3.4.C. Comments CityBuildings_ChristianBuilders_email1
D. DANIEL LICHT
From:Chad Christian <Chad@christianbuilders.com>
Sent:Monday, June 5, 2023 10:55 AM
To:D. DANIEL LICHT
Subject:RE: Otsego - Driveways
Hey Dan,
My only comments would be how many of them in the area are having money being held as I know of a couple parcels
in the area that they have no intenƟons of puƫng asphalt in.
I get that it is up to the landowner and builder to know the requirements for the perspecƟve property. In the event of an
unknown, we typically rely on the final inspecƟon and escrows to throw up a red flag.
Quick Background of this parcel:
1. ChrisƟan Builders (as the builder) and Essington (Landowner) went into a contract to build them a house on their
property.
2. In order to get our CO, we were told that there was to be an escrow held for landscaping. ChrisƟan Builders put
up that escrow because we were contracted to do the landscaping.
3. Fast forward 18 months, the yard is all established and the landowner spent thousands of dollars and installed a
very nice gravel driveway with an asphalt turnaround (because they never contracted us for this). We submit for
a final landscape inspecƟon and it passes. The city then comes back and says, you need an asphalt driveway and
we should have escrowed for that and we won’t release the landscape escrow enƟrely unƟl that is done.
4. I then reach out to the landowner and they state that they were never told they needed asphalt the enƟre way.
5. So now ChrisƟan Builders landscape escrow will be held hostage unƟl the homeowner decides to put asphalt the
enƟre way (or 65Ō). We both know the $2,000 being held will never cover that amount of asphalt so the
landowner basically tells us to piss off.
I know I am ranƟng about something that is not your problem but the city ordinances are not the easiest to navigate and
understand (unless you’re well versed in it like yourself).
My recommendaƟon is (especially on rural lots) , that ciƟes building permits should have condiƟons noted. What
requires an as-built survey, what requires asphalt or concrete, what requires established vegetaƟon, etc.
It’s a lot easier for the builder to have these conversaƟons at the beginning of (or during) construcƟon. Compared to 18
months aŌer we have closed.
Thanks for hearing me out.
From: D. DANIEL LICHT <ddl@planningco.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2023 1:13 PM
To: Chad Christian <Chad@christianbuilders.com>
Subject: Otsego - Driveways
Hi Chad:
City Council Admin SubcommiƩee directed City staff to present an ordinance amendment to the Planning Commission to
only require a paved driveway up to the front setback line for lots within the A1 and A2 Districts. This would change the
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requirement for the owner of the house you built on 85th Street from the full length to 65Ō. plus the area within the
public right-of-way.
A public hearing has been noƟced to consider the amendment for the Planning Commission meeƟng on Jun 5 at
7:00PM. You or your clients are welcome to aƩend to provide comment or can email them to me as well.
Let me know if you have any quesƟons. Thanks.
Sincerely,
D. Daniel Licht
THE PLANNING COMPANY LLC
3601 Thurston Avenue, Suite 101
Anoka, MN 55303
612.991.2230
DDL@PlanningCo.com