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04.a Minutes of May 5, 2026, Planning Comission Meeting May 5, 2026 The Scandia Planning Commission held their regular monthly meeting on the above date. The meeting was conducted in-person and virtually over an electronic platform. All participants who joined the meeting remotely could hear each other and contribute to discussions. Chair Travis Loeffler called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following were in attendance: Commissioners Mary Cullen, Laszlo Fodor, Jan Hogle, Michael Marosok, and Chair Travis Loeffler. Staff present: Bolton & Menk Planner Greenlee Dahle and City Administrator Kyle Morell. City Council member liaison Mike Lubke was present over Zoom. PUBLIC FORUM There were no public comments. APPROVAL OF AGENDA, MINUTES Hogle, seconded by Fodor, moved to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Hogle asked for a correction to the April 7, 2026 minutes; page 3 to read DNR “and” Forest Service. Hogle. seconded by Fodor, moved to approve the April 7, 2026 minutes as amended. The motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING: VARIANCE AT 18521 LANGLY AVENUE NORTH TO ALLOW THE REPLACEMENT AND EXPANSION OF A NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE WITHIN THE ROADWAY SETBACK AND ORDINARY HIGH-WATER LEVEL (OHWL) SETBACK OF BIG MARINE LAKE NORTH. APPLICANTS JOE AND CINDY RADATZ. Applicants Joe and Cindy Radatz are proposing to demolish their existing cabin at 18521 Langly Avenue and replace it with a year-round residence. The existing structure and the lot are nonconforming. The variance would approve a reduced setback from the ordinary high-water level of Big Marine Lake and encroachment into the front setback from the public right-of-way. The replacement structure would be 47.6 feet from the OHWL (100 feet required) and 15 feet from the ROW (40 feet required). Planner Dahle explained that expansion beyond the dimensions of the existing structure triggers a variance under the city’s Shoreland Ordinance. Encroachment into the OHWL setback is being reduced by 10 feet with removal of the cabin’s existing deck. A small shed near the northwest property line is also proposed to be removed. Impervious surface will measure 24.9% lot coverage. A septic upgrade is required under city code which prohibits sharing of septic tanks and requires replacement of shared systems when improvements increase the flow. The Public Works Director will confirm the location of a new septic tank prior to a building permit being issued. Scandia Planning Commission May 5, 2026 Page 2 of 4 Planner Dahle reviewed the practical difficulties and staff’s analysis. The request is the minimal action to increase the OHWL setback from the existing 34.7 feet, which will decrease the road setback from the existing 46 feet. However, the property has no buildable area as the OHWL setback and the ROW setback overlap; any construction would require a variance. A draft resolution with findings and conditions of approval was presented by Planner Dahle. Conditions recommended by the DNR and Watershed relate to screening from the lake; however, the requested variance has no direct relationship to the amount of vegetation on the lot. Any conditions related to screening along the shoreline cannot legally be included as they are not directly related to the variance request. Hogle, seconded by Fodor, moved to open the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0. Gail Adams, 18509 Langly Avenue. Stated she is a neighbor and has known the property owners since they bought the property, and is in favor of variance approval. Jeff Beirmeier, 18526 Langly Avenue. Stated he is a neighbor and in favor of variance approval. Joe Radatz, Applicant. Present to answer any questions. There were no other public comments. Hogle, seconded by Fodor, moved to close the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0. Commissioner Hogle stated that the DNR letter in the staff report does not consider this replacement of a nonconforming structure, but she does not see it a problem to call it a replacement. Projects like this are not uncommon in the Bliss neighborhood, and Hogle said she does not see a problem with this project. Chair Loeffler questioned if the city needs to be concerned about the proposed well. Administrator Morell said the only review is the required setback from the septic tank. Chair Loeffler noted that the shoreline has only riprap and beach sand, with repairs done in the past. Applicant Cindy Radatz explained there is not a lot of grass at the water’s edge, mostly weeds. Regarding the planned removal of three elm trees, Chair Loeffler said tree removal is allowed for dead and diseased trees, and residential development per the city code will require five new trees be planted. Commissioner Marosok addressed the shoreline issue, saying the Watershed considers sand to be better for erosion control over turf grass. Commissioners Cullen and Marosok said they would like the City to work with the Watershed and DNR to come to an agreement on screening requirements. Chair Loeffler said he will reach out to City Council members to collaborate on this issue and figure out how to move forward. Scandia Planning Commission May 5, 2026 Page 3 of 4 Cullen, seconded by Fodor, moved to recommend approval for a variance to allow an encroachment into the minimum structure setback to the OHWL and into the front setback, with conditions as described in the staff report. Motion carried 5-0. The recommendation to approve variances to replace and expand a nonconforming structure at 18521 Langly Avenue will be presented to the City Council at their meeting on May 19, 2026. GENERAL BUSINESS: DISCUSSION OF ACCESSORY STRUCTURE HEIGHT LIMITATION IN UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE Planner Greenlee presented a staff memo for the Commission to discuss concerns addressed at the April 7th meeting regarding when an accessory structure is proposed to be taller that a single- story principal structure. Staff recommended a permitting procedure with standards or conditions which would provide necessary restrictions to maintain the essential character of the community. Planner Dahle explained that a conditional use permit would allow for public input and review by the Planning Commission and City Council. Commissioner Cullen said she likes the CUP language to allow neighbors an opportunity to comment. Cullen said she would prefer to give general flexibility now and see how it plays out, and then revisit the language in the future if needed. Commissioner Marosok said the current guidelines, to limit an accessory structure to not exceed the height of the principal structure, seem excessively prohibitive. Chair Loeffler recommended language to allow twice the height of a single-story home, not to exceed 25 feet. The Commissioners were in consensus to require a CUP for an accessory structure to exceed the height of the principal structure on smaller lots. Staff will draft language for an ordinance amendment for continued discussion at a future meeting. CITY COUNCIL UPDATES Administrator Morell reported that the City Council held a public hearing at their April 21st meeting for the Jarmoluk wetland setback variance related to driveway improvements and a variance to allow the expansion of a nonconforming structure within the OHWL setback and voted their approval. The City Council also approved a CUP for the cultivation of indoor-grown cannabis and the light manufacturing of low-potency hemp edibles at 21080 Ozark Court North. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA Staff announced there will be a public hearing for a variance from front and side yard setbacks to build a garage on property at Larkspur Avenue. Staff will prepare reports on future updates to the UDC for non-conforming structure language, accessory structure height, and deck and side yard setback allowances. Scandia Planning Commission May 5, 2026 Page 4 of 4 ADJOURNMENT Hogle, seconded by Fodor, moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kyle Morell, City Administrator