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CSI MAHTOMEDI: Eighth-graders are crime solvers PAGE 9A
Outdoor skating party At left: Annabel Schmitt, 23 months, gets some help from her mother Terra while learning to skate for the first time during the 20th annual Outdoor Skating Party on the rinks behind the District Education Center in Mahtomedi Sunday, Jan. 24. Below: Caylin Bauman, Dylan Bauman, Jack Tarnowski, Andrew Merry and Holden Merry converge on the net during a friendly game of hockey on one of three rinks used during the event, which also featured a campfire and treats in the warming house. PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Legislators looking for commitment before big push for augmentation BY DEBRA NEUTKENS REGIONAL EDITOR
the apartment complex and the city’s planning and engineering consultants also recommended approval. “We feel the proposed addition would fill a gap in the housing mix in the city and allow a vacant commercial site to develop in a way that’s compatible with the surrounding area,” City Planner Erin Perdu told the council. The owner and developer of the new apartment building is Troy Mathwig and the architect is Sperides Reiners Architects.
WHITE BEAR LAKE — Augmentation funding is getting bipartisan support, but the likelihood of getting bonding money is "an unknown" at this time, a legislator told the White Bear Lake Conservation District (WBLCD). "When leaders from respective parties are pushing, there is a possibility something will occur," said Rep. Peter Fischer (D-43A) at the Jan. 19 board meeting. Fischer told directors that the best chance for success is when support comes from a broad community. "There are a lot of questions going forward. If we are successful, bonding money will pay capital costs. The big question is what are operating costs and how those costs will be funded." Fischer feels some communities are lukewarm on funding those costs. "By session in March, we need to have things teed up and ready to go," he said. "If we don't have commitments or answers, it could sink a bonding proposal." The representative feels the conservation district is best positioned to facilitate discussion on operating costs for augmentation. "I'm here because things will happen very quickly. If bonding money comes through, we need a fiscal agent. It would be good to know if you're still comfortable with that. "I'm not saying augmentation will happen. We won't know until May 27 if we have bonding money. But if we don't have solid answers on ongoing costs, it could end up killing the project or cause it to short out and we'd have to wait another two years (for a bonding year)." Mahtomedi board member Gene Altstatt asked Fischer why the district should be the fiscal agent for state funding? Fischer said the Legislature needs an entity to receive the dollars and oversee the project. "You have a board that has the authority," he added. "We don't see another organization with authority that includes all the municipalities around the lake." Chairman Jane Harper said a task force is working on a document that outlines the responsibilities of a fiscal agent with plans to reaffi rm in February whether the district is interested. A motion was made at the meeting to have the district's attorney, Alan Kantrud, fi nalize language in the document prior to the next meeting. Harper reminded the group it will need to act quickly once the DNR report comes out in early
SEE APARTMENTS, PAGE 9A
SEE COMMITMENT, PAGE 8A
Apartment complex approved behind commercial center BY KRISTINE GOODRICH EDITOR
MAHTOMEDI — More rental housing is coming to the city’s western edge. The Mahtomedi City Council approved plans for a 36-unit apartment building on a 1.5-acre undeveloped parcel in the Wedgewood Village Center. The three-story complex will be located just south of Aldi’s, west and north of existing townhouses and condos and east of an undeveloped commercially zoned property. In 2005 when the shopping cen-
ter was approved, the parcel was tentatively slated to become a day care center. To allow the apartment development instead, the council amended the planned unit development for the commercial complex and rezoned the parcel from commercial to residential. Two comprehensive plan amendments were also required, one to reflect the rezoning of the parcel and one to increase the maximum residential density allowed in the city from 20 units per acre to 25 units. The city’s Planning Commission was unanimously in favor of
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