by Dave DeMars
news@thenewsleaders.com
At the June 13 meeting of the Sauk Rapids City Council, the council held public hearings for five building projects that will take place in the city in the coming year.
The first of the public hearings dealt with dumping a large amount of fill in the empty lot near 50 Eighth Street. The lot covers the area between Seventh Street and Eighth Street off North Benton Drive to the railroad tracks at the back of the lot. Property owners are Gene and Shirley Rudolph. Landwehr Construction has been hired to move the fill. Plans for the area were originally filed in 2006 to build a retail center on the 1.82 acres of property. Many infrastructure upgrades were completed in 2006, including storm sewer, water and sewer, but the project was put on hold until recently. At that time it was determined the property needed to be raised so it was not so far below the street level of Benton Drive. That is the reason for the request for a conditional-use permit on the property.
A neighbor, Robert Aurelius of 51 Eighth Street N., voiced his concern over the dumping of fill and raising the site level. Serious flooding has occurred in the past during heavy rains. At one point, Aurelius maintained there was a foot of water in his place of business, Aura Lens Products. Storm sewers were not able to handle the flow of water from the streets on a higher elevation.
City engineers seemed to feel with the raising of the site and the drainage being directed toward a storm sewer in the center of the lot, the problem would be eliminated as the excess water would be directed to a large ditch at the back of the lot. The site would be developed in a kind of concave bowl so water would not drain toward the neighbors.
Aurelius was still fearful and asked the council consider the situation more carefully. If more flooding occurs, it would affect his business. The ditch was overgrown with trees and bushes and did not drain properly, he said. He prefers the property not be filled and raised. The amount of fill will be between four and five feet to bring the site to grade with Benton Drive.
After hearing comments from the developer and neighbors, the council closed the public hearing, then voted to follow recommendations of the planning commission and approved the CUP to allow the filling of the site.
Other public hearings progressed much faster and did not elicit much public input.
Consideration of on-sale intoxicating liquor licenses for Bubba’s Bar and Grill, Jimmy’s Pour House, Benton Station, Old Capital Tavern, VFW Post 6992, John Dough’s Pizza, SuperAmerica, and Central Minnesota Junior Hockey. No public input was forthcoming, and the council approved all the liquor and beer licenses.
The third public hearing was to review the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program. Pete Eckhoff, director of public works, provided the council with background data for the hearing and why the public hearing needed to be held. No public comments were forthcoming, and the council promptly approved the program.
The fourth public hearing was to consider a site plan and conditional-use permit to allow a new commercial building located at 205 Second Ave. N. and a variance for a drive-throught window. Todd Schultz, community development director, led the council through the background and site information.
Developers wish to build a 3,200 square-foot building with a three lane drive-through. The structure could serve as a bank, restaurant or similar commercial building. The building is part of several lots on the block owned by the developer. Shared parking would be part of the design so large crowds for restaurant business would be parked on-site, not in the street. After hearing a concern about clearance of snow in the winter, the public hearing was closed, and the council unanimously voted to approve.
The fifth public hearing was a request from Manea’s Meats to consider an expansion of its business to allow a meat-processing facility in back of the present store. They requested a portion of the alley in back of the store be vacated to allow for the expansion of the facility.
Schultz explained the planning commission had not been able to consider the request or to prepare a recommendation. He suggested the council table the request until the planning commission had done its work and made recommendation. The council concurred, and put off dealing with the project until its next meeting.
Regular agenda
In the regular agenda, the council learned of a cell company’s request to use the city right-of-way in which to place a cell tower. The FCC ruled cell companies can legally use the city right-of-way. Schultz of the planning committee raised an alarm, suggesting if it wanted to, a cell company might try to place a tower in a downtown right-of-way in the middle of a street or attach it to city light poles or antennas. The city went through a fair amount of expense to get around the problem of having poles in the right-of-way, Schultz said. He recommended adopting a moratorium until further study can be done to define the city’s legal rights on the issue. Council concurred and passed a one-year moratorium.
On the consent agenda, the council unanimously dealt with the following items:
● Acceptance of Great River Rotary Club’s donation of the Bike Fixation Bicycle Repair Station
● Acceptance of donation for the SR Police Canine Program
● Acceptance of $500 in grant money from Central Minnesota Emergency Medical Service-Equipment Reimbursement Program Grant
● Approval of staff attendance at Minnesota Rural Water and Sewer Training
● Approval of 2016 seal-coat project to Pearson Brothers Inc.
● Approval of waiving Rapids River Days’ temporary-sign permit fees
● Approval of awarding the 2016 Eighth Street North and Third Avenue North Improvement Project.
