Posted: 2/5/03

Roads, planning keep Linwood board busy

Alice Pickering
Linwood Area Reporter

At the Linwood Town Board meeting, Jan. 28, a resident asked for an update on the ownership of property at the east end of 217th St,. There is a dispute about a small parcel that was to be deeded to the township to insure street access.

Supervisors directed Clerk Judy Hanna to research the documents related to this land before the next meeting.

Road matters

At the board meeting, Nov. 25, 1998, the board approved a simple lot split for developer Pat Collova, for his land at the east end of 217th Street, with the restrictions only one house be built on each lot and no further lot splits or development be allowed on the two properties.

Approval was contingent upon the right-of-way being deeded to the township. Bob McCormack asked if the transfer had been recorded. The new owner of the southern 30-acre parcel has proposed a 66-foot wide private road easement.

Up to now, no extensive development has been allowed on this land because road upgrades would be required to bring 217th up to standards. A developer would bear the cost of the upgrade. The road is a single lane, with wetland on either side.

As it is, it could not bear the heavy traffic which would occur if land is developed or numerous trips from multiple homes in a development.

The board voted to order two signs to mark the entrance to the lake access on South Linwood Drive, banning car and truck traffic down to the lake. Supervisor Mike Budde is to determine the size of the signs.

At the request of Supervisor Rudi McCurdy, the board also referred the parking ordinance to the planning and zoning commission for review at its meeting Feb. 11.

The board is seeking a parking ordinance revision which allows reasonable parking year round, but allows emergency vehicles to travel streets without obstruction.

The board directed Denny Brown to stop grading township roads because his contract expired at the end of 2002. Brown said he knew the contract was up but had been directed by road supervisor Marvin McCormick to continue with work.

Brown said he believed he was working under McCormickís authorization. He is to be paid for the work he has completed.

Planning matters

The board approved the Theodore Helgeson sketch plan, based on findings of fact the survey is correct, stakes are in the correct location, that Helgeson communicate with the Anoka Conservation district, and meet with parks commission about park dedication fee.

Supervisors also approved a variance request from David and Pam Olsen, 8050 Fawn Lake Drive, to build a pole building that will be closer to the road than their house. The precedent for the decision is similar variance requests have been granted because lakeshore homeowners do not have enough space between their homes and the lake.

Supervisors anticipate at least six hours of training for all employees and members of the fire department, in workshops for understanding a preventing workplace violence, sexual harassment, and drug and alcohol awareness.

Supervisor Marie Holm suggested coordinating a first part of the sexual harassment training to coincide with regular training sessions for firefighters to minimize extra training time.

Other business

In other business, the board:

ïDirected Town Attorney Randall to prepare a draft of a resolution about fire department being under board supervision. This is to be discussed later.

ïOn recommendation of planning and zoning, granted a request by Rubin Linz, 23609 Sunset Road, to split a five-acre parcel from his property with the findings of fact that this meets the ordinance metes and bounds requirements.

ïApproved a variance allowing McChesneys to temporarily move a mobile home to their lot, contingent on meeting all current codes, has the approval of building inspector Dave Thompson, and the trailer be removed from the lot when McChesneys move from their home.

ïDenied an Emmerich Development Corporation sketch plan because of insufficient information.

ïApproved a one-time vacation buy-out for town employees Ray Broadbent and Hanna for one month of vacation.

ïAccepted the building inspector Thompsonís comments about a complaint of a chicken coop on a lot on Orinoco Circle.

ïDirected Thompson to follow through on a complaint on West Fawn Lake Road.

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