Alice Pickering
Linwood Area Reporter

Linwood supervisors on Nov. 9 voted 5-0 against a request by Sal Carlone, 6770 227th Ave., to approve a cul-de-sac on the west end of 225th Avenue so that the 4.5-acre parcel can be built upon.

Supervisors gave Carlone an opportunity to take his new proposal to the planning and zoning commission before returning to the town board.

Earlier in the year a sketch plan presented by Carlone for eight lots was approved, but the township wanted him to pay for the paved extension of Danube Street south along the eastern border of the plat to 225th Ave. so there would be access for emergency vehicles, without requiring a turn-around.

This would reduce the size of most of his lots and place his own home very close to the proposed road. The suggestion included a change in the shape and orientation of the lots, which he believes would reduce the value. Carlone claimed the township requirements for street construction place an extreme hardship on his development.

Carlone made his request Nov. 9, in a letter which he read to the board. He also brought a sketch of his new proposal. These had not yet been presented to the P&Z.

According to township ordinance, in metes and bounds split, parcels must be at least five acres in size, with 300 feet of road frontage for each parcel. To plat land, the minimum lot size is 2.5 acres, with a minimum of 150 feet of road frontage.

Supervisors are focusing on whether or not there is adequate road frontage for the proposed project. They are also cautious that rulings are uniform.

Dave Tryon, chairman, wants to be certain ordinances are specific about road frontage requirements. Supervisor Rudi McCurdy said it is the intent of the road frontage requirement to mean access to roads. Referring to the sketch presented, Supervisor Mel Pfaffendorf cautioned that once the land is split, as Carlone is requesting, there would be no access to the rest of the land.

Supervisor Marie Holm wanted Carlone to present a plan that meets the cul-de-sac specifications and said that whatever the proposal, it needs to go back to P&Z. She said ordinances allow and encourage the board to take a broad view, looking at surrounding land and lots before making a final decision.

ìWe need to look at the whole picture to see what is best for the community,î she said.

Carlone asked supervisors to tentatively approve his proposal before sending it to P&Z for comments. They denied this request.

The board asked Carlone to bring his proposal, with drawings of how he now proposes to divide his land, and his specific request for variance, to P&Z.

Other topics

Jeff Pfefferís request for a variance on the size of the building site on a Fawn Lake lot was approved by the board. The lot is located in the Fawn Lake area where platted lots are small and the request was for approval to build on a smaller site.

Scott Martin, a representative, brought documentation showing that Pfeffer can meet all the set-backs, well, and septic requirements on the 10,125 square-foot lot. Approval was granted on the condition he meets all other ordinance requirements. Findings of fact are that the lot existed when codes governing building in the township were adopted and he can meet all requirements.

Attorney Gerald Randall reported that litigation with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy is going nowhere. The group filed action against Shadow Ridge Estates development on Ryan Lake Drive, in April 2005, claiming wetlands are not protected enough and mature trees are not protected.

Concessions offered by developer Richard Killian have been refused by MCEA.

Randall has secured permission to enter lots adjacent to nuisance properties, where there have been complaints about junk. He, along with Jon Christianson of Anoka County, will be taking pictures to document the problems and as evidence during trial.

Township employees are completing an update of these nuisance sites. Discussion about the township methamphetamine ordinance is set as an agenda item for the next meeting.

Township parking ordinances prohibit parking on streets and road shoulders from Oct. 1 to April 1. Original purpose was to limit parking that was blocking some streets to travel altogether in the winter, when snowmobile trailers, often owned by non-residents were parked for long periods. The ban also causes difficulty during hunting season. McCurdy summed it up by suggesting that having a family birthday party or holiday gathering could put a resident in violation of the ordinance.

Supervisors recognize the ordinance needs some revision, but tabled discussion until the next board meeting.

There continue to be complaints about at least one unmanageable dog in the township. Deputy Lorinser is to continue incident documentation.

Supervisors approved a request for variance from the road and bridge department who will be checking the trees in the road-right-of-way which need to be removed.

Bob Beckman will check the R&B budget for this year to determine how much work can be done this year. With a cost estimate from Engineer Craig Jochum, Beckman said plans for more tree removal can be included in the 2007 budget. Township employees Mike Budde and Ray Broadbent may be able to take care of some of the work, now that other maintenance has slowed down. Property owners get first chance at the cut trees for firewood.

Soil was put on the shoulders of Orinoco Circle, after the contractor finished paving the road. Engineer Craig Jochum will be asked to check on the area, especially the work on the road shoulders, before final payment is authorized for release.

The bill for the 7370 pounds of crack-filling and joint repair for streets, completed by Bargen, is $9654. The cost of the paved base for the sand/salt storage shed is $5874.37.

Other business

In other business, the board:

ïReminded residents of a free Thanksgiving Dinner at the Senior Center, scheduled noon to 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 24. Call the Linwood Senior Center, 651-462-5565, for more information.

ï Approved Justin Benoit as a volunteer firefighter, contingent on passing a physical exam.

ïApproved payment of the bills in the amount of $48,737.39

ïLearned the next cemetery committee meeting is scheduled 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 21 at the Senior Center. Water in the cemetery has been turned off for the winter.

ïLearned that parks continue to work on a solution to a good base for ice for the hockey and pleasure rinks.

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Forest Lake Times
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Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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