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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, JUNE 11, 2009
Pursuant to due
call and notice thereof a meeting of the Planning Commission in
and for the City of Albany, Stearns County, Minnesota, was
called to order by Chairman John Harlander at 6:30 o’clock in
the evening on Thursday, June 11, 2009 in the Council Room at
400 Railroad Avenue for the said City.
Other Planning
Commission members present for the meeting were: Will Seiler,
Todd Horton, and Joseph Wedel. Joseph Gilk was absent.
Councilor John Greer, Planning Commission Liaison, was also
present for the meeting.
Chairman John
Harlander called for any additions or corrections to the minutes
of April 23, 2009 and hearing none declared the said minutes
approved.
Stan Hanson, City
Engineer, Ken Stalboerger, General Manager New Vision Alliance,
and Michael Mayer, Engineer, St. Cloud, MN, were present for the
meeting.
Mr. Stalboerger appeared before
the Commission on behalf of New Vision Alliance, 1121 Co. Rd.
10, Albany, to present a site plan consisting of a proposed
grain “flat” storage structure, grading plan, drainage plan, and
noted that a Wetland Replacement Plan application has been
submitted to the Stearns County Environmental Services
Department for review on June 23rd. Mr.
Stalboerger informed the Commission that wetland mitigation will
occur through the purchase of credits from an approved wetland
bank related to the aforesaid application to Stearns County.
Mr. Stalboerger noted that to maintain the economic viability
of the business, expanded facilities will be required to sustain
existing and provide future employment opportunities to retain
facility operations in one location. Mr. Hanson appeared before
the Commission to inform the Commission that he reviewed the
proposed grading and drainage plan and recommended that approval
be given contingent upon the approval by Stearns County for the
Wetland Replacement Plan and obtaining the permit from the MPCA
because land of equal to or greater than one (1) acre is being
disturbed. Mr. Hanson also noted that the grading and drainage
plan submitted is for complete build-out of their property for
future buildings and/or expansion needs. After due discussion,
a motion was made by Joseph Wedel and seconded by Will Seiler to
recommend to the Council to approve the grading and drainage
plan or site plan submitted by New Vision Alliance contingent
upon the following:
1)
Stearns County Environmental Services approval of Wetland
Replacement Plan.
2)
Property owner to obtain a permit from the MPCA to
discharge stormwater associated with construction activity being
land to be disturbed is equal to or greater than one (1) acre;
which copy to be forwarded to the City.
All voted for the motion and it
carried.
Mr. Greer informed the Commission
that the Stearns County Parks Department will be constructing a
gravel travel surface on the former Soo Line Railroad right of
way between City’s of New Munich and Elrosa in the summer of
2009 for the following activities: horseback riding, walking,
biking, and snowmobiling. Mr. Greer noted that the connection
of the “gravel” trail in Albany to the existing paved Lake
Wobegon Trail on the former Soo Line Railroad will be difficult
due to the bridge crossing Intestate 94; whereby other
connections are being considered. Chairman John Harland
directed the City Clerk/Administrator to contact the Stearns
County Parks Department to obtain more information relating to
the connection options being considered in Albany.
Mr. Schneider informed the
Commission that as per the State Demographer for the year 2008
the City’s estimated population is 2,221 and the household
estimate is 915.
Mr. Schneider noted that on June
3rd, the Council approved a resolution for joint
orderly annexation for four (4+/-) acres for the purpose of the
construction of two
buildings consisting of nearly 20,000 square feet for a retail
fleet supply business, which includes hardware, farm supplies,
greenhouse, metal fabrication, service and repair. Mr.
Schneider noted that the developer is John and LuAnn Peternell,
Albany;
whereby a grading and drainage plan will be submitted to the
Commission within the next two weeks for review and
consideration. Mr. Schneider also noted that the property will
be zoned C2 (Highway Commercial) upon annexation and noted that
Albany
Township
will consider approval of the orderly annexation request at
their June 9th or June 22nd meeting.
Mr.
Schneider noted that the proposed amendment to add regulations
to Section 41.07:
LANDSCAPING IN THE PUBLIC
RIGHT OF WAY was not
acted upon by the Council as recommended by the Commission.
Mr. Schneider noted that the Council did not want to regulate
flowers, trees, shrubs, and other plants within the right of way
and had reviewed the proposed amendment several times without
taking any final action. Mr. Schneider noted that several
street reconstruction improvements have been implemented within
the City over the past few years and landscaping items in the
right of way have been minimal, but permanent items such as
retaining wall block, steps, and landscape rocks have been a
problem. Mr. Schneider informed the Commission that the
consensus of the Council is that the property owner shall be
liable for removal costs and for any damage or destruction of
landscaping plants and materials, including irrigation systems,
which are placed in the public right of way, whether the damage
is caused by excavation, snow removal or any other activity
conducted or permitted by the City or its agents.
The Commission took notice of
information prepared by Geronimo Wind Energy, a developer
headquartered in Minneapolis, for a proposed wind farm which
boundaries are nearly 5,000 acres north of the City consisting
of 19 to 30 wind turbines. Mr. Schneider noted that depending on
the specific location of the wind turbines, they may become a
problem in the future for the City if the City limits continue
to expand in a northerly direction. Chairman John Harlander,
with the consensus of the Commission, directed Mr. Schneider to
contact Geronimo for additional information on the proposal.
Chairman John Harlander adjourned
the meeting at 7:30 PM.
Tom Schneider,
Clerk/Adm.
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