Stearns County Board action Ordinance proposal calls for park fees on new developments A draft Park Dedication Ordinance was presented to the Board. The ordinance calls for a portion of any new development to be set aside as green space, or for a per lot fee to be paid for park land purposes. The set-aside would be up to 10 percent of the land area or the fee would be up to $1,000 per home, never to exceed 10 percent of the property value. The County Board would ultimately decide whether they want to issue a fee or require land dedication. The County would also determine the location of the park or open space, but would be required to spend 75 percent of the money in the township where it was collected, unless otherwise agreed upon by the township. The money collected can only be used for purchasing and developing parkland, not on maintenance. This ordinance would only apply to those plats located in the county, not those within city limits. Many cities already have such ordinances in place. It also would not apply in those townships where park dedication ordinances currently exist. Commissioner Don Otte expressed some concern over equity, explaining that the market value of a subdivision in western Stearns County is much less than one near St. Cloud, meaning the $1,000 fee could have more impact on a developer in western Stearns County. The Board of Commissioners instructed the County Attorney’s Office to come back with new language addressing this issue during the next board meeting on June 7, 2005. At that time the Board could either adopt or reject the ordinance or propose further changes. Proposed changes to county’s zoning ordinance Citizens will have a chance to give their thoughts on changes proposed to the County’s Land Use and Zoning Ordinance. Several changes were proposed before the Board on Tuesday. One involves the Transfer of Development Rights, which allows a landowner to transfer a development credit from one piece of property to another. For example, someone who owns 40 acres in an A-40 zoned area who didn’t plan to build could give or sell their one development right to someone else. The goal is to have development be transferred out of the agricultural areas to preserve farmland. The proposal calls for a temporary removal of transferring of development rights until a map is developed identifying sending and receiving areas. The map will identify growth zones and poor farmland areas where development would be encouraged. The second proposal allows staff to deviate from the 2-acre maximum on agricultural zoning construction. Currently if someone wants to build a home on tillable land the maximum lot size is 2 acres. This ordinance change would allow staff up to 10 acres if needed. Another proposal eliminates the use of controlled access lake lots, lake lots set aside as water access points for those not living on the lake. Lastly, it calls for Parks Director Chuck Wocken to sit on the platting commission in response to the park dedication ordinance proposal. The public hearing on these proposed ordinance changes will be held at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, June 21, at the Stearns County Board of Commissioners meeting in the County Admin. Center. Anyone with questions can call the Stearns County Environmental Services Department at (320) 656-3613. Open house for next phase of Lake Wobegon Trail An open house will be held sometime in late June in Sauk Centre to discuss future construction of the Lake Wobegon Trail that would connect from Sauk Centre to the Todd County Line. An open house gives people a chance to look at the design of the trail, see maps, learn about the planned uses of the trail and ask questions or make comments before any plans are drawn up. It’s an opportunity for citizens to give input at the ground level. Planned uses for this 4.4 mile section of the Lake Wobegon Trail are the same as the rest of the trail, with snowmobiling in the winter and biking, walking/running and in-line skating in the summer. Commemorative flags Four flags that were once flown in Afghanistan will now fly on Stearns County’s campus. The flags were presented to the Board after being returned from Afghanistan where they were flown at the Farah PRT (Prevental Readiness Team) site by American soldiers fighting for freedom. The flags were sent by the County to the Delta Company 2 – 135th Infantry out of Albert Lea in February along with care packages. The 135th Infantry, which provided security for other military teams helping to rebuild Afghanistan, left for duty last May and are scheduled to return home mid-June. Accompanying each flag is a certificate that reads: So that all shall know, this flag was flown in the face of the enemy, and bears witness to the American endeavor to eradicate terrorist forces threatening the freedom of the United States of America and the World. This flag was flown in Afghanistan (between March 17-20) Operation Enduring Freedom at the Farah PRT in Honor of (followed by the name of each of our four office buildings) by American soldiers Fighting for Freedom in Afghanistan. A thank you note from the Infantry’s Captain read, “Your flags were proudly flown at Farah in appreciation for the support shown for our deployed troops”. The flags will be raised at the Stearns County buildings, Administration Center, Courthouse, Law Enforcement Center and Courts Facility, on Flag Day, June 14. Representatives from the 135th Infantry have been invited.
