ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of July 27, 2020
A regular meeting of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 27th day of July, 2020 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway and via teleconference.
Roll Call: Commission members onsite were Larry Steidl and Linda Dokken-McFann. Shad Steinbrecher and Julie Haar attended via teleconference. Also present onsite were 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 Steidl at 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: Haar, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to approve the agenda as written. Haar, seconded by Steinbrecher, amended the motion to include under New Business turkey barns/feedlots and sewer inspection requirements. Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes: Dokken-McFann, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 4/27/20 meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Hearing: none
Zoning Administrator’s Report: Oleson to email the report separately.
Old Business: Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that township ordinance updates were necessary to match the county’s ordinance amendments; specifically to their sign and renewable energy ordinances. He also brought up for review possible amendments to the township’s subdivision ordinance regarding regulations affecting shoreland alterations and land/vegetative alterations in shoreland areas related to preparing a site for building and minor clean-ups.
The pages referred to going forth are from the township’s zoning ordinance:
SIGN ORDINANCE:
Pages 56 – 57 – consensus to allow internal illuminated and electronic changeable copy signage as a conditional use for commercial districts ONLY. These were previously prohibited.
Page 63 – water-oriented business signs. Consensus to make no changes.
Page 60 – UR and Light Industrial signage. Consensus to adopt the changes under d.(1)(a) to match the county’s language of 120 square feet.
Under d.(2)(a) change to “not to exceed 240 square feet.”
Page 61 – 2(c) – illuminated freestanding signs. Consensus to allow as a CUP in the Commercial/Urban Commercial/Light Industrial Zones.
2(d) – electronic changeable copy signs. Consensus to allow as a CUP in the Commercial/Urban Commercial/Light Industrial Zones.
Oleson stated that buildings with murals do not currently require permits or have size restrictions.
Pages 50 -51 Consensus to include the changes with the exception of further research for the two foot restriction under Exemptions 5(h) on page 51 “Certain Signs Attached to Non-Building Structures.”
RENEWABLE ENERGY ORDINANCE:
Consensus to adopt the county’s language.
SHORELAND ALTERATION:
Consensus to adopt the county’s language
The commission instructed Oleson to schedule these three ordinance amendments for public hearing at the August meeting.
New Business:
Run-off issues, specifically permitting and enforcement, was tabled for future discussion.
Feedlot issues relative to requirements/obligations needed for notification was tabled for future discussion.
Oleson reported that the owner of Longboat Commons expressed interest in using a parcel adjacent to his existing mini-storage to house pods for rent (adjacent to 3966 39th Ave NE). He is proposing two rows of pods (containers) with 40 pods/row for a total of 80 pods. Consensus to require an IUP if utilizing pods. If using a traditional storage building, it would be considered a permitted use.
Adjournment: Being no further business Dokken-McFann, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted…
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2020
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Larry Steidl, Chairman