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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 10, 1981 o o o Call to order Approval of Minutes 1. o 0 ~ 01 ANDOVER REGULAR PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 10, 1981 7:30 P.M. Discussion w/DNR re Pine Trees Proposed Mobile Home Park/Ham Lake 3. 2. Comm. #1-81-1 Test WellS/New Plats Comprehensive Plan & Ordinance Compatability o .' o o 0 ~ 01 ANDOVER o o REGULAR PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 10, 1981 Minutes The regularly scheduled Andover Planning and Zoning Commission meeting was called to order by Chairperson d'Arcy Bosell at 7:33 p.m., Tuesday, February 10, 1981 at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard N.W., Anoka, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Apel, Kishel, Scherer, Anstett, Johnson, Lobb Also Present: City Engineer, Larry Winner; Paul Peterson, Department of Natural Resources; Bob Palmer, Andover Fire Chief; Dave Almgren, Andover Building Inspector Approval of Minutes January 13, 1981 MOTION by Lobb, seconded by Apel to approve the minutes of January 13, 1981 as written. Motion carried unanimously. Discussion With DNR Paul Peterson, DNR Forestry Division - stated that he is responsible for wildfire protection in Anoka County. This problem is accelerating quite fast and they are trying to make the homes in pine tree plant~ionssafer. Andover is the first city he has contacted so far in Anoka County. Mr. Peterson then showed slides showing various pine tree plantations in the county and some slides of fires that occurred in them. It was suggested that the trees within 75-100 feet of a house be cut down and the remaining trees be pruned 10 to 12 feet up. Mr. Peterson noted that Isanti County has adopted an ordinance dealing with pine plantations. According to their ordinance, when a new development is being planned, the forester makes recommendations for that particular development that must be complied with before anyone can move into a home. Mr. Peterson stated that he met with the Anoka County Fire Protection Council and it was decided that rather then have a county-wide ordinance, they would have the individual cities adopt their own ordinances. Chairperson Bosell asked if there were any statistics showing if any homes had been saved from fires because of the ordinance. Mr. Peterson stated that in the areas where the cutting and pruning was done there haven't been any crown fires. Chairperson Bosell asked what kind of response the DNR has received from the Fire Protection Council and if this will be more successful on a local basis rather than county-wide. Mr. Peterson noted that the Fire Protection Council has supported it and it's hard to say locally how the response will be as Andover is the first community that has been contacted. He further noted that if we don't get much more snow this winter, we're going to have a very dry spring. Discussion centered on pruning trees and the spacing of the trees that would remain. Mr. Peterson noted that with pines you can prune 2/3 of the tree and not hurt it. Most of the branches that would be cut off would already be dead. Commissioner Oes, as they Commissioner Lobb asked what type of guidelines we could use for the spacing of the trees. Mr. Peterson stated that there are some basic rules of thumb, depending on the size of the trees. In Isanti County the forester makes the recommendations and they must be complied with. Anstett asked if the DNR is only concerned with pine trees. are the most volatile fuel. Mr. Peterson stated ]?lanning February Page 2 and ZOnin?-~ommiSsi~~)Meeting 10, 1981 ~1inute~ (~ o Commissioner Johnson asked if there are any other ordinances besides the Isanti County one ~available. Mr. Peterson was not aware of any others. o Bob Palmer, Fire Chief - stated that after the fires they have had in the past he would like to see an ordinance adopted. He noted that he would not send men and equipment into a fire in a pine tree plantation. Chairperson Bose11 asked if the State Building Code contains anything about pine trees. Dave Almgren, Building Inspector - stated there is nothing in either the State Building Code or the State Fire Code regulating the cutting and pruning of pine trees. He felt that the city should do what the DNR is suggesting. He also felt that new plats with pine trees should go to the DNR for their comments and recommendations. Commissioner Lobb noted that we should adopt something ironclad that the people will accept and not argue about. He asked Mr. Peterson if the Isanti County ordinance had been tested in court. Mr. Peterson didn't think it had. Chairperson Bosell felt that we should table this item until after we have seen Isanti County's ordinance and after this subject has been presented to other surrounding communities. Dave Almgren - stated that when a new plat comes in we should have a stipulation where the owner has to have a clear cut area for a home. He also felt that before a building permit is issued, the property should be staked out showing where the house will go and the pine trees hfivc been cut and pruned. --tL.- Discussion centered on alternate escape routes from a pine plantation, such as having two driveways. Several of the commissioners felt that requiring two driveways would be a little costly. It was mentioned that they don't have to be standard driveways, but could be grass covered, just so there is an alternate way of getting out. The Recording Clerk will mail the minutes of this meeting to Mr. Peterson noting the items of concern to our city so the other communities know what our concerns are. Commissioner Lobb asked if the State Fire Marshal has anything to say about this problem. Mr. Peterson stated that they haven't said anything because the problem hasn't come up as yet. Chairperson Bosel1 thanked Mr. Peterson for attending the meeting. (Recess 8:38 - Reconvene 8:49) Mobile Home Court/Ham Lake Chairperson Bosell explained that the city had received an Environmental Worksheet Assessment covering the construction of a proposed 316 unit mobile home park in the city of Ham Lake for our review and comments. Commissioner Lobb stated that he would be concerned with what this mobile home park will do to the water supply in Andover. Commissioner Kishel stated that we are in the Jordan Aquifer and therefore should not have any problems. ,~ '--Commissioner Anstett asked if Ham Lake could add water to a ditch that goes through Andover. City Engineer Winner stated that the Watershed Board would control that problem. Planning and Zonin~~mmiss~Meeting February 10, 1981 - Minutes Page 3 u o r-_phairperson Bosell noted that one of her main concerns would be the waste generated and '-.,.lhere it would be dumped. City Engineer Winner felt that the mobile home park would create a great deal of traffic that would be going through Andover. MOTION by Anstett, seconded by Scherer that the Andover Planning and Zoning Commission has reviewed the proposed mobile home court in Ham Lake and has expressed concern over the waste disposal and traffic that would be generated by such a court and recommend that the Road Improvement Committee review the plan. AE.. ~ J &~ L.b "t; ua..J. Motion carried unanimously. Test Wells/New Plats Chairperson Bosell explained that this item had been sent to'the Commission by, the City Council as a result of a meeting with the Hazardous Waste Committee~ The Hazardous Waste Committee felt that test wells should be required as a result of the contaminated wells in the landfill area. City Engineer Winner stated that he drafted an ordinance that contains his thoughts on what an ordinance might say regarding test wells. He felt that no technical data should be included in such an ordinance. Commissioner Scherer felt it was ridiculous to require all new plats to sink test wells just because of one small area where the water is contaminated. Chairperson Bosell noted that the city has received a memo from the county stating that any new developments surrounding the landfill should have adequate documentation that the private wells would be a potable water supply. DiScussion was on the cost of sinking test wells. It was generally felt that it would be too costly to sink several wells on a new plat. Commissioner Scherer felt that a more appropriate action would be to require more than the present standards for the water potable test. MOTION by Anstett, seconded by Scherer that our existing procedures in platting consider the health and safety of the community and the Commission invites the Hazardous Waste Committee to comment further about their concerns. Motion carried unanimously. A copy of this motion will be forwarded to the City Council for their information. Comprehensive Plan and Ordinance Compatability Chairperson Bosell explained that when this was put on the agenda she wasn't sure what the Commission should do. After the meeting February 9th with the City Council and the repre- sentatives from the Metropolitan Council, she felt that we should wait until our Comprehensive Plan is approved before proceeding with this item. Commissioner Kishel noted that the firm that will be rewriting the ordinances would take /-~are of the necessary language for the ordinance compatability. \ \,j Planning and zonin(')muss8 Meeting February 10, 1981 - Minutes Page 4 () o ,'.Chairperson Bosell felt that we will probably have to rebid for someone to rewrite our ~;~rdinances because the bids we now have are so old. MOTION by Lobb, seconded by Scherer to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 9:20 P.M. Respectfully submitted, LkLJ Vicki Volk Recording Clerk -'\ '- .