Fred Heinonen
Scandia Area Reporter

On Tuesday, Aug 7, the Scandia City Council approved a service agreement with CR Planning, Inc. for professional services to help update the city’s 2008 Comprehensive Plan within the next 12 months.

The cost of the services and expenses shall not exceed $58,000 without prior written approval of Scandia.

The five-member consultant team fees range from $82 - $90 per hour with a GIS Technician at $35 and administrative assistance at $25 per hour. Mileage can be expensed at 48.5 cents per mile.

Project managers are Jean Coleman for CR Planning and City Administrator Anne Hurlburt for Scandia.

Coleman will manage all day-to-day project activities. Hurlburt will be available to give project oversight and some substantive guidance to the consultant team, but not spend much time participating in the development of the plan.

Scandia’s Comprehensive Plan Committee will guide the development of the comprehensive plan update.

They will share the variety of community views they represent, communicate about the process with neighbors and constituents, and assist in public involvement activities.

They have proposed a schedule of meeting twice per month throughout the 11-month update process.

At least one member of the consultant team will prepare for and participate in each of these meeting.

Services

CR Planning agrees to perform the following services for the Comprehensive Plan update:

•Project initiation, management and coordination with the city project manager – finalize the work plan, budget and schedule

•Work with the comprehensive plan committee – agree on a progression of meeting topics

•Public outreach/visioning – approve a public participation plan with possible focus groups

•Prepare background studies – understand current conditions, identify trends, forces and opportunities

•Prepare a community vision – get a consensus vision based on CPC discussions, the first public meeting, and the focus groups

•Develop land use scenarios presenting alternative ways of reaching the vision and develop future land use maps – prepare two or three land use scenarios that achieve the community vision

•Develop objectives and policies that move toward the vision – provide intermediate steps to achieve the vision; provide direction to implement actions

•Develop an implementation plan that reaches the objectives and policies – identify a time frame for completing each activity

•Draft the Scandia Comprehensive Plan Update – integrate all previous tasks for second public meeting

•Refine and get city council approval of the final plan update – submit final plan to surrounding jurisdictions and the Metropolitan Council for review.

Variances

Jennifer Cates, Cates Fine Homes, requested a variance to build a two-story accessory structure of 2130 square feet for the TenEyck residence located at 13500 182nd St. N.

The request was denied because the zoning ordinance states that two-story accessory structures are not allowed, the maximum size is 2000 square feet and there was no proof of a hardship.

A single story 2000 square foot accessory structure could be built on the property.

Richard Grekoff, West Lake Builders, requested variances to build a single family home for Allen and Penny Lepinsky at 12614 182nd St. N.

The outstanding issue was encroaching on the limit of 25 percent impervious surface by building a larger house.

Pervious area could be increased by moving the current road off the back of the property and using pervious pavers for the driveway.

The issue was tabled for more investigation before the next meeting on Aug 28.

Pat Reicherts requested a variance to allow installation of a second freestanding sign at the Big Marine Lake Store, 19261 Manning Trail N.

The request was denied because the property can be used in a reasonable manner without the sign; no unique circumstances cause a need for another sign; regulations allow other ways to place signage for the second business.

The denial was re-enforced by the fact a conditional use permit does not exist for the new business.

Other items

The public hearing on the mining ordinance was continued and minor updates were discussed.

The ordinance will be prepared for final draft and review at the next meeting.

The building heights issue was brought up again. The staff reviewed the newly revised building code definitions and found no changes.

The subject will be reviewed and brought back in September to decide if an amendment to the city development code should be considered.

Church architecture and some pictures were briefly reviewed. A meeting is being set up

ith the Willowbrook Church architect.

Next meetings

The Aug. 21 city council meeting has been moved to Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.

The next city council and planning commission meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 7 and 7:30 p.m.

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