August 21, 2013 Meeting Minutes

  1. Call to Order – 12:30 PM

 

  1. Roll Call

 

In attendance were Larry Steidl (chair), Mary Hacker, Julie Haar, Linda Dokken-McFann, Billie Dropik, Ben Oleson (Zoning Administrator).

 

  1. Site Visits
    1. Conditional or Interim Use application to construct a new commercial/industrial building to house timber frame manufacturing and assembly as an expansion to the legal non-conforming business already on-site. Property located at 7300 – 39th Avenue NE. Freehealer Asset Holdings, LLC, applicant. Legal description summary as follows: Section 1, Township 128, Range 37; E 300’ of N 1380’ of E2NW4, 9.5 acres. PIN: 03-0003-840.

The first part of this site visit was held at the Blue Ox Timber Frame building at 4941 St Hwy 27E. There was one member of the public in attendance, who indicated he was primarily interested in the Rock application. Ben Miller, Deb Collins and Beth McComb were in attendance as the applicants. Chairman Steidl opened the meeting at 12:30 pm. Miller invited the attendees into the building where they conduct the work associated with cutting and light pre-assembly of the timber frames, which are used in the construction of homes. The building was a large open space with a variety of cutting tools and machinery. Miller described that they cut and do some light pre-assembly/test fitting of timbers at this site and then the materials are shipped out to the building sites, which have been throughout the United States. Miller indicated he only takes in 1-2 trucks of material per month at this time and the same going out.

The second part of the site visit was held at the Collins Cabinet building (7300 – 39th Ave. NE). Chairman Steidl asked the applicants to describe the proposal. They indicated that a new building would be constructed on the west side of existing parking/driving area partially into the wooded area. They described the similarities in the type of business between the timber frame company and the cabinet-making company.

A question was raised about traffic levels that occur for the cabinet shop. Collins and McComb indicated they have 1-2 trucks in an out per week on average.

A question was raised about noise levels associated with the businesses. The applicants stated the noise was largely contained within the buildings and has not been a problem to date for the neighbors as far as they know. They indicated that neighbors are some distance away and that there is a excavator across the road so that people are used to the traffic and noise that might be generated.

A question was raised about outdoor storage. Miller indicated that any storage would be behind the building and well-screened except for temporary unloading of material to the east of the new building.

A question was raised about signage. Miller indicated he intended to put up a Blue Ox Timber sign within the frame of the existing sign, or however is allowed by ordinance. Oleson indicated the sign ordinance is expected to be amended very soon.

    1. Preliminary Plat for a three lot residential subdivision. Proposed lots to range in size from 8-10 acres. Property located at 1966 and 2044 Liberty Road NE.  Tim Rock, applicant.  Legal description summary as follows: Section 10, Township 128, Range 37; S 333.51’ of N 667.35’ of SE4NE4 and S 333.17’ of N 1000.52’ of SE4NE4, 10 acre parcels each. PIN: 03-1202-480 (2044 Liberty Rd NE), 03-1202-500 (1966 Liberty Rd NE).

Chairman Steidl opened the meeting at 12:30 pm. Tim Rock was in attendance as the applicant. A member of the public arrived part way through the site visit. Tim Rock walked those in attendance from the Liberty Road side of the property to the rear of the property where the farmland would be split off from the rest of the properties – noting the location of the two existing homes along the way. He noted that the intent was to split the farmland and sell it to someone who would farm it and that it was not intended to be buildable due to the lack of road frontage. Access to the site for the future owner would be via an existing easement coming off of County Road 73 to the north.

Oleson noted that the application would likely require two variances, one for the lack of road frontage for the rear agricultural lot and one for not connecting the lots within the subdivision to ALASD sewer.

 

  1. Adjournment – There being no further discussion or other site visits, the meeting was adjourned at 1:50 pm.

 

Submitted by:

Ben Oleson

Hometown Planning

Alexandria Township Zoning Administrator