ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP
Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
Minutes of the meeting of September 22, 2025
A regular meeting/public hearing of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 22nd day of September, 2025 at the Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway and via teleconference.
Roll Call: Commission members present were Shad Steinbrecher, Larry Steidl, Linda Dokken-McFann, Jessica Fettig 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 Fettig, made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 28, 2025 meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Steidl recessed the meeting to open the public hearing on the interim Use request submitted by John Amundson. The property is located at 3100 W. Lake Jessie Drive SE.
Public Hearing: Mr. Amundson stated his intention is to operate a small private practice offering physical therapy services utilizing a detached shed on his property. He would see a few clients per day. Parking is available on the gravel drive or off to the side of the garage.
Zoning Administrator Oleson reported an IUP is required by ordinance for a home occupation. The ordinance regulates the use of detached buildings, the number of employees allowed, signage, etc. The applicant may offer personal training with therapy which would be conducted indoors only. He noted the home occupation would be in a residential area and on a big lot with separation from neighbors. The applicant is anticipating typically 30 – 60-minute sessions per client. He also noted there will be no bathroom facilities onsite. Clients would need to utilize bathroom facilities in the applicant’s private home if needed. The applicant is proposing signage on the exterior wall of the building.
Chairman Steidl opened the hearing to the public for comment.
Jim Rushford, 3414 W. Lake Jessie Dr SE, said he is not in favor of the business, in large part due to the increase in traffic. He commented on the number of people who walk along that road, kids on bikes, people walking their dogs, etc. He does not feel a business will be a good fit for their area and that it would devalue their homes. He also feels it could create an unwelcome precedent.
Brenda Maher, 3503 W. Lake Jessie Dr SE, said she is opposed to the business. She wants to keep the area family oriented. She emphasized that the area is zoned residential, not commercial. People came to the area to raise their families. A business just doesn’t belong.
Chairman Steidl closed the public hearing and reconvened the meeting.
Commissioner Dokken-McFann asked if the applicant was a licensed physical therapist. The applicant responded affirmatively. She asked how he obtains his clientele. He answered through past associations and word of mouth. She expressed concern about the business operating on a cash basis only, wondering if that could be perceived as discriminatory. The applicant said insurance has numerous regulations and rules that would need to be met that he feels would not be in the best interests of his clients. He is able to offer more services than insurance covers. She asked who he reports to in the medical realm. She also asked if he would keep files, etc. on his clients. The applicant said yes. One of her biggest concerns is the lack of restroom facilities in the building. She felt utilizing the bathroom in his private dwelling for his clients was not appropriate. She asked if the applicant would consider putting bathroom facilities in the building, to which he responded “no.” He said hand sanitizer and gloves would be utilized and areas would be wiped down.
Commissioner Fettig asked if his business would fall under a home care licensure through the Department of Health. The applicant stated home care falls under a different classification.
Commissioner Haar asked the applicant if he would concede to not having a sign. He said yes.
Chairman Steidl asked if changing the hours would help to slow traffic.
Fettig asked if the proposed signage were to be at the end of the driveway or on the building.
Haar, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to recommend approval of the Amundson IUP based on the findings of fact and with the 15 conditions outlined in the staff report, amendments to the conditions as follows:
Condition No. 1 to include the time period of 3 years;
Condition No. 5 to read: “no greater than 2 customer vehicles shall be on the property at any one time except in unusual circumstances;”
Condition No. 6 to read: “ the business shall be limited to a maximum of 6 individual client visits per day;”
Condition No. 7 to read: “the hours of operation for client appointments shall be limited to between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. No business operations involving clients shall occur on Sundays;”
Condition No. 10 to read: “no signage allowed;”
Condition No. 11 to read: “no new exterior lighting shall be installed for the business unless required by state or federal law. Any existing lighting on the detached structure shall be aimed downward and shielded to prevent light spillage onto adjacent properties;”
and Condition No. 13 to read: “no activities, including the use of amplified sound or music, shall be conducted in a manner that is audible at the property lines.”
Roll: Haar – yes, Steinbrecher – yes, Dokken-McFann – no, Fettig – no, Steidl – yes. Motion carried.
Chairman Steidl recessed the meeting to open the public hearing on the Preliminary Plat of Le Homme Dieu Heights First Addition submitted by Judy and Daniel Tetrick. The property is located at 2611 Le Homme Dieu Heights NE.
The applicants stated their intent is to split the property, thereby creating two lots. Their son will purchase Lot 1, which includes the existing house. The applicants plan on building a new home on Lot 2.
Zoning Administrator Oleson reported the proposed plat is classified as a residential subdivision and therefore must go through the public hearing process. The proposal is to split an approximate 1.40-acre parcel that contains one existing dwelling into two residential lots, one with the existing house and one for an undeveloped lot intended for a future single-family dwelling. The proposed plat meets the minimum lot sizes. All other requirements are met.
Chairman Steidl opened the public hearing to the public for comment. Hearing none, he reconvened the meeting.
Haar, seconded by Dokken-McFann, made a motion to recommend approval of the Preliminary Plat of Le Homme Dieu Heights First Addition based on the findings of fact outlined in the staff report and to include Condition Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6, omitting Condition Nos. 2 and 7. Roll: Haar – yes. Steinbrecher – yes. Dokken-McFann – yes. Fettig – yes. Steidl – yes. Motion carried unanimously.
Oleson requested discussion on open lofts and open stairways. Consensus to allow a full attic floor with access via an open stairway.
New Business: Oleson reported he had been in conversation with the Broken Arrow Association. He mentioned they were to have consolidated their docks by the end of this year. Consensus that the plan submitted by the association is not in keeping with the original discussion. Oleson to work with the association on the dock design.
Old Business: none
Zoning Administrator’s Report: none
Adjournment: Being no further business Haar, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m.
Respectfully submitted…
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2025
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Larry Steidl, Chairman