Baxter looks into parking lot problem
BAXTER -- How many parking lots are needed for assisted living homes is the subject of a draft ordinance the Baxter City Council expects to examine.
Tuesday the council voted to direct staff to develop the parking ordinance, a task staff has already largely accomplished in anticipation of the move. The change will reflect fewer parking spaces and subsequent paving needed to meet current city requirements for assisted living units. The idea is many assisted living residents will not be drivers and thus the amount of parking needed should reflect the type of housing. Residents of the senior housing project will be 55 and older.
The city requires two spaces for each apartment. The change would allow .75 parking spaces per apartment. A study of several other projects found they used .5 parking spaces for each apartment.
The subject came up recently after Craig MacDonald requested a variance for fewer parking stalls in conjunction with construction of a 54-unit assisted living complex in an extension of MacDonald's Excelsior Place twin home development on Firewood Drive.
The council also approved a revised preliminary plat for MacDonald's development called the First Addition to Excelsior Place. City approval for the building project was contingent upon the city engineer's acceptance of the stormwater plan.
In other planning and zoning items, the council approved a negative declaration determination for the Jasper Heights development based on findings of fact from staff.
In other business, the council:
Voted to cover elected officials with workers' compensation for $100 annually to cover the mayor and council members should they be injured while on city business. In case of injury, the city council member could receive the same work comp benefits as an other city employee.
Noted a workshop is set 6 p.m. Monday at Baxter City Hall. Council members are expected to discuss the possibility of having their first council meeting in December at Brainerd City Hall in order to have the session televised.
Approved the Clearwater Road East Commerical Utility and Roadway Improvement Feasibility Study to be presented at a joint council/utilities meeting.
Approved partial payment to Anderson Brothers in the amount of $138,994.26 for the 2002 mill and inlay project.
Approved the proposal to complete traffic engineering services for the intersection of Highway 210, County State Aid Highway 48 and Memorywood Drive.
Approved partial payment to Erin Contracting in the amount of $208,524.59 for the 2002 Greenwood Road, Norway Hills, Cedar Scenic and Jacklitch Estates projects.