Lakewood Comprehensive Plan Update
Steering Committee
Draft Meeting Summary
March 18, 2008
Members Present
Kevin Bovee |
Pete Weidman |
Phil Halverson |
Jesse Schomberg |
Inese Holte |
Jeff Denny |
Diane Larson |
Gwen Updegraff |
Angie Dickison Palmer |
Wendy Robertson |
Jerry Lipe |
Shannon Ostazeski |
Concerns From the Audience
There were three audience members in attendance.
Tim Hutchhausen presented his concerns regarding slope and soil conditions and sewage treatment. He was concerned about the continued ability to build sewage treatment systems in Lakewood. Committee members clarified that St. Louis County issues permits for sewage treatment systems. His concerns were later addressed by the Committee with the addition of wording clarifying St. Louis County requirements.
Quorum, Consensus Definition, and Concept Area 3, Decision By Town Board
As per the Town Board’s memo the following definition of quorum will be used:
“Those members that show up for a steering committee meeting constitute a quorum.”
The Town Board also addressed the definition of consensus used by the Committee as follows: “The board agreed that decisions reached by the steering committee should continue to be by consensus but defined as the following according to Webster’s Dictionary: “the judgment arrived at by most of those concerned.”
Further, the Steering Committee defined “most of those concerned” as follows: Seventy five percent (75%) of the quorum must be in agreement.
In regards to Concept Area 3, the Board voted to support the vast majority of the steering committee members to have the policies of the 1985 comprehensive plan continue.
Review and Approve minutes from February 19, 2008
The minutes from the Feb 19, 2008 meeting were reviewed and approved.
Concept Area 7/8
The following was approved by the Steering Committee
Vision
The Town has protected the fragile lands and environmentally sensitive areas in Concept Area 7/8, especially those that relate to the hydrological system of the Town. The 17 acre large lot size, careful stewardship, and sustainable management principles have maintained the land’s ecological integrity and function.
Goals:
Protect lands from potential side effects of development and maintain and enhance the quality and sustainability of natural resources and other natural features.
Protect and preserve the high quality of the Town's natural environment and scenic beauty.
Policies:
Encourage the conservation and preservation of unique or distinctive natural features and systems (e.g., lakes, land areas or other features of scientific, natural history or archeological significance) because of the irreplaceable character of such resources and their importance to the quality of life in Lakewood.
Permit future development in Lakewood only where existing soil and slope conditions are suitable for structures and on-site sewage disposal systems as reflected in Saint Louis County requirements.
Preserve wetlands, forested areas and drainage systems that provide wildlife habitat and those that are essential to protect the hydrological systems of the Town.
FEMA designated and other flood management areas shall not be developed [Committee requested more information on flood plain management]
Define ridgeline and manage ridgeline development in order to protect water quality and reduce erosion. Strongly consider viewsheds in all design decisions.
Coordinate interior development and new accesses so as to insure that public services can be provided in a fiscally responsible and timely manner.
Create open space and opportunities for recreation that is not detrimental to the natural environment through tools such as but not limited to the following: Conservation design that does not increase the density allowed by the zoning district; The purchase of development rights; Planned residential development; Scenic easements; and cooperative land owner agreements.
Continue the current zoning requirements for interior land parcels in keeping with the largely undeveloped character of the land thereby maintaining opportunities for forestry and open space.
Concept Area 7
The Committee agreed to the following vision for Concept Area 7:
There are small areas within the Town that continue to protect existing and potential agricultural areas, forestry, and open space. They also promote the rural character of the Township and discourage urban and suburban encroachment through their large lot width and relatively large lot size of nine acres.
Housing
The following vision was agreed to by the Committee:
New housing has occurred throughout the Township. All new housing promotes the community’s rural character and sustainable development practices.
Careful consideration has been given to site design that has resulted in the reduction of impervious surfaces and the preservation/conservation of open space and natural resources.
An affordable, well designed assisted living complex has been created for Lakewood’s citizens.
Further Discussion on Housing
The Committee agreed to a fifteen minutes discussion at the next meeting on multi-unit housing developments.
Program of Work and Next Meetings:
Sue will send out the completed Vision Chapter of the updated comp plan for review at the April 1 meeting.
Goals and policies will also be reviewed at the April 1 meeting.
All meetings start at 6:45 PM at the Town Hall.
|
Dates |
Work |
|
April 1, 2008 |
Review completed vision; Review goals and policies from 1985 Plan |
|
April 15, 2008 |
Review Draft Plan |
There will be an Open House after the Draft is completed, edited and ready to be presented as the proposed Plan. There will be a Public Hearing by the Town Board regarding its adoption.
Meeting Adjourned ---9:00 PM