Alexandria Township
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of May 3, 2021
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Alexandria Township and Board of Adjustment public hearing was held on the 3rd day of May, 2021 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway and via teleconference.
ROLL CALL: Supervisors present were Jeff Oberg, Joel Dahlheimer, Rod Eldevik, Dennis Butz and Jerry Wright. Also present were Gregg Raisanen, Clerk with Mona Billmark, Treasurer, via teleconference. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Eldevik at 6:00 p.m.
Chairman Eldevik closed the regular meeting to open the first public hearing on the variance request for Tom Wosepka, applicant. William and Judith Kluver, owners. The property is located at 3410 W. Lake Jessie Drive SE.
Chairman Eldevik recused himself from hearing this application.
Zoning Administrator Oleson reported the variance request is to allow a 2-lot subdivision with less road frontage than required by ordinance. He said that normally lots are required to be at least 150 feet wide. If the lot was split in two, these lots would be 75’ and 81’ wide, totaling 156’ combined. He mentioned that ALASD has frontage of 50’ along this parcel.
Supervisor Oberg questioned the first staff recommendation concerning the allowance of only an accessory building and not a dwelling. Oleson stated while the township does allow for flag lots, which has a narrower road width, a flag lot would not necessarily apply in this instance.
Eldevik spoke on behalf of the owners, William and Judy Kluver. He said their home already exists on one lot, and while there may be room on the other lot for a dwelling south of the proposed accessory building, it would be difficult to place a dwelling on it due to the irregular composition of the tract.
Supervisor Wright expressed concern at the creation of two non-conforming lots. Supervisor Dahlheimer agreed.
Brad Nyberg, Nyberg Surveying, asked Oleson to provide a definition of a flag lot as it relates to our township ordinance.
Dahlheimer expressed concern regarding future subdivision of the property. Oberg suggested verbage to indicate no public road be allowed through the lot. Eldevik agreed that the verbage would curtail future development.
Dahlheimer asked if a hardship exists, thus necessitating a variance. He mentioned that perhaps in the future land could be sold to abutting properties. Oleson stated that if the abutting properties wished to extend their propert(ies) to the rear, that process could be treated as a lot line adjustment. He also asked if a sewer stub would need to be placed. Dahlheimer stated that if water is brought in, the sewer stub will need to be established also. Clerk Raisanen explained this would be addressed as part of the building process.
Chairman Eldevik opened the second public hearing on the variance request for Tischer Homes, Inc., applicant. Willis Dropik Sr. Living Trust, owner. The property is located at 7617 Co Rd 82 SE. He stipulated that the variance is for a cul de sac road with a length greater than 1200 feet.
Oberg clarified that this hearing was only for the cul de sac and not addressing the other recommendations from the planning commission. Eldevik affirmed it was for the length of the cul de sac.
Oberg asked Oleson how many other cul de sacs in the township exceed the maximum length of 1200 feet. Oleson stated there are a number of them throughout the township. Oberg asked if there was something different about those cul de sacs in that they were allowed. Dahlheimer explained that some were established before the township ordinance was effective. Oberg asked what prompted the need for the ordinance. Dahlheimer stated the primary reason was to provide easy access for emergency vehicles. Oberg contended that since these were large lots, only a few on the back end would potentially be affected negatively from an emergency standpoint. Dahlheimer felt the risk outweighed the benefit. Oberg was more in favor of the cul de sac extension than the loop, as the loop would necessitate crossing a wetland.
Supervisor Wright asked if there was a shared access to the east. Brad Nyberg affirmed. Wright also asked what the actual proposed length of the cul de sac would be. Oleson replied around 1600 feet. Eldevik clarified that the cul de sac would comprise the road stemming from Co Rd 82 extending north and east – not to the west.
Dahlheimer stated he was uncomfortable with deviating from our ordinance. He also asked about looping the road to eliminate the need for the variance, i.e. having the loop run down the east side of the development.
Matt Hagstrom, Hagstrom Engineering, remarked that a historic drainage path exists. Their intent is to re-route the storm sewer. He also stated getting access across a wetland includes permits along with a major study to determine impacts. He reiterated that the development is limited to the number of accesses coming off 82 by the county.
Mr. Radil, a landowner whose property abuts the northern boundary of the proposed subdivision, stated there is a drainage ditch coming from the west that flows through the properties and drains into the wetlands. Eldevik clarified there are two drainage tiles. He also confirmed with Mr. Hagstrom that the applicant would be addressing those drainage needs.
Oberg once again mentioned he felt variances to the cul de sac lengths for developments should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis rather than just a hard and fast rule. Clerk Raisanen stated that the reason for the cul de sac length parameters was due to the creation of E. Lake Geneva Road in the Geneva Estates development. It has only one entrance with many homes on the back end by the lake. He stated that the development being proposed does not have the density, and thus some of the safety concerns, of the Geneva Estates development. Oberg also mentioned the possibility of extending the T-road to the north and the potential implications for the variance.
Brad Nyberg provided a list of longer cul de sacs currently in the township.
Hearing no further public comments, Chairman Eldevik closed the public hearing and resumed the regular township meeting.
Oberg, seconded by Wright, made a motion to adopt the agenda with the addition of the Wosepka Variance under Planning and Zoning. Motion carried unanimously.
Butz, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 04/19/2021 regular board meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to authorize payment of claims 21084 – 21093 in the amount of $18,151.41, net payroll $4,792.44, totaling $22,943.85 with no transfer of funds from savings. Motion carried unanimously.
CITIZEN’S CONCERNS: none
PLANNING AND ZONING: Chairman Eldevik asked for discussion on the Wosepka variance. Hearing none, he called for a motion. Oberg, seconded by Butz, made a motion to approve the variance request with the condition that no public road be allowed to pass through the property. Roll: Wright – yes, Oberg – yes, Dahlheimer – no, Butz – yes, Motion carried.
Chairman Eldevik asked for discussion on the application requests submitted by Tischer Homes, Inc.
A question was raised regarding “spot zoning.” Oleson stated that the application is for the entire development to be zoned Commercial – Rural.
When questioned about the need for the CUP, Oleson stated that the conditional use request is necessitated by the PUD aspect, which in turn provides the town some flexibility with regard to the commercial uses allowed. Mr. Tischer reported that Lot 22, the easternmost lot abutting Co Rd 82, would house storage buildings for sale.
Discussion ensued regarding the amount of impervious coverage allowed per lot. By ordinance, up to 75% can be considered impervious for commercial lots and 25% for residential lots. Mr. Tischer is asking for the impervious limit to be set at 35% due to the residential/commercial aspect of a shouse building. Oberg suggested as a condition of approval that all structures be limited to 10%/lot.
Mr. Hagstrom indicated he will discuss drainage easements with Engineer Kuhn.
Seeing no further discussion, Chairman Eldevik called for a motion on the variance request. Oberg, seconded by Butz, made a motion to approve the variance permitting a road length greater than the maximum allowed by ordinance. Roll: Wright – no, Oberg – yes, Dahlheimer – no, Butz – yes, Eldevik – yes. Motion carried.
Chairman Eldevik called for a motion on the zoning map amendment request. Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to approve rezoning from Rural Conservation Residential (RCR) to Commercial – Rural (C – R). Roll: Wright – yes, Oberg – yes, Dahlheimer – no, Butz – yes, Eldevik – yes. Motion carried.
Chairman Eldevik called for a motion on the conditional use request. Oberg, seconded by Dahlheimer, made a motion to approve the conditional use request with the conditions set forth in the staff report and summary, revisions as follows: 1) changing condition no. 2 to read the hours of operation to be from 7 am – 7 pm; 2) changing condition no. 5 to reflect all structures be limited to 10% of total lots size and reduce the amount of impervious coverage per lot from 35% to 25%. Chairman Eldevik opened the meeting for discussion.
Mr. Tischer stated he preferred to keep the impervious limits at the 35% level as he will have protective covenants in place. He stressed that each home would have one vote, thus further safeguarding what is placed on each lot.
Seeing no further discussion, Chairman Eldevik called for a roll call vote: Wright – yes, Oberg – yes, Dahlheimer – yes, Butz – yes, Eldevik – yes. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Eldevik called for a motion on the preliminary plat of Eastwood Estates. Eldevik, seconded by Oberg, made a motion to approve the preliminary plat of Eastwood Estates with conditions 3, 4 and 6 as outlined in the staff report by the planning commission and adding the condition that an adequate drainage solution be reached benefitting both the development and Mr. Radil’s property. Roll: Wright – yes, Oberg – yes, Dahlheimer – yes, Butz – yes, Eldevik – yes. Motion carried unanimously.
Oleson reported that violation letters had been sent to Alden Just and Doug Norris. He said he had not yet made a site visit to the Chris Just property.
Consensus to discuss the Dropik property clean-up process after the auction date.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: Clerk Raisanen reported the township received three quotes for gravel specifying a 3000 ton limit: Alden Just Road Maintenance quoted $15/ton; Central Specialties $15.80/ton and Mark Lee Excavating $17/ton. Consensus to potentially add another 1000 ton if needed after the initial 3000 ton is applied. Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to accept Alden Just Road Maintenance’s quote of $15/ton. Motion carried unanimously.
Clerk Raisanen reported the township received one quote for calcium chloride, from Alden Just Road Maintenance, in the amount of $1.30/gallon. He stated this equated to the county engineer’s estimate. It was noted that the quote from Mr. Just is one cent/gallon less than last year. Dahlheimer remarked that the value in utilizing Mr. Just’s services is that he can make multiple applications versus the county applying a one-time chloride spread for the season. Dahlheimer, seconded by Butz, made a motion to accept Alden Just Road Maintenance’s quote of $1.30/gallon for calcium chloride applications. Motion carried unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS: none
NEW BUSINESS: none
Being no further business, Oberg, seconded by Butz, made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 8 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Gregg Raisanen, Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ________, 2021
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Rod Eldevik, Chairman