Lakewood Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
Lakewood Town Hall
Call to order: Commission Chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission, Bob Wolfe called the monthly meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Chair Wolfe, Inese Holte, Dick Bodine, Ann Cutts, Angie Dickison Palmer, Zoning Administrator Brennan Mears, Clerk Gene Bromenshenkel, Recorder David Gerhart, and public (see attached registrar).
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America was recited by all present.
Minutes of Previous Meetings: April 24, 2007 Planning and Zoning Meeting. One correction: Phil Halverson, not Mears, was requested to make a verification form. Motion by Bodine for the minutes to be approved with the change suggested by the Commission. Second by Cutts. Minutes approved.
Select Representative to June 6, 2007 Board of Supervisors Meeting: Inese Holte
Zoning Administrator’s report: Mears
15 permits were issued during May
The Petitions Affidavit Form (Sworn Affidavit of Verification for Petition) was accepted by the Commission. Persons submitting this form must swear under oath to the validity of the signatures, and the form must be notarized by the Clerk.
The following properties/individuals were mentioned as ongoing issues:
McDonnell Rd. – issue with setbacks and building permit
McPherson on Jean Duluth Rd. grandfathered in.
PlumRite storage facility issue resolved.
Gary Hansen property – issue with trucks bringing fill at all hours. Since he’s being paid to take fill, this is a commercial venture and MPCA noise guidelines may apply. Mears opposes changing ordinance to include filling.
Amish Furniture Haus – Light deflectors are up. Attorney is involved with screening issues.
Issue with dump trucks on Radtke Road.
Issue with junk cars on Washburn Road. Mears will meet with owner.
Progress being made on Martinson property on Riley Rd.
New driveway on Medin Rd. for Traumatic Brain Injury adult foster care facility. Two facilities will exist side by side. These are allowed. Number of clients is limited. State statutes override local.
Unfinished Business
Public Hearing: Town Board wants to schedule hearing for changes in appeal process. Also ready are changes for retail use in LIU zone and other zoning ordinance text changes.
Clerk Bromenshenkel requested 45 days advance notice for hearing to give town employees time to do all required postings. Residents normally receive the Town Crier about the 20th of the month. It was suggested to use a PowerPoint presentation at the hearing.
July 24th at 7:00 PM was set as the date for the hearing. The Town Crier will include a summary of the proposed changes.
Steering Committee CLUP Report: Kilian Ottman. The text of a vision statement is being prepared with a 20-year time horizon. The Center for Rural Planning is giving guidance for dealing with wetlands issues. Discussion followed on how the township relates to other governmental units such as the DNR. Mears suggested that the Steering Committee always have a representative present at the P&Z Commission meetings.
Clerk Bromenshenkel suggested that the township have an information packet or at least a checklist available for citizens inquiring about zoning issues. A packet for wetlands issues is already available from the Soil and Water Conservation District.
Cell Tower Ordinance Changes
On page 4, the wording of items H, J, and L were discussed.
On page 5, the issue of guy wires vs. latticed towers was discussed with particular reference to amateur radio operators and the possibility of falling or failing towers. Bodine felt that we should not impose a free-standing tower on residents. Tower set backs from road were determined to be the tower height plus 35 feet.
On page 6, wording for wind generating towers was discussed.
The changes to the cell tower ordinance proposed by Phil Halverson were tabled until he is present at a P&Z meeting.
Publications/Journal Subscriptions: Bodine made a motion to renew the subscription to the Planning Commissioner’s Journal for 3 copies for $70/year. Second by Holte. Passed. Requires Town Board approval.
New Business
There is a vacant seat on the P&Z Commission because Halverson was elected Supervisor. The Chairman of the Board of Supervisors must appoint this individual and will be notified of this need.
Motion by Palmer to adjourn. Second by Cutts. Meeting adjourned at 9:05 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
David Gerhart