A regular meeting/public hearing of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 24th day of September, 2012 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
Roll Call: Commission members present were Roger Thalman, Larry Steidl, Linda Dokken-McFann and Lyle Hammerschmidt. Also present were Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk; Justin Burslie of Community Growth Institute (acting as the Township Zoning Administrator during the public hearing portion) and Ben Oleson, Township Zoning Administrator. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Hammerschmidt at 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: Thalman, seconded by Dokken-McFann, made a motion to approve the agenda as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes: Steidl, seconded by Thalman, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 08/27/2012 meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Hearing: Chairman Hammerschmidt stated the purpose of the public hearing was to consider the preliminary plat of Geneva Country Estates. Ben Zacher, applicant, was present as well as the township’s zoning authority, Justin Burslie of Community Growth Institute. Zoning Administrator Burslie stated that the applicant is proposing to split the 75 acre parcel into four tracts; i.e. Lot 1 to consist of 15.99 acres; Lot 2 with 24.14 acres; Lot 3 with 19.20 acres and Lot 4 with 15.70 acres. The applicant proposes to have Lots 1 and 2 connect to the public sanitary sewer system (ALASD) and Lots 3 and 4 to have private sewer systems due to the distance and lack of access to the public sanitary sewer system. The property is primarily zoned Urban Residential, with a portion on the western side zoned Residential Shoreland. He stipulated that each lot meets all the lot requirements and perhaps even exceeds them.
Burslie said that the town had received a letter from ALASD recognizing some of the lots are proposed to be served by on-site systems rather than ALASD. He made mention that the applicant has applied for a variance exempting Lots 3 and 4 from connecting to the public sanitary sewer system (ALASD). The variance will be heard at the Board of Adjustment meeting on October 1, 2012.
Mr. Zacher said he chose to split the parcel into larger lots (rather than a larger development with smaller lot sizes) due to the perceived market demand for larger lot sizes.
Chairman Hammerschmidt opened the hearing to the public for comment. Ken Howell of 2012 E. Lake Geneva Road asked: 1) where the sewer stubs are to be located for Lots 1 and 2; 2) what type of housing is planned, and 3) where will the access be? Mr. Zacher responded that there will be single-family homes accessed off County Road 73.
Colleen Lanes of 1906 E. Lake Geneva Road asked if the sanitary sewer system could handle the additional two parcels. Commissioner Thalman, who also serves on the ALASD board, stated that it would pose no problem.
Seeing no further comments, Chairman Hammerschmidt closed the public comment portion at 6:20 p.m.
Motion by Thalman, seconded by Steidl, to recommend approval of the preliminary plat of Geneva Country Estates with the 17 Findings of Fact and 3 Conditions outlined in the staff report. Motion carried unanimously. The recommendation will be forwarded to the town board.
Zoning Administrator Burslie left the meeting.
Zoning Administrator’s Report: Zoning Administrator Oleson stated that the town board is awaiting comment from the township attorney regarding Jack’s Family Recycling Center.
The town board had no further comment regarding a mission statement.
New Business: Oleson stated that the MPCA and the State legislature have approved significant updates to the states’ septic system regulations. In light of this, he said the planning commission will need to schedule a public hearing to make changes to the township’s ordinances regulating sewer systems. Consensus is to schedule a public hearing for the next planning commission meeting on October 22, 2012.
Old Business: Oleson stated that he had met with county personnel regarding the sign ordinance update and plans to have a draft ready for the October planning commission meeting. The commission requested that under section “N. Home-Based Sales or Services”, a time limit possibly be imposed. They also questioned whether a section for “Exempt” signs be included.
The commission discussed making a recommendation to the town board for having a newsletter distributed annually, said newsletter to include the names of all town board and commission members as well as a “frequently asked questions” section. They also stated that perhaps a FAQs section be included on the website. Deputy Clerk Fulghum stated that the town board has discussed this in regard to the website.
Motion by Thalman, seconded by Steidl, to recommend a newsletter be distributed annually and that the planning commission will design a format if so directed. Motion carried unanimously.
Adjournment: Being no further business Dokken-McFann, seconded by Steidl, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted…
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2012
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Lyle Hammerschmidt, Chairman