Respond to Request to Eliminate Street Lights in COR Three North Commons, Case of Purmort Homes

Purmort Homes, Developer of COR Three North Commons, is requesting the elimination of required street lights in the COR Three North Commons neighborhood. The City required the installation of two (2) street lights to illuminate pedestrian crossings. The remainder of the street lights were previously installed by the original Master Developer of Ramsey Town Center.

In 2016, the City approved COR Three North Commons, a 13 lot single-family subdivision. The property was previously owned by the City of Ramsey. The City disounted the sale price of the land, acknowledging the cost of soil correction to remove organic-heavy soil not suitable for stable building pads.

Notification is not required.

The Developer entered into a Development Agreement to ensure the timely installation of required improvements, including street lights. The Developer has cited financial reasons for desiring the removal of this requirement, not a functional reason.

Staff offers the following talking points:

1. Street Lights are a standard required improvement for all urban developments.
2. There does not appear to be a functional reason to waive the requirement; the request appears to be purely financial in purpose.
3. Street Lights provide adequate public safety for motorists and pedestrians.
4. The Developer has already agreed to the installation through the approved and executed Development Agreement.

The Developer is responsible for the cost of the improvement. No City Funds are involved in funding this requirement. The City does have a financial security to complete this requirement if the Developer fails to complete the requirement. If the City were to waive the installation, the City would then be responsible for installation of street lights at these pedestrian crossings.

Staff recommends that the City Council deny the request to waive the requirement for street lights.

Motion to deny the request to waive the requirement for the installation of street lights.