March 22, 2021 minutes

ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP

Alexandria, Minnesota 56308

Minutes of the meeting of March 22, 2021 

A regular meeting of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 22nd  day of March, 2021 at 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, 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 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 Haar, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 02/22/2021 meeting as written.  Motion carried unanimously.

Public Hearing:  none

Zoning Administrator’s Report:  Zoning Administrator Oleson will communicate with the town board on a possible nuisance violation for a property along County Road 23. 

New Business:  none

Old Business:  The planning commission continued their discussion on possible zoning ordinance amendments pertaining to shouse regulations.

Oleson reported the town board discussed “guest cottages” at their last meeting. He stated that Douglas County permits a guest cottage with a maximum size of 700 square feet.  Oleson had asked the town board if their interpretation of the law includes the whole structure or just the living quarters not to exceed 700 square feet.  The board was in consensus to follow the county’s interpretation.

At the commission’s request, Oleson provided pictures of various “shouse” homes, both in and outside of the township.

For the next meeting, the commission will review questions on page 1 of the staff report and Options A – D on pages 3 – 6.  Oleson will provide additional examples of homes and corresponding lot sizes.  The meeting was tabled pending further discussion at the April  meeting.

Adjournment:  Being no further business Haar, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m.

Respectfully submitted…

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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk

Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2021

 

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Larry Steidl, Chairman