Alice Pickering
Linwood Area Reporter

Attorney Gerald Randall reported a meeting set Feb. 25 will review Shadow Ridge development issues. He believes the courts should not interfere because the town board made a ìwell considered decisionî when it approved the plat. Permanent conservation easements that maintain open spaces may be the answer to the dispute. ìIt may change what the township approved (about the plat),î Randall said.

He told supervisors on Feb. 22 that Killianís plat and an overlay showing the best fit to maintain the open spaces are almost the same. While Killian may have to go offsite for some wetland mitigation, the plat is ìprobably the only way it can be laid out,î to minimize damage to the land, according to Randall. A motion for summary judgment is scheduled for late spring or early summer.

Randall also reported about a township property on which the mortgage is being foreclosed. The owner purchased an adjacent lot, and joined them under one PIN. A mortgage was on the original property, but the owner has defaulted on the loan. The company holding the mortgage now wants the properties separated. However to separate the lots would go against township ordinances.

Linwood supervisors approved a variance made by Brian Magnuson to build a garage closer to the road than his house. Planning and zoning recommended approval.

Supervisor Marie Holm voted in favor of the variance but pointed out that there is no hardship to the land. The board viewed the request much as it would those made by residents who want garages in front of their houses, not on the lake side of the homes.

Magnusonís house sits back about 120 feet from the street, with many evergreens screening the site from the street. Magnuson told the board the garage sidewalls are 10 feet. Siding and roof will match the house. Variance was approved by 4-0 vote. Supervisor Rudi McCurdy did not attend the meeting.

In a second motion, the related ordinances were referred back to planning for review, perhaps loosening them up especially with regard to larger lots. The vote was 3-1, with Supervisor Mel Pfaffendorf opposed. He believes variance requests similar to Magnusonís should continue to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

More topics

There were some questions about passing lanes and access to the Boettcher Farm Preserve, but by a vote of 4-0, the board approved the preliminary plat for the development.

Engineer Craig Jochum is to review the plat. Approval is contingent on meeting all his requirements, with comments included with other documentation.

Regarding homes where complaints have been made about the yards, the deputy working in the area has been checking some of the yards and has offered to look at other properties to expedite clean-up. Randall said he can deliver letters and summons related to the complaints.

The township needs a salt/sand shed but needs proposals for building structure and location. Members of the inactive Linwood Building Study Committee were contacted for this purpose.

Howard Holm, former chair, cannot participate for health reasons, but there have been no responses from other members. Holm suggested a sign-up sheet be available at the annual meeting for residents interested in volunteering.

In preparation for the annual meeting, Clerk Judy Hanna told supervisors she plans to print 500 copies of the budget information. This should be available to residents by early March.

Other business

In other business, the board:

ïApproved the 2005 Annual Meeting agenda.

ïLearned of a meeting with the Anoka County representative to discuss township road requests.

ïApproved payment of the bills in the amount of $14,326.25.

ïAuthorized Supervisor Mike Buddeís attendance at a Shade Tree Seminar, March 22-23, with the township to pay the $130 registration. The vote was 3-0, with Budde abstaining.

ïLearned Randall is preparing resolutions about the snowmobile club and public works standards.

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