ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of November 22, 2021
A regular meeting/public hearing of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 22nd day of November, 2021 at the Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway, and via teleconference.
Roll Call: Commission members present were Shad Steinbrecher, Larry Steidl, Linda Dokken-McFann and Jessica Fettig. 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 Fettig, made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 25, 2021 meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Steidl recessed the meeting to open the public hearing on the interim use request submitted by Wendy Ramsdell, property located at 2701 Kings Road SE.
Public Hearing: Zoning Administrator Oleson reported the applicant is seeking a renewal of her interim use permit for a pet dog grooming business, which was originally approved by the township as an IUP in August 2014 for a 7-year time period. There is presently no outdoor kenneling of animals.
Chairman Steidl opened the hearing to the public for comment.
One of the residents on Golden Gate Avenue, Debby, spoke in support of the business, citing no traffic issues.
Hearing no further comments, Chairman Steidl closed the public hearing and resumed the meeting.
Dokken-McFann, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to recommend approval of the interim use permit with the five conditions as outlined in the staff report, noting a change to the time period in condition no. 5 to read: “that the interim use shall terminate 7 years after the date of approval.…” and the addition of another condition, condition no. 6 to read: “All dog hair and waste shall be properly disposed of and not burned.” Roll: Steinbrecher – yes, Dokken-McFann – yes, Fettig – yes, Steidl – yes. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Steidl recessed the meeting to open the public hearing on the conditional use request submitted by Rose City Sign on behalf of the Douglas County Car Care Program, property located at 4353 Co Rd 82 SE.
The Director of the Car Care Program, Kris Chisolm, stated their intent to install a 20 foot tall sign. He said only the lower portion of the sign would be lighted. Mr. Chisolm said he’d had a conversation with Gwen Schroeder regarding her views on the proposed project. He will obtain a letter from Ms. Schroeder for the variance proceeding.
Oleson reported the applicant is proposing to install a new pole-mounted electronic message display sign in front of the existing building on the property. The overall height of the proposed sign will be 20 feet and will contain the proposed electronic changeable copy sign plus an additional static sign above. The sign requires a conditional use permit due to the electronic message display portion.
Oleson reported the applicant is applying for a variance with the township to allow for a sign to be located approx. 4 feet from a side lot line (min. 10 ft or 110% of sign height required).
Chairman Steidl opened the hearing to the public for comment. Hearing none, he closed the public hearing and resumed the meeting.
Dokken-McFann, seconded by Fettig, made a motion to recommend approval of the conditional use request with the four conditions outlined in the staff report, noting a change to condition no. 2 to read: “sign lighting being auto-dimmed between the hours of 10 pm and 5 am….” Roll: Steinbrecher – yes, Dokken-McFann – yes, Fettig – yes, Steidl – yes. Motion carried unanimously.
Zoning Administrator’s Report:
New Business: Scott Gilbertson and Bryan Bye of ALASD were present to discuss sewer line extensions. They presented a summary regarding ALASR authority as well as a map depicting the sewer district’s boundaries. They asked the township to identify areas for possible expansion. Township supervisors Eldevik and Oberg were in attendance and identified those areas. The next step will be for ALASR to conduct feasibility studies.
Old Business: Oleson stated he and Clerk Raisanen are working on a proposal for updating the comprehensive plan. The consensus of the town board was to have a draft ready for public hearing by July 2022.
Deputy Clerk Fulghum reported that at the last meeting, the planning commission had discussed changing their site visit from the Wednesday before the meeting to two weeks before the meeting. Consensus to change the site visit date to the Wednesday two weeks prior to the meeting date beginning in 2022.
Adjournment: Being no further business Dokken-McFann, seconded by Steidl, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted…
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2021
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Larry Steidl, Chairman