11/10/2004 12:23:00 PM Proposal for office building moves ahead in Wayzata
By Jason King
Editor
A proposal by Lundgren Bros. Construction Inc. to replace a house at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Wayzata Boulevard with a two-story office building took a step forward at the Wayzata City Council’s Nov. 3 meeting.
By a 3-1 vote, the council approved a resolution approving the design review of the office project. The council approved the first reading of an ordinance changing the property’s zoning by an identical vote.
Council Member Sue Bangert voted against both measures. Council Member Andrew Humphrey abstained from consideration of the project because he said his employer, the law firm Faegre & Benson LLP, performs work for Lundgren Bros.
For the project to proceed, the council at a future meeting must approve the second reading of the ordinance amending the city’s zoning map.
Normally, such an ordinance requires approval of four-fifths of the council. But because Humphrey recused himself from the discussion, approval from three of the four members present was sufficient.
Lundgren Bros. owns the property on which the house sits, and the construction firm presently occupies an office building on the adjacent property.
At the meeting, Phil Carlson, a representative from DSU whom Lundgren Bros. hired to work on the project, said the developer proposes an office building in “residential style” that takes up less of the property than the house.
The property was zoned R-5, which is multiple-unit residential. Lundgren Bros. asked that it be changed to planned unit development (PUD).
Although the property was zoned as residential, Wayzata’s comprehensive plan designates the corner as a commercial site.
While Bangert said she thought the developer’s proposal was tasteful and professional, she said she does not support any new commercial development on the north side of Wayzata Boulevard.
Election results
Also at the meeting, the council canvassed the votes and declared the results of the election on Nov. 2.
Andrew Humphrey, who was running unopposed, garnered 1,989 votes in his bid for mayor. That represented nearly 98 percent of the votes cast.
Ken Willcox and John Berns were elected to the Wayzata City Council. Willcox received 1,244 votes, while Berns received 1,211.
Jim Gooley received 933 votes.
Nearly 87 percent of Wayzata voters cast their ballots on Nov. 2.
