Fred Heinonen
Scandia Area Reporter

On Tuesday, May 1st the Scandia Planning Commission and City Council retracted approval of lot four in German Lake Vistas Subdivision.

The commission and council had approved the preliminary plat on Jan. 23 despite local resident John Lindell’s contention that lot four may not meet the one-acre buildable area requirement.

In a letter to the city, Lindell questioned the plus or minus one-acre and the high water setback depicted in the preliminary plat for the lot. German Lake Ventures, LLC was asked to certify their measurements.

On May 1 they applied for a variance to build on 40,738 square feet instead of the required 43,560 square feet.

The variance was denied because:

•The buildable land area of the lot is a circumstance created by the landowner, through the process of subdividing the land.

•Loss of a lot, an economic condition, cannot alone constitute a hardship.

•The subject property can be put to reasonable use by combining it with another lot, or redesigning the lot so that it has at least one acre of building area.

Legal newspaper

On April 17 the council asked City Attorney Dave Hebert to review a letter from Country Messenger attorney Mark Anfinson, contending the Country Messenger newspaper is legal for Scandia.

Hebert referred to his April 18th letter to the city stating his opinion remains the same as it was in his opinion letter of Dec. 27; Minnesota Statute 331.A.02, states that a circulation of 500 and an office in the county or adjacent county in Minnesota are required.

Without discussion, no action was taken, so the Forest Lake Times remains the Scandia legal paper.

Tii Gavo action

A public hearing was held to consider the application of Big Marine Development, LLC to amend the preliminary plat for the Tii Gavo Open Space Conservation Subdivision. The amendment to switch from a community well to 37 individual wells was approved because of lack of evidence that a community well is better overall. Information gathered for comparison and discussion was shared.

Advantages of a community well include:

•Fewer holes equals less contamination risk, per the DNR

•Contamination treatment would be easier

•Water quality could be more closely monitored and controlled

•Could be adaptable for conversion to a public water supply

Disadvantages of a community well include:

•Cost for the developer to install and potential cost of future maintenance

•Environmental impact of distribution system

•Could have a larger impact on deeper underground water levels

•More holes equals insignificant additional risk of contamination, per Minnesota Department of Health, being no significant risk of contamination has been identified at this site

•Burden for homeowner’s association to manage

•May not be adaptable for conversion to a public water supply

YSB funding

The city council approved a 2007 payment of $5250 to the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau of Forest Lake for health, social and recreational services to the residents of Scandia.

Council member Mike Harnetty requested a report to the city of the services provided for Scandia residents as stated in the contract.

Next meeting

The next Scandia City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 15.

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