ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of January 22, 2024
A regular meeting/public hearing of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 22nd day of January, 2024 at the Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway, and via teleconference.
Roll Call: Commission members present were Shad Steinbrecher, Larry Steidl, Linda Dokken-McFann and Julie Haar. Also present were Bonnie Fulghum, Administrative Assistant, and Ben Oleson, Township Zoning Administrator. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Steidl at 5:00 p.m.
Agenda: Steinbrecher, seconded by Dokken-McFann, made a motion to approve the agenda as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes: Steinbrecher, seconded by Dokken-McFann, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 12/27/2023 meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Steidl recessed the meeting to open the public hearing on the conditional use request submitted by Thomas Wosepka. The property is located at 3206 W. Lake Jessie Drive SE.
Public Hearing: Mr. Wosepka is being represented by Alan Schlangen of Caliber Buildings. Mr. Schlangen stated his client is applying for a CUP to move dirt to prepare a building site for installing a building.
Zoning Administrator Ben Oleson reported a CUP is required since 1) the property is within 1000 feet of Lake Jessie, and 2) any movement of earth over 50 cubic yards requires a CUP. If potential for erosion exists, a CUP can also be required even if the total yardage falls under 50 yards. He acknowledged that some earth was moved in December prior to the application for a permit.
Mr. Schlangen provided an updated site plan depicting two rows of silt logs and/or fencing. A slight depression will be created to slow water going to the creek. To aid with drainage, the building will have gutters installed. Oleson asked if the depression were to be temporary or permanent. Mr. Schlangen responded it would be permanent. The site plan depicts drainage patterns sloping toward the creek from the building site. Mr. Schlangen noted water would run under the road toward the lake.
Oleson stated the only impact to the neighbors would occur if the creek were to rise. Oleson reported that 300 cubic yards would be the fill total for everything, including the building site. He said at times fill can be exempted if it is part of the building pad, driveway construction or private sewer construction, which is not applicable in this case.
Chairman Steidl opened the hearing to the public for comment. Hearing none, he closed the public hearing and resumed the meeting.
Commissioner Dokken-McFann asked what type of building would be constructed. Oleson stated it will be a living area on one side and storage on the other. It does not qualify as a shouse because it will a stick-built building.
Dokken-McFann commented she was concerned that dirt was moved before the permit was pulled. Mr. Schlangen acknowledged that did occur. Dokken-McFann said she recommends an after-the-fact fine be assessed.
Haar, seconded by Dokken-McFann, made a motion to recommend approval of the Wosepka CUP application to include the three conditions outlined in the staff report and to add a fourth condition to read: “Since earth was moved prior to obtaining the permit, an after-the-fact fine should be assessed.” Roll: Haar, Steinbrecher, Dokken-McFann, Steidl – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
New Business: none
Old Business: none
Zoning Administrator’s Report: Oleson reported he had followed up on the issue of cargo containers placed on Island / Crestwood Drive. The landowner is a contractor who is tearing down a house in Carlos Township. Since the property under construction has insufficient room to store debris, the contractor chose to utilize his Alex Township property as a temporary dump site. Oleson commented the town board’s response to this situation is that temporary placement of cargo containers, as outlined in our ordinance, is intended to be on the same property rather than different properties and therefore, in this case, would not be allowed.
Adjournment: Being no further business Haar, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 5:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted…
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Bonnie Fulghum, Administrative Assistant
Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2024
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Larry Steidl, Chairman