Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

Although not an official public hearing, the Wyoming EDA meeting Monday provided a forum to voice opinions about Roosters, a proposed indoor motocross facility slated to be built west of I-35 on newly annexed land.

EDA members attended; Dave Boniface, Paul Raduenz and Norm Riedeman were on hand along with Mayor Sheldon Anderson and Councilmembers Tom LaBarre, Ted Phillips and Blake Tiedeman and County Commissioner Ben Montzka.

Boniface, the chair, said the EDA is an appointed body whose function is to promote business in the community. After an individual or group presents a business proposal to the EDA, it must also do the same before the planning commission.

Citing statistics about source of taxes, Boniface said only about 5 percent of the tax revenue in Chisago County comes from commercial property, but the average in the metro area is about 18 percent. He estimated it would take 43 new homes to provide the tax revenue Roosters would provide to the community, at $120,000 annually. Boniface asked residents what they would want on the site if it was not the motocross venture. He said the EDA has done its homework.

Tom Ryan, mayor of Blaine, suggested the group check comprehensive plans. He has opposed some development like this. He said similar operations in his community have been closed.

Attorney Travis Stottler suggested allowing Roosters representatives to explain their plan then allow questions in an orderly fashion. Most of the 100 people in the audience were cooperative.

The plan

Partners Mike and Rob Murphy and Donnie Vincent explained their business as being a recreational, teaching and training facility for motocross bikes. The planned building size is 392 feet by 300 feet (117,600 square feet).

They view the tall building, about 40 feet high, as a buffer between homes and the freeway. Berms and landscaping requirements would be written into the development agreement.

Some competitive events are planned, but participation is mostly a membership plan. They anticipate off-peak months in summer, with 20 or 30 riders during morning and afternoon sessions, with week-ends having 50 riders during each morning and afternoon session. In winter the average may be slightly higher. All the riding would be inside the facility.

The group has done sound studies and planned sound barrier insulation of about 50, when standard insulation provides a barrier of about 32. Comparing noise to I-35, the sound the business would contribute would be trivial, they said.

Traffic concerns

Many living nearby were opposed because of the anticipated increase in traffic.

City Engineer Lee Elfering said homes generate on average 10 trips a day. Traffic with this facility would be much less than that, he said. Participants tend to ride with parents and a buddy, so equipment for several would be carried on a trailer or in the bed of a pick-up.

The owners said they want to please the city with their proposal. Vincent spoke of the memberships for those training or riding. Personally he would have zero tolerance for any alcohol or drugs use on the site, forfeiting the privilege of using the facility. They specifically chose Wyoming and want to locate their business here.

Public hearings are usually in conjunction with the proposal. History of this business plan is that the matter came to the planning commission where a public hearing was held and closed. Planning tabled a recommendation to the city council because some of the paperwork was incomplete. As of Monday, this had been delivered to city offices.

Sore spots

Roosters is a business within the city, but many objections are coming from Wyoming Township residents, who were not informed about the recently annexed land. Some were reacting to heavy equipment preparing development sites west of Kettle River Blvd. believing the work has already begun on Roosters.

One difficulty is the difference in notification requirements in the city and the township. City ordinances require notification of property owners within 500 feet of a parcel of annexation or rezone. Township requirement is notification within one-fourth of a mile.

Another sore spot is that many, though not all, objecting to the project are township residents living adjacent to the site, which has just been annexed into the city. Any discussions occurring are taking place at EDA and planning meetings.

Typically the planning commission and EDA meet only once a month. A delay for lack of completed paperwork, or need for more information, can delay project start dates. Special meetings can be scheduled to address issues.

There were questions about rezoning. Boniface explained that any land annexed to the city is zoned residential. Changes are made in the zoning, when needed, after annexation.

Many spoke in favor of the facility, outside the metro area, but relatively close to home. Some were from the local area, but others were not.

Some felt the changes were coming rapidly, with not much discussion at council meetings and because many are township residents they were not getting information from the township or the city.

For some local residents, they were concerned about extra traffic on Kettle River Blvd. to the location. They were not convinced the traffic would not be heavier with homes.

Dan Novak proposed part of the plan be a bikeway for Kettle River. Verna Sonmon, a resident for 32 years, is upset about the increased traffic in what she believes is a residential area.

Anderson had Police Chief Tony Pangal pull records from the city portion of the road. There have been three accidents since 2001. The number of speeding tickets issued has increased, from 16 (2003), to 24 (2004), and to 70 so far in 2005. The tickets issued in the city do not reflect the increased speed outside the city limits. Several requested a speed study for Kettle River south of the city limits.

Comments about the condition of Kettle River were referred to Montzka because it is a county road. Taxes collected in the city are not necessarily going to be used to improve that road.

Before any decision is made, many wanted an official public hearing again at planning, before that committee makes its recommendation to the council. A public hearing would also be required at the council meeting before a final vote.

Dwane Jaep, a Wyoming Township resident who lives farther south on Kettle River has concerns about the pattern of notification to residents, especially township residents. There has been no discussion at township meetings about this, he said.

Directing comments to council members ìat what point do you have enough input from the communityî before it influences city decisions, he asked?

John Baskerville objected because the project has not been proposed to the community. Dan Beesin, a resident on Eureka Ave. asked if there are other more suitable sites for the business without rezoning the parcel. He does not believe it is an appropriate site for the business.

Paul Schribner who lives south of Glenn Reed, said he has no problem with the business. ìIt is the location that horrifies me,î he said. Dan Beesin echoed his comments.

Diane DeAzevedo, long-time resident on Everton Circle, believes the proposed location for Roosters has ìdeplorable access,î pointing out the two-lane road, with no shoulders, sidewalks, and a blind corner where the proposed loading area is to be located.

Considering the western side of the city the ìstep-child of Wyomingî she asked if Roosters has looked at a site north of the Blue Sky Animal Hospital. She believes the building would ìloom over neighbors.î Her final comments to the EDA are that ìyour job is to look for whatís best for the community is not always measured in dollars and cents.î

Steve Bergeron, developer of a parcel west of Kettle River across from the proposed site, said he was notified about the annexation, but not the rezoning proposal, hearing about it only about a day before the most recent planning commission meeting. He received final plat approval earlier in the year for his 30-house development, but the negotiation with Roosters was not mentioned. Contact with sales and marketing people tell him that for his homes, ìtime on the market can be huge,î increasing interest costs.

Bob Bonhom and Julie Ives were in favor of Roosters locating at the Kettle River site. Joe Johnson, White Bear Lake, was in favor of the indoor practice facility. ìI think these guys are doing a good job of planning,î he said.

Jeremy Davis said ìit appears the decision has been made, with those outside the community in favor of it and those who live here are not.î He wanted a more specific answer about the number of cars.

EDA member Raduenz was pleased so many had attended the meeting, saying only past events as Citgo and McDonalds, had drawn this much interest.

Jaep has provided information about a website for those interested in learning more or submitting an electronic petition, www.blazinbritts.com/NoRezone/.

A statement from those opposed to this development reads, ìThe city of Wyoming government has heard from numerous voices in opposition to the rezoning yet they fail to recognize the voters. Regardless of an intense effort to be heard the city is choosing to serve system rather than the people. In an effort to keep your city officials accountable to the people, we are asking for your support. A petition is being presented on-line that clearly presents the issues and concerns and we would ask you to read it carefully. Your personal voice may also be heard by providing an e-mail ballot that will be printed and presented to the Wyoming City Council as an addendum to the Public Petition.î

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