ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of September 23, 2019
A regular meeting of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 23rd day of September, 2019 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway.
Roll Call: Commission members present were Shad Steinbrecher, Larry Steidl, Linda Dokken-McFann, Mary Hacker and Julie Haar. Also present were Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk, and Ben Oleson, Township Zoning Administrator. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Steidl at 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: Steinbrecher, seconded by Hacker, made a motion to approve the agenda as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes: Dokken-McFann, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 8/26/2019 meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Hearing: none
Zoning Administrator’s Report: none
New Business: none
Old Business: Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that the town had received inquiries about placing commercial storage buildings in areas currently zoned Urban Residential. At present, “mini-storage” is prohibited in all but the Commercial and Industrial zoning districts, where it is a permitted use. A “warehouse” is listed as prohibited in all but the Commercial and Industrial zoning districts, where it is a conditional use in the Commercial district and a permitted use in the Industrial zoning district.
Oleson stated that mini-storage units can be categorized two ways: 1) those units which are accessible 24/7; and 2) those units which are deemed time-specific. It was noted that the size of the units can vary, such as accommodating RVs, etc.
He said the question before the commission is two-fold: 1) to determine whether to allow storage units in residential areas; i.e. Urban Residential (UR), Rural Residential (RR) and Rural Conservation Residential (RCR); and 2) to determine whether the town should designate more areas as Commercial.
The commission reviewed the existing Future Land Use Map. Oleson suggested adding a “Phase II” map which would delineate additional areas for commercially zoned districts. This map would come into play once a percentage of the existing commercially zoned areas are in use (approximately 70 – 80%).
Hacker, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to not make any changes in the Urban Residential zoning district. Motion carried unanimously.
Consensus to continue discussion to identify other potential areas for commercial zoning districts.
Adjournment: Being no further business Steinbrecher, seconded by Haar, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted…
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2019
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Larry Steidl, Chairman