Lakewood Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
at 7:00 p.m. Lakewood Town Hall
Call to order: Commission Chair Al Eastman called the Lakewood Planning and Zoning Commission to order at 7:15.
Present: Chris Roningen, Chuck Campbell, Bob Wolfe, Ann Cutts, Dan McCorison, Dick Bodine, Chair Eastman, Zoning Administrator Brennan Mears and Recorder Shannon Ostazeski.
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America was recited by all present.
Review of Agenda: There was nothing added or changed about the published agenda.
Review of Minutes: Minutes of January 31, 2006 Commission Meeting
Motion by Campbell to approve the minutes. Second by Cutts Motion carries.
Representative to March 1, 2006 Town Board Meeting will be Al Eastman.
Zoning: Administrator Report: Brennan Mears
Two permits:
1. Steve Kaski
2. Merrill Stodohill
Mears: Makes a recommendation for change of cost for Variance and Conditional Use Permits, as well as appeals. Suggests it be changed from $375 to $400. St. Louis County costs are a little higher or the same. Every meeting puts us in the red.
Unfinished Business:
Town Board Meeting Report:
Wolfe: The fee for appeal process was brought up. The Board was ope] to it. They were not receptive of restricting who could appeal; they all felt should not b restricted. They said to be careful about it being too expensive. Also discussed the zoning change request and also where to go with this LIU zone.
Telecommunications Sub-Committee:
Bodine: I think we are there. As far as amateur radio is concerned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules say use the least regulation necessary to meet the goals of the township. 100 feet is what we decided on. Committee limited heights of windmills to 100 feet also. The blades determine that.
Roningen: What is magical about 100 feet?
Wolfe: In our old zoning ordinance we had a limit of 100 feet for towers. This
was based on public hearings. The birders were concerned with 100 feet.
Bodine: Based on FCC regulations if the applicant applied for a variance you would be forcing the applicant to pay for something that is allowed already. You would have to grant the variance for the tower.
Eastman: They are permitted in almost every zone under 100 feet without lights. I'd rather have the zoning so that people abide instead of cheating. So there is no change from the ordinance.
Campbell: Limiting the height was one of the main things people were concerned
with, not only the light.
Bodine: The FCC says you cannot use appearance as a reason for not allowing towers.
Wolfe: This package makes sense it is solid.
Motion by Campbell to wait until next meeting to discuss whether or not to recommend this to the Town Board. Second by Cutts. All in favor. Motion passes.
Zoning Language Clarification and Development of Recommendations:
Eastman: Look at any recommendations anyone wants to make.
Diane Larson: (In audience) Were there any problems with the zoning review
draft? After the board ratifies it it will be placed on the Township website
(www .lakewoodmn. com).
Eastman: Does not see a problem with it.
Mears: Wants it on the web so people can do their own research before they call him.
Review of LIU-lO zone Retail Sales and moratorium deadline:
Wolfe: The moratorium deadline is coming up.
Eastman: The Town Board can make the decision on whether or not to extend the moratorium.
Wolfe: What separates it from commercial? What separates the two zones? Mears: We say LIU is light Industrial. In the county it is Limited Industrial Use, which has commercial within it.
Campbell: Change the zoning to reflect what is actually going on.
Roningen: We need to talk with the landowners in those LIU zones.
Eastman: Diamond Willow did do what was recommended to the Town Board. They could also do the zoning map change and the Town Board could still turn down.
Campbell: We should be proactive instead of reacting.
Eastman: I can only think of one time where they rezoned and got all those signatures.
Let's not keep taking away whom these land owners can sell to and give them something else to do there. Something is going to be done with that land regardless.
Wolfe: Regardless of how we approach this we are still being asked to address what is retail. The Town Board is asking us to define what it means.
Roningen: We already allowed retail. It is mute. Campbell: Just because we allowed it once does not mean we have to allow it again.
Eastman: I will explain to the Town Board that we discussed it and we are not going to come to an agreement and there is no problem with letting the moratorium expire.
Review of Proposed Zoning Ordinance text change:
Eastman: Tomorrow the Town Board will not all be there. I want to recommend to the Town Board of Supervisors that they recess making a decision on this until they have all three members of the board.
Motion by Roningen to recommend at the Town Board meeting that the supervisors postpone making a decision until all three members are present. Second by Bodine.
Wolfe: Just let it go, this is over stepping.
Opposed wins Motion fails.
Public Comment:
Mr. Grey: Upset over the increasing costs within the Township.
Other:
Annual Town Elections, Tuesday, March 14-Polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Annual Town Meeting, Tuesday, March 14 at 8:15 p.m.
Annual Reorganization Meeting. Wednesday, March 29,2006 at 7:00 p.m.
Announcements:
Wolfe: Fire Department intends to have open house.
Next Monthly Meeting: Tuesday March 28,2006; 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall.
Motion to adjourn made by Wolfe. Seconded by Bodine. Meeting Adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Shannon Ostazeski