Commission denies wind energy tower permit
The May Township Planning Commission recently denied a permit to construct a wind energy tower.
Two applications for conditional use permits were denied at the May Township Planning Commission meeting on Aug. 28. A third will be continued at next month’s meeting.
Earlier that evening planning commission members had the opportunity to view the site on which Thomas Hoffer, who resides at 13380 Lynch Rd. N., proposed to construct a Wind Energy Conversion System.
While Hoffer’s lot is short of the minimum lot size of 10 acres there are alternatives alleviating the need for a variance. Since Hoffer owns six adjacent acres, there could be a lot combination, a lot line adjustment, or the condition of keeping the adjacent lot under the same ownership and vacant. The town regulation states that wind towers are allowed up to a height of 100 feet. Hoffer’s proposed tower would have been 111 feet, and since there appears to be no hardship warranting variance approval, Hoffer’s permit and variances were denied.
Hoffer was encouraged to return to the September commission meeting when a public hearing will be held on the topic of towers. That would be the time for input that could make changes in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan and accommodate for the future.
Small business continued
Steve McGrane submitted an application for a conditional use permit to operate a small business on the property located on Lot 6 Block 1 of Keystone Pines where he is building a home and an accessory building. McGrane, Inc., is a lawn care and landscaping business.
Charles and Cynthia Jorgensen, 13660 Keystone Ave. N., who live across the street from the applicant, forwarded a letter stating their opposition to the additional noise, dust and exhaust that the proposed business might create.
“I know about landscape companies,” Craig Heininger, who lives right next to the proposed site at 13599 Keystone said, “and there are trucks and bobcats and I just don’t want the effects of that kind of small business next to me. Everyone wants a business to grow. If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”
McGrane emphasized that the trucks and equipment leave in the morning and won’t return until the end of the day. He currently plans to have no bins for storage, but would go to a nursery to pick up bulk materials as needed.
“I’m inclined to continue this,” said Commission chairman John Arnason.
The motion passed which will allow for reevaluation of neighbors’ concerns, time to check out the proposed site, and an opportunity to visit the McGrane business in White Bear Lake.
Brad Smith was denied a conditional use permit to operate a small business involving general contracting for construction and construction management on his property at 13877 Square Lake Tr. N.
Smith’s business has operated without a permit for a number of years. Due to neighborhood complaints, Smith was made aware that he needed the permit and needed to comply with town small business standards.
Arnason and a neighbor expressed concern with a pile of brush and construction materials that is currently on the site.
“I’m inclined to recommend denial based on the applicant’s need to clean up the stuff,” Arnason said.
Other business:
• The commission held a public hearing on the town’s comprehensive plan. The hearing focused on mining of aggregate and natural resources.
Planner John Glomski indicated that the Metropolitan Council is asking, specifically, that resources be identified and plans for their extraction be outlined.
Concerns were expressed about the accuracy of wetland inventories, the setbacks for mining, a program for controlling invasive species, and the careful placement of any subsequent mines reflecting its effect on rural residential development, shorelines and transportation.
By merging the maps of the shoreline district with the aggregate map, it may be possible to envision places where subsequent mining could least impact the community.
On the water resource map, the buffer zone of 1,000 feet was reported to be inconsistent. There appear to be inconsistencies between the county maps and those of the township, and the way the two of them calculate the setbacks differently.
“Gravel resources will run out,” said Laurie Allman of 16220 Norrell. “We need to be concerned with the ecological areas, ground water and other sensitive areas that will not run out and note that in the Comprehensive Plan.”
• The May Township Board will hold its next meeting on Sept. 4. At the next May Township Planning Commission meeting on Sept. 25, the public hearing will continue providing input for the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Land use will be discussed and will include topics of density, towers, small businesses and parks and trails. Both meetings begin at 7 p.m.
By Alana Blomberg
2 September 2008
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