A regular meeting/public hearing of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 26th day of October, 2009 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
Roll Call: Commission members present were John Knowles, Julie Feuling, Russ Niskanen, Larry Steidl and Lyle Hammerschmidt. Also present was 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 Knowles at 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: Feuling, seconded by Steidl, made a motion to approve the agenda as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes: Steidl, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 10/13/09 meeting as written. Motion carried. Niskanen abstained.
Public Hearing: The commission resumed discussion on the tabled hearing for Interim Use Permits as a Zoning Ordinance Amendment. Zoning Administrator Oleson stated that he had received no response from Douglas County or the cities of Alexandria and Nelson.
Oleson summarized some of the issues for discussion as 1) which uses would be allowed as interim uses rather than conditional; 2) how to handle renewals of interim uses; and 3) material changes in a previously approved interim use would be required to go through the approval process again with the planning commission.
The commission discussed differentiating between large and small wind towers; i.e. the size and the height. Staff may initially present wind towers as being a conditional use to the town board.
Motion by Hammerschmidt, seconded by Niskanen, to have staff investigate different options for towers within the township. Roll: Niskanen, Steidl, Feuling, Hammerschmidt and Knowles – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Supervisor Niskanen inquired as to the possibility of combining some of the uses under “Commercial Uses” in an effort to streamline what is allowed (no permit required) and what is allowed but may require a land use permit.
Motion by Niskanen, seconded by Knowles, that if an interim use is approved in the RCR district, then it should be permitted in the RR district. Roll: Niskanen – yes, Steidl, Hammerschmidt, Feuling, Knowles – no. Motion failed.
Motion by Feuling, seconded by Hammerschmidt, that in residential districts where allowed, structures or outside storage areas related to the interim use shall meet a minimum lot size of five (5) acres and/or a setback of 200 feet from dwellings on nearby properties unless otherwise approved by the Township, who shall consider alternative methods to minimize the impact on nearby properties such as, but not limited to, fencing or screening. Roll: Hammerschmidt, Feuling, Steidl, Niskanen, Knowles – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Niskanen, seconded by Steidl, that the Interim Use Permit would initially be for a term of five (5) years with the option of renewal within 24 months of expiration. Roll: Hammerschmidt, Feuling, Steidl, Niskanen, Knowles – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
The consensus of the commission was to have Staff relate to the town board that the Interim Use Permit could be “up to five (5) years”.
New Business: Training seminar. Motion by Feuling, seconded by Hammerschmidt, to move the training seminar to the next meeting date. Motion carried unanimously.
Old Business: None
Zoning Administrator’s Report: None
Adjournment: Being no further business Hammerschmidt, seconded by Niskanen, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted…
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2009
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John B. Knowles, Chairman