas questioned if that just what benefited the adjacent property or would it be based on a larger scale of the value to other surrounding properties. Mr. Gareau stated that it can be either. It would be difficult to do an analysis on benefits conferred to this property by widening Dover Center Road. He did not think widening Mill Road would totally benefit this project the city would probably 9