A light industrial/office building is being proposed in a Blaine residential area, and council members agree a neighborhood meeting is needed.

Earlier this year, the City Council approved a lot split for the parcel on the corner of 93rd Avenue and the 35W service road, which was granted to the former property owner, Greg Huston.

At the July 10 workshop, Community Development Director Bryan Schafer said the current property owner of the parcel has been working with Huston and the Rice Creek Watershed District.

Schafer told the council the parcel was a small building site available for development in 1994 that now has a significant amount of upland.

"The vast majority of the property is no longer wetland," Schafer said. "It probably was very marginal wetland and with the introduction of development, streets, sewer and water, the area dried out."

The property owner has asked whether the land use could be changed from residential to light industrial. Schafer said there's a line of light industrial buildings on the service drive that go down to 85th Avenue, and that the proposed building would also be for light industrial/office use.

The site plan shows a concept for an 18,000-square-foot office building with parking for 50 vehicles. In a memo to the council, Schafer wrote it's a fairly conservative proposal, and that maybe as much as 30,000 square feet could be built depending on the use and building configuration.

He added the proposed building's distance from existing residential homes along Harpers Court is about 400 to 550 feet, and a 100-foot setback from the south and west property lines could be required.

"This is my neighborhood," said Councilmember Dick Swanson. "When I first heard about this, I was opposed because it's a dramatic change to the (residential) neighborhood. It might work, but I want a neighborhood meeting."

He added that the city needs light industrial, particularly office buildings.

Other council members agreed that a neighborhood meeting makes sense.

"If it's office use I can't see it being an issue," said Councilmember Dave Clark, who added the building could become problematic as a manufacturing or welding shop or an auto body shop.

Councilmember Kathy Kolb said she understands the noise issue, but pointed out there's noise that comes from the National Sports Center, schools, parks and the BeBop grill and entertainment complex.

"We have to consider the noise, but we also have to be realistic," she said. "It's the nature [of living] in an urban area."

Schafer said a neighborhood meeting would be scheduled.

Councilmember Kathy Kolb said she understands the noise issue, but pointed out there's noise that comes from the National Sports Center, schools, parks and the BeBop grill and entertainment complex.

"We have to consider the noise, but we also have to be realistic," she said. "It's the nature [of living] in an urban area."

Schafer said a neighborhood meeting would be scheduled.