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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974.10.29 PC Minutes Minutes of the Washington County • Planning Advisory Commission October 29, 197 4 CALL TO ORDER The meeting of the Washington County Planning Advisory Commission was called to order at 7:42 p.m. in the Washington County Office Building Cafeteria by Chairman Lundquist. MEMBERS PRESENT Bill Lundquist, Ed Lemmerman, Harold Hohlt, Fred r Ottem, Ray Olson, Wes Scheel, Glen Brown. OTHERS PRESENT Lee Richert, Carole Richert, Wendell Johnson, Mr and Mrs Alden M Booren, Kingsley Foster, Joe Uehling, Dr. Roger Machmier, Barney Schmig, Allen Fryberger, Bob Krebs, two representatives from the Goodin Company, Judy Screaton, Jim Broede, David Champion III, Lyle Doerr, Bill Schwab, and Dennis Welsch . APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the September 24, 1974 meeting were approved as submitted. ALDEN BOOREN REZONING A request fora rezoning of 278 acres from "Conservancy" to 'Agricultural" was explained by Mr and Mrs Alden Booren. The property is located along the northern edge of Big Marine Lake in New Scandia Township. Bill Schwab pointed out that the soil conditions on the west portion of the property were wet and low but the area to the east, bordering on the lake, was high and dry with potentially good soil for septic systems. Schwab pointed out that in essence the rezoning request from "Conservancy" to "Agricultural" only changes the land use along the shoreline. Instead of 5 acre lakeshore lots with 300' of frontage in a "C" area, the "A" zone allows the lakeshore lots to be 1 acre with 150 feet of frontage. This smaller lot is the size recommended by the State Lake and Shoreline Ordinance for a recreational development lake which is now part of the County's Shoreline Management Ordinance. Wendell Johnson, Scandia Attorney representing the Boorens, stated that the land was orginally zoned agricultural in 1960 by New Scandia Township and had been utilized for farming for at least 80 years within the Booren family. The Boorens still live on the property. Mr. Booren first knew of the County rezoning to PAC Minutes - 10/29/74 Page 2 Conservancy in June of 1973. The Boorens do not agree with the definition of the conservancy zone which states that the area must be unique and undevelop- able. Johnson mentioned that a conservancy zone may in effect decrease the mar- ket value of the land and the land loses its flexibility - fewer things can be done on the property. The Boorens intend to continue farming the land. Bill Schwab mentioned that the entire north end of Big Marine Lake at one time had been considered a prime County park site but has lost its park priority in recent years. The reason for the "C" zone was to hopefully protect the shoreline along the northeast and northwest tip of the lake. The northeast edge is still in a virtually wild condition. It was felt that such zoning should extend through the Borren property because together, the east and west shores made a unique area. Schwab mentioned that if rezoning did occur, each lot would have to meet the County's septic requirements before development of that lot could occur. One acre lots must be platted under the current County Subdivision Ordinance. The County Planning Department had no strong objections to the rezoning. Motion was made and seconded to recommend to the County Board that rezoning from a Conservancy to Agricultural district be granted on the 278 acre Alden Booren property in New Scandia Township. Motion carried - 5 aye, 1 opposed. PARK COMMITTEE REPORT Fred Ottem informed the Planning Commission that John Keener of Stillwater had been elected chairperson of the Park and Recreation Committee. The committee has begun reviewing and evaluating the existing park policies and plans. The committee hopes to work with and review the plans submitted by the master plan consultant on the Lake Elmo Regional Park. Mr. Ottem mentioned that the committee still does not have a full eleven members and is seeking active new members. MULTI FLOW AEROBIC SYSTEMS Lee Richert, local service representative, Allan Fryberger and Bob Krebs, representatives of Tait-Multiflow Septic Systems, and two members from the local distributor, Goodin Company of St Paul , presented information on the Multiflow septic system. The presentation pointed out that the multiflow system was an aerobic system. An aerobic septic system utilizes the ingestion of oxygen and bacteria to break down wastes. A typical septic tank system utilizes an anerobic system (no oxygen) . The multiflow system utilizes "30 living filters" filters which reduce the suspended solids and B.O.D. counts to 6 and 4 mg/liter respectively. (The normal septic tank system reduces solids and B.O.D. to 150 and 140 mg./liter respectively.) PAC Minutes - 10/29/74 Page 3 The Multiflow system provides an oxygen pump into the solids tank. This pump is guaranteed for 1 year. It uses the same daily electricity as a large refrigerator freezer. This system has an alarm to notify the owner of pump failure or other system breakdown. The unit costs around $2000.00 installed • not including drainfield. The "30 living filters" cost $100.00/set and last 11/2 - 2 years, but are checked four times by the service company in the first two years. The system may only be opened and repaired by the service organization because of a lock and key system. The multiflow system has • been utilized in the eastern part of the country, especially Ohio, for the last 3 years. Bill Schwab noted that this system, classified as a "special system", could now be installed in the County but would need a special permit. The multiflow. system must still discharge its waste water into a conventional length septic drainfield system. The P.C.A. and Minnesota Health Department regulations pro- hibit surface discharge of waste water, discharge directly into streams or other water bodies, spray discharge, or reducing the size of the normal drainfield. Dr. Roger Machmeier, Agricultural Engineer from the University pointed out that the system cannot discharge its waste water on the surface because the system can not sufficiently rid the water of pathenogenic disease organisms. Machmeier pointed out that service to such an aerobic system was vital. He handed out a cost comparison of an anerobic system and an aerobic system amortized over 20 years. This study indicated the anerobic system to be less costly. A general discussion of lot size and septic system capacity ensued. GENERAL DISCUSSION The 1975 proposed budgets were simply not available in time for the Planning Comm iss iori to review them. The City of Stillwater rezoning of the Hooley property along 212 from County Indus- trial to Stillwater Commercial has been completed over the objections of the Metropolitan Council, the County and the Township. Bill Schwab said there is no recourse at the present time. Ian Bell of the Met. Council has written the MMC to ask for further study of long range plans before additional annexations occur. The City of Stillwater currently does not have a com- prehensive development plan to guide growth. Chairman Lundquist directed the Planning Department to send a letter to the MMC concerning the county objection to the Hooley rezoning. Bob Nethercut of the Met. Council regional parks division has been completing thep of icies concerning management, use, and acquisition of regional parks. He will hold ap ubl ic hearing on November 26th to gather input and explain the policies. • f 1 PAC Minutes - 10/29/74. Page 4 The County Planning Department will schedule a meeting on County-wide parks in mid-November. All municipalities and townships will be invited. The meeting tentatively will be at Oakland Jr. High School. On November 19th, Dennis Seefeldt, of the County Agriculture Extension Service will hold a seminar on preservation of open space at the fairgrounds. Fred Ottem asked that Planning Commission minutes and agendas be sent to the Park Committee. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 p.m.