Posted: 10/6/04

Comp plan wins town board backing

Pat Tepoorten
Wyoming Township Reporter

The four-year process of updating the aged comprehensive plan for Wyoming Township culminated Tuesday, Sept. 28 with the adoption of the document by the town board.Ý

The new comprehensive plan is designed to give the township much greaterÝdirection for future development of all kinds. ItÝisÝconsidered a guideline and will be used to create zoningÝordinances based on the plan andÝpertaining to development.

According to Zoning Administrator Fred Weck IV, the updated plan is roughly 80 pages in length and is much more complete than the previous 12 page document. Having it completed is not only something the township needs to control future growth, it is also something that can be used in a civil lawsuit against Chisago City regarding annexation.

The plan was put together by Weck in conjunction with the University of Minnesota, but used community input to a large degree to help fashion the future of township growth. Community issues the document hopes to address are ìdevelopment that will build more places to live and work while conserving the quality of life,î ìprotecting surface water and ground water from pollution,î as well as preserving open spaces and protecting transportation corridors.

Overall, the plan hopes to address the expected growth while at the same time preserving the natural beauty and improving the natural resources of the area.

Prior to the planísÝapproval, the board again reviewed suggested language changes from various state agencies like the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Natural Resources, as well as suggestedÝlanguagesÝchanges from Chisago County. Changes thatÝwere made were intended toÝstreamline the document and make it compatible with state and county law.
Weck read through the suggested changes and Supervisor Scott Walberg inquired as to everyoneís comfort level with the document. He said he had received many callsÝregarding the comprehensive plan and added there was a wide range of opinion.

Township Chairman Larry Parker noted, ìYou canít please 100 percent of the people 100 percent of the time,î and added the plan was designed to be flexible with an eye towards change in the future, as growth or philosophy dictates. ìIt is something we need to build ordinances on,î he concluded.

Completing ordinances based on the plan is the next step in the process and is something the town board is anxious to do. Parker said it would be in the best interests of the township to have the ordinances in place before any new construction projects are brought before the planning commission.

To that end, theÝboard scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday, Nov. 3 to hear testimony on proposed ordinances. That places some pressure on the township to have ordinances readyÝfor comment in a timely manner.

Parker took a moment after the planís passage to thank the many people who worked so diligently over the last few years putting the plan together. Weck, who was instrumental in putting the plan together, notedÝin an interview,ÝìI was very happy when it was done.î

Road projects

In other township news, Bruce Kimmel of Springsted Inc., was on hand to go over the details of the $200,000 bond issue the township is considering to fund various blacktopping projects within the township. Those streets include 245th St., Jocelyn Ave., Jocelyn Ct., and 286th St.

According to Kimmel, the bond issues would be of a 10-year duration and the township should incur ìlevel debt service over the 10 years.î The township will make two payments on the debt each year, including an interest payment in August and a payment on the principal the following February. Kimmel assured the board there should be no need to levy at any time during the 10-year debt service period.

The board gave Kimmel permission to solicit bids from local and regional banks for the bond issue and noted the township had the option of a fixed interest rate but added that either way, the township would be looking at an average interest rate of around 3.75 percent over the life of the bonds.

The big question for the board was over how assessments are paid. If assessments are to be paid yearly over the course of the life of the bonds, plans to borrow the full $200,000 could proceed as planned. However, if the board feels that many of the assessments would be paid in a lump sum right away, it would be possible to borrow less.

Township Clerk Norma Olson noted ìwe generally get a lot of pre-pay,î but added that it can be unpredictable.

Kimmel is scheduled to return to the board at a special meeting on Nov. 17. At that time the board will have a public hearing for the proposed assessments.

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