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WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 VOL. 122 NO. 39 www.presspubs.com $1.00
RACE2REDUCE: New funding source steps in PAGE 9A
Big, tall apartment building proposed on Centerville Road BY CONRAD ENGSTROM PRESS INTERN
VADNAIS HEIGHTS — An apartment building is proposed at the corner of County Road F and Centerville Road. A public hearing regarding the building was held at a planning commission meeting June 26. City hall was packed with residents wanting their voices heard on the matter before the proposal goes to the City Council July 17. The proposed apartment building is five stories and 156 units, and features both an underground garage and detached garages, according to city documents. It would have a mix of studio, one and two-bedroom units of various sizes. Rents would range from $1,000 to $2,200 per month depending on size and location. Each unit would have a covered deck. The development proposed by Tyr Development is called Aster Meadow Apartments. Many residents spoke during the public hearing in hopes the proposal would not be approved by the planning commission. Increased traffic and a building that is too big were complaints voiced. “I don’t think it's people not wanting the area developed, but how it's developed and what structure is put there,” one resident said. Gerry Urban, who plans to sell the property to the developer, went to the podium to speak in support of the building and was met with shouts of “crook” from residents in attendance. Urban is the former city administrator, who retired about five years ago. One concern planning commission members had with the proposed plan is the detached garages. As the proposal stands, there are 20 detached garages for apartment residents to park their cars. “It does not really fit our neighborhood or anywhere,” said commission member Evan Cordes. Nevertheless, after the public hearing closed, commission members were still mostly in favor of the apartment building. “There are some problems with the proposal, like the garage and maybe the height, but we have a need for a high-density building because of how much we are growing,” said commission member Curt Cooper. Commission member Linda Bigelbach
Saving manatees one step at a time BY SARA MARIE MOORE VADNAIS HEIGHTS EDITOR
In the clear water of Florida's Blue Spring State Park, majestic creatures surrounded Wayne Hartley's canoe, surfacing gently to breathe one after another, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh … 36, Hartley said. Only 36 manatees? Weaving around about 300 manatees peacefully floating in the warm spring last January, it was hard to imagine the day Hartley began documenting manatees in the 1980s as a
ranger in the park. At that time, there were only 36 manatees wintering at the spring near Orange City, Florida. This winter, 582 individual manatees were counted, 70 more than the record. Hartley called out the names of manatees from his canoe — “Hello Precious,” he said. “Howie … Ansel … Nick … Sickle … I think the scar looks like a sickle.” Lily’s scar looks like a flower. About 99 percent of the scars are caused SEE MANATEES, PAGE 8A
PATRICK ROSE SAVE THE MANATEE CLUB | SUBMITTED
A manatee’s snout, with which it clutches seagrass, is similar to an elephant’s trunk.
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Purrfect MarketFest treat Ava Rasmussen’s grandmother Paulette Fleming feeds her a morsel of food during MarketFest Thursday evening, July 5. Their extended family found a spot of shade in Railroad Park for a picnic, following a visit to a face painting artist.
SEE APARTMENTS, PAGE 8A
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