LAKEWOOD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
STEERING COMMITTEE
DRAFT MEETING SUMMARY
June 19, 2007
Members Present
Chris Roningen Bob Shaw
Jeff Denny Bill Wilson
Shannon Ostazeski Kilian Ottman
Phil Halverson Dave Beran
Kevin Bovee Brian Hayden
Mark Pearson Wendy Robertson
Inese Holte Diane Larson
Jerry Lipe Angie Palmer
Pete Weidman
Opening Remarks
Dave reviewed the ground rules and there are no problems.
Review/approve 5/15/07 Meeting Summary
Summary was approved as written.
Concerns from the Audience
No residents attended the meeting.
Agree on Sensitive Areas from May 15th
Clint reviewed the sensitive areas and presented information on fragmentation of interior parcels as requested in the May 15th meeting. Clint illustrated how stream buffers would look like on the ground at various setbacks. Discussion of these topics brought up a variety of issues about buffers that were mainly zoning issues not Comp. Plan issues. It was stressed that the Comp. Plan sets the general, broad direction for the Township and that zoning will be covered in a separate grant following the Comp. Plan approval. It was decided to do the following:
- Do not show any specific buffers around streams. DNR already has guidelines and this is primarily a zoning issue. Go with the general statement of “protect rives and streams” that was decided at the May 15th meeting.
- Drop any discussion of fragmentation of interior land as a sensitive area. The discussion centered around parcel vs forest fragmentation for wildlife and it was not clear how to deal with this plus Clint would have to spend 40 + hours to get information. This issue relates more to extent of development and will be discussed as part of the vision.
Vision Statement
The Committee critiqued the draft vision statement on rural character that was sent out after the June 5th meeting. Discussion points were:
- The term “self-sustaining” should be changed to indicate that the Township is not totally independent of Duluth but maintains its own identity and form of township government.
- Respecting private property rights so people could do what they wanted on their property. Some thought that the issue of respecting private property rights was a given no matter where you lived, but that didn’t mean you were exempt from zoning or other community goals. Yet experiencing some independence and freedom is a part of the rural character. It was agreed not to use private property rights, but wording to the effect that allows freedom to pursue individual goals in the context of community goals.
- Re-write the second paragraph taking out the term “flexible”; clarifying the intent of the second sentence with the concept of not impacting others when pursuing individual goals; and replacing “4th of July parade” with celebrations.
Dave will re-draft the rural character vision statement with the above in mind.
The Committee moved on to discuss the vision section on “Water, Forests and Open Space” and agreed to use wording to the effect that the Comp. Plan should encourage land acquisition and/or conservation easements to protect important resource values. The Moose Mountain Scientific and Natural area should be maintained as part of the vision along with the 400+ acres of public tax-forfeit land.
There was not enough time to discuss any of the other vision sections. The Committee agreed to have Dave draft vision statements for “Recreational Opportunities”, “Community”; “Transportation”; and, “Ordinances” since there is general agreement on these areas. The sections on “Economic/livelihoods” and “Development” are where most of the divergent views are expressed so the Committee will focus it’s discussions on those areas in future meetings.
Assignment for Next Meeting
Due to busy summer schedules, the Committee decided not to meet in July and August. There next meeting will be September 4th and they will resume their 1st and 3rd meeting schedule for the remainder of the year, if necessary.
Dave will draft the first version of the Comprehensive Plan Update covering the work the Committee has accomplished to date and send out for review in July and August. When the Committee meets on September 4th discussion will focus on:
- Review of the first draft of the Comp. Plan
- Preparing the vision statement on “Economic/livelihoods” and “Development” sections.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:00 PM