A regular meeting of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 27th day of August, 2007 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
Roll Call: Commission members present were John Knowles, Julie Feuling, Larry Steidl and Lyle Hammerschmidt. Also present were Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk, Ben Oleson, Zoning Administrator and Jeff Kuhn, Township Engineer. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Knowles at 6:30 p.m.
Steidl, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Feuling, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 25, 2007 meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Feuling, seconded by Hammerschmidt, to recess the meeting at 6:35 p.m. to open up the public hearing for two items of interest; i.e. the Piepho Pines plat and a Conditional Use Permit submitted by Greg Kraning; and to reconvene at the end of the public hearing. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting recessed at 6:35 p.m.
Public Hearing:
The first item was the Conditional Use Permit by Greg and Marilyn Kraning regarding movement of material in excess of 50 cubic yards located outside of steep slopes and shore and/or bluff impact zone and for the construction of two retaining walls with a height greater than three feet. They were accompanied by Steve Volkey of Alex Irrigation & Landscaping.
Chairman Knowles asked the Kranings to make their presentation. They indicated that they would be bringing in fill and making a pad for a future storage building and constructing tiered retaining walls.
Chairman Knowles asked for any public comment. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to bring the issue back to the planning commission. Feuling, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to close the public comment portion of the hearing and bring the issue back to the commission. Motion carried unanimously.
The commission requested Zoning Administrator Oleson explain in further detail the conditions set forth in the Staff Recommendation. Oleson obliged. He also asked the commission to consider a change to recommendation no. 5.
Hammerschmidt, seconded by Steidl, made a motion to accept the conditional use application with the change to recommendation no. 5 as presented by Zoning Administrator Oleson, and to forward the application to the Town Board with conditions as outlined in the Staff Recommendation:
- That the applicant installs silt fence and/or bio-logs (in areas where steep slopes make these better suited than silt fence) as necessary to prevent erosion during the fill and retaining wall construction process. The silt fences must be installed in accordance with best management practices (including that they be buried into the ground at least 4-6 inches and backfilled on the upslope side) prior to beginning any earthwork. These may be removed only after vegetation has been re-established on all exposed areas or these areas have otherwise been stabilized.
- That the applicant stabilizes all exposed soil within seven days of completion of the grading work and re-establishes vegetation on all exposed areas within 45 days.
- That the applicant obtains the required shoreland alteration permit, and provides all necessary information, prior to beginning any grading work.
- That the applicant installs the rainwater garden as proposed in the application. The rainwater garden should be installed as per Best Management Practices.
- That no work shall be allowed, as part of this project, within the drainage easement or the existing drainageway that runs through the property.
Roll call: Hammerschmidt – yes, Feuling – yes, Knowles – yes. Steidl – yes. Motion carried unanimously.
Steidl, seconded by Feuling, made a motion to open the meeting for the second application in the public hearing. Motion carried unanimously.
The second item for public hearing was the Piepho Pines plat, represented by owners Rodney and Kevin Piepho and surveyor, Rod Eldevik. Kevin Piepho indicated that the plat will consist of three lots; namely, a 5 acre plot, a 2.04 acre plot and the remainder consisting of a 20.8 acre plot. Discussion ensued regarding the road leading into the plat, Piepho Lane, whether it would someday connect to another road rather than becoming a dead end or cul-de-sac. Zoning Administrator Oleson indicated that no stormwater ponds are needed as it would not be disturbing more than an acre of land.
Zoning Administrator Oleson, along with Mr. Eldevik, asked the commission to consider changing the first recommendation under “Staff Recommendations” to read: “that the applicants provide an easement or dedicated right-of-way extending from the proposed road to the north property line prior to final plat approval. The width of the easement shall be at least 66 feet.”
Chairman Knowles asked for public comment. Dean Blade, a resident on Remington Road, and Don Fernow, a nearby landowner, asked questions of the applicants and the township zoning administrator and engineer.
Motion by Hammerschmidt, seconded by Feuling, to close this portion of the meeting to the public and bring the issue back to the commission. Motion carried unanimously.
The commission asked Oleson to review the staff recommendations with them. They agreed to the changed wording for staff recommendation no. 1 as outlined. After discussion, the commission and zoning administrator Oleson decided to add a fifth recommendation.
Motion by Steidl, seconded by Hammerschmidt, to approve the application with the changes to recommendations nos. 1 and 5, and to forward the application to the Town Board with the conditions as outlined in the Staff Recommendation:
- That the applicants provide an easement or dedicated right of way extending from the proposed road to the north property line prior to final plat approval. The width of the easement shall be at least 66 feet.
- That final construction plans in accordance with Section 6.5 of the Subdivision ordinance be submitted and approved prior to final plat approval.
- That all required storm water and other improvements be installed prior to final plat approval or sufficient financial guarantee, as outlined in Section 4 of the Subdivision Ordinance, is provided to the Township.
- That the developer pays a fee equal to the estimated cost of field inspections by the Township Engineer, or their designated representative, for all required improvements, in accordance with Section 4.2 of the Subdivision Ordinance.
- That the applicant shall provide a turnaround designed to township standards at the west end of the proposed new road.
Roll call: Steidl – yes, Knowles – yes, Feuling – yes, Hammerschmidt – yes. Motion carried unanimously. The regular meeting reconvened at 7:30 p.m.
Zoning Administrator’s Report: The commission reviewed the land use permits.
Old Business: None
New Business: None
Adjournment:
Being no further business, Hammerschmidt, seconded by Steidl, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
Respectfully submitted….
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk
Approved this _______day of ________, 2007
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John B. Knowles, Chairman