ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of November 30, 2016
A regular meeting/public hearing of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 30th day of November, 2016 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway.
Roll Call: Commission members present were Shad Steinbrecher, Larry Steidl, Bill Dropik, Jr., Mary Hacker and Linda Dokken-McFann. 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 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: Hacker, seconded by Dokken-McFann, made a motion to approve the agenda as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes: Dokken-McFann, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 7/27/2016 meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Steidl recessed the meeting to open the public hearing on the preliminary plat of Dailey’s Country Pass submitted by Laurence and Dawn Dailey.
Public Hearing: The Daileys were represented by Mark Jahner of Stoeckel-Jahner Surveying. Mr. Jahner explained that his clients are proposing a three-lot plat, with the middle lot housing the existing building site. He stated that three items have arisen for discussion since the preliminary plat was submitted. First, the title work has been done and shows a gas line easement running through Lots 2 and 3 (this will be depicted on the final plat). He noted that the easement shouldn’t affect the building area on Lot 3. Secondly, his clients are aware of the restrictions Jerry Haggenmiller of the Soil and Water Conservation District placed on the wetland on Lot 1 (constructing a driveway without filling more than 2,000 square feet of wetland). Mr. Jahner indicated that there are two main locations for building that would accommodate the wetland area. He said the west side is perhaps the most logical way to not exceed the 2,000 square foot limitation.
Commissioner Dropik joined the meeting.
The last item consists of access spacing for driveways. Dave Robley, Douglas County Engineer, stated that the access spacing on a county road is 660 feet. Engineer Robley indicated that the county has no problem with the spacing; however, the final decision is up to the township. Mr. Jahner noted that there are some nearby driveways to the west and the northeast that do not meet the spacing guideline. Another option would be a shared access driveway; however, this is the least favorable route for his clients. He explained that a shared driveway is utilized primarily if the lot line runs down the middle of the driveway, for example. In this case, the lot line being proposed is 150 feet from the existing driveway. His client suggested limiting the access to the west side, which would have the least impact on the wetland and would leave about 450 feet to the closest access to the east.
Chairman Steidl asked if there could be any future development because of the road width, particularly on the west side. Mr. Jahner indicated that it would be unlikely due to the limitations of the access and wetlands.
Zoning Administrator Oleson presented aerial photos of the property, indicating the existing and proposed driveways. He clarified that the county has spacing “guidelines” as opposed to spacing “requirements”. One of the guidelines references an eighth of a mile spacing between driveways and is based upon road traffic and the type of development in the surrounding area. He reiterated that the restrictions by Douglas County Soil and Water limit the applicants to fill up to 2,000 square feet of wetlands but not over it. He also mentioned the township had received one written public comment expressing opposition to filling in any portion of wetlands. The driveway access for Lot 3 is to be off the township road (as opposed to County 81). The Daileys indicated that this driveway has already been established off E. Lake Victoria Road. He said that each lot will meet the minimum requirements. Oleson expressed minimal concern for finding adequate sewer sites for each lot due to the size of the lots.
Commissioner Hacker asked if the public comment was from a neighboring property. Oleson replied it was not.
Chairman Steidl opened the hearing to the public for comment. Hearing none, he closed the public hearing at 6:15 p.m. and resumed the meeting.
Commissioner Hacker recapped that the property was being divided into three lots with a driveway to be provided off of the county road and the third lot would have a driveway off of East Lake Victoria Road. Oleson stated that the application is to just divide the property at this point in time.
Hacker, seconded by Dokken-McFann, made a motion to recommend approval of the preliminary plat of Dailey’s Country Pass with the staff recommendation listed in the staff report, keeping the driveway to the western side of Lot 1, said driveway to be located no greater than 50 feet from the west lot line. Roll: Dropik, Hacker, Dokken-McFann, Steinbrecher, Steidl – yes. Opposed: none
Zoning Administrator’s Report: none
New Business: none
Old Business: none
Adjournment: Being no further business Dropik, seconded by Dokken-McFann, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted…
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2016
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Larry Steidl, Chairman