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HomeMy WebLinkAbout15.B.5. Consider Request to Construct Public Improvements Before Final Plat Approval for Thomas A Phillip Addition and Southern Meadows IS, I3t6, CITY OF SHAKOPEE Memorandum TO: Mayor & City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator FROM: Bruce Loney, Public Works Director SUBJECT: Consider Request to Construct Public Improvements of Thomas A. Philip Addition and Southern Meadows before Final Plat Approval DATE: September 2, 2003 INTRODUCTION: Attached to this memo is a letter from the developers of Thomas A. Philip Addition and Southern Meadows requesting approval to install street and utility improvements for these developments, prior to final plat approval. BACKGROUND: Previously, on August 19, 2003, City Council had approved a preliminary plat for Southern Meadows and approved the PUD for the Thomas A. Philip Addition. On the September 2, 2003 Council agenda, City Council will be considering the preliminary plat approval for the Thomas A. Philip Addition. In the City's Subdivision Regulations, Chapter 12, Section 12. 15, Timing of Improvements, Paragraph A, the code states that no other improvements, other than grading after preliminary plat approval, prior to City Council approval of a final plat. A request from the developers of Southern Meadows and Thomas A. Philip Addition is to request approval to proceed with improvements, prior to a final plat approval, due to the construction limitations and in order to complete the street and utility work for these developments in this construction season. From the letter submitted by the developer, they intend to submit the final plat for approval, as soon as possible, but may not be able to meet the Council agenda until the first or second meeting in October. City Council did review a similar request on the Riverside Grove development in October, 2002 and the City Attorney advised the Council, at that time, they have the authority to grant this request if they so desire. Prior to the new City Ordinance, the developers were allowed to proceed after preliminary approval with improvements with the following conditions: . Hold harmless agreement is entered into with the developer and the City of Shakopee holding the City harmless of any action that may come about before the final plat approval. . Developer pays all engineering fees upfront. . The developer obtains an approved set of plans by the Engineering Department and Shakopee Public Utilities before constructing improvements. . Insurance submitted to the City naming the City an additional insured prior to construction. At the last Council meeting, City Council also included an additional condition in which the developer would pay for any additional review costs that the City may incur in expediting these developments for this construction season. The City and the developer would need to enter a reimbursement agreement for these costs. With the conditions mentioned previously, the developers have been allowed to proceed with improvements, prior to final plat approval with the understanding that the risk is the developers. It should be noted that the review time for final plat approval has been extended, due to requests by transportation agencies such as MnlDOT and Scott County, thus the length of time between preliminary plat approval and final plat approval has been extended and does impact the developer's proceeding with their improvements. The developer is allowed to commence with grading, after preliminary plat approval, according to City Code. Usually the final plat approval can be done in short order ifit is consistent with the preliminary plat and has met the conditions in the preliminary plat approval. However, the additional review time requested by other agencies has lengthened this process time. Staff is submitting this request to Council for consideration on whether or not to allow the developers of Southern Meadows and Thomas A. Philip Addition to proceed with improvements, due to the seasonal construction limitations that are approaching this construction season, prior to final plat approval of the City CounciL ALTERNATIVES: 1. Approve a motion allowing the developers of Southern Meadows and Thomas A. Philip Addition to proceed with the installation of street and utility improvements, prior to final plat approval. 2. Do not allow the installation of street and utility improvements prior to final plat approval. 3. Table for additional information. RECOMMENDATION: Staff does not have a recommendation in this matter, as this is a policy decision for the City Council. It should be pointed out that, previously, the City Council did allow the developer of Riverside Fields to proceed with the installation of improvements, prior to final plat approval at the August 19, 2003 City Council meeting. In the previous Subdivision Ordinance, developers were allowed to install improvements, prior to final plat approval under certain conditions and at their risk. ACTION REQUESTED: Approve or deny a motion on the developer's request to install street and utility improvements, prior to final plat approval for Southern Meadows and Thomas A. Philip Addition. leLtl Public Works irector BUpmp PLATAPPROVAL PLOWSHARES DEVELOPMENT, LLC 1851 Lake Drive W., Suite 550 Chanhassen, MN 55317 Phone: 952-361-0832 I Fax: 952-361-0833 August 22, 2003 Bruce Loney, Public Works Director Shakopee City Hall 129 Holmes 81. 8. Shakopee,MN 55379 RE: Southern Meadows Thomas A. Phillip Addition Dear Bruce, On behalf of Plowshares Development, LLC and Tollefson Development, Inc., we request approval of the installation of street and utility improvements prior to the formal approval of the final plat. The street and utility plans will be in conformance with the approved preliminary plats and will, of course, be subject to the review and approval of City staff. As you know, we have been working on this portion of the development for some time and have worked cooperatively with the new advisory committees and the evolving process. Weare now faced with seasonal construction limitations, and wish to proceed, at our risk, with the completion of the street and utility work. The [mal plat as a completion of the jreliminary platting process begun in June is being submitted no later then September 5 , but further delay of construction would prevent completion of the road and utilities this year and delay building construction until June of 2004. Again, we will make every effort to record the final plat as soon as possible and appreciate the ability to move forward with street and utility installations. Please contact me if you have any questions. Sincerely, :m~LC Tollefson Development, Inc. f;JtJA(rJ~ Todd M. Simning Gary Wollschlager