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04. a Draft minutes 07 07 2026 Planning Commission Meeting July 7, 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 Chair Loeffler reordered the agendas public hearings to the following order, Wilkinson, Granberg, Clapp-Smith, Boyles, UDC Amendment Hogle, seconded by Fodor, moved to approve the agenda as amended. The motion carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Hogle, seconded by Fodor, to approve the minutes of May 5, 2026, and June 2, 2026. The motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING: VARIANCE TO REPLACE AN EXISTING SEPTIC SYSTEM TH WITHIN A WETLAND SETBACK AT 10740 230 ST. N. The applicant is requesting a variance to replace an existing subsurface sewage treatment system(SSTS). The property's current system is noncompliant and must be replaced. The property is within the Clear Lake shoreland area, but the septic location is not. The proposed location of the new septic system is within the required 75-foot setback, with the tanks located 19.2 ft from the wetland boundary and the soil treatment area 35 ft from the boundary. Comments were received from Washington County and the Conservation District. Staff is recommending approval of the variance. Hogle, seconded by Fodor, moved to open the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0. No public comments where heard. Hogle, seconded by Fodor, moved to close the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0. Commissioner Cullen noted that Washington County requested that the SSTS plans be approved by the County before the City approves the variance request. Staff explained that, in general, plans for submittal cannot be finalized until the system's location is known. Marosok asked about service line that went under the wetland and expressed concern about how the line will be installed and what disturbance to the wetland that installation will cause. Staff reiterated that they reached out to the Watershed and Conservation District and neither organization Scandia Planning Commission July 9, 2026 Page 2 of 4 commented on that line. Chair Loeffler asked that staff reach out again to ensure that there would be minimal disturbance to the wetland. Hogle, seconded by Marosok, motioned to recommend the City Council approval a 40.0- foot variance (35.0-foot setback) for a soil treatment and dispersal area and a 55.8-foot variance (19.2-foot setback) for a sewage tank from the 75-foot Manage 1 wetland setback and the 75-foot Unclassified Body of Water setback to replace an existing noncompliant septic system for the property at 10740 230th Street North, with the findings and conditions described within the staff report. Motion Carried 5-0. The recommendation to approve the variance request will be presented to the City Council on July 21, 2026. PUBLIC HEARING: VARIANCE TO REPLACE AN EXISTING SEPTIC SYSTEM WITHIN A WETLAND SETBACK AT 14250 SCANDIA TRAIL NORTH. The applicant is requesting a variance to replace an existing subsurface sewage treatment system(SSTS). The property's current system is noncompliant and must be replaced. The property is within a shoreland management area due to a manage 1 wetland on the property. The setback requirement for an SSTS is 75 feet. The tanks on the property will be reinstalled in their current location. The proposed setback for the tanks will be 30 ft. and the setback for the mound structure is 45 ft. Comments were received from Washington County and the Conservation District. The Department of Natural Resources has no comment. Staff is recommending approval of the variance. Hogle, seconded by Fodor, moved to open the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0. There were no public comments. Hogle, seconded by Marosok, moved to close the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0. The Commission saw no concerns over the proposed work. They asked if something could be done to preserve an oak tree on the property. Staff stated there was nothing in the city code that would allow the City to require the tree to be kept. Hogle, seconded by Foder, motioned to recommend that the City Council approve a 45.0- foot variance from the 75-foot Manage 1 wetland setback and the 75-foot Unclassified Body of Water setback to replace an existing septic system for the property at 14250 Scandia Trail N., with the findings and conditions described within the staff report. Motion carried 5-0. The recommendation to approve the ordinance amendment will be presented to the City Council on July 21, 2026. Scandia Planning Commission July 9, 2026 Page 3 of 4 PUBLIC HEARING: VARIANCE TO EXPAND AN EXISTING LEGAL NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE WITHIN A TOP BLUFF SETBACK AT 20033 QUINNELL AVE. N. The applicant is seeking an expansion of a nonconforming structure within the bluff line and bluff setback within the City’s Shoreland Management Area and the Saint Croix River Overlay District. The National Park Service, which has authority over the St. Croix River Overlay, has approved the proposed expansion. The proposed expansion does not encroach further into the bluff or the bluff line setback. Comments were provided by the Department of Natural Resources and the National Park Service. Staff is recommending approval of the variance. Hogle, seconded by Fodor, moved to open the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0. Merritt Clapp-Smith (Applicant), 20033 Quinnell Ave, spoke about the needed improvements and proposed expansion due to the building's current condition. The proposed expansion is away from the river and will not be visible from the water. She will also work with the Watershed to fix the water runoff concerns along the bluff. Chair Loeffler read of public comment from David Herbert at 19920 Quinnell Ave. N. Mr. Herbert stated he has not objections to the variance application and encourages approval. There were no further public comments. Hogle, seconded by Fodor, moved to close the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0. Commissioner Marosok asked whether the 2021 variance issued for an ADU affects this application. Planner Dahle stated the approval of one variance does not prohibit the approval of another. Chair Loeffler believes the proposed plan is reasonable and is happy that the applicant will work to resolve the drainage and runoff issues with the watershed. Cullen, seconded by Fodor, motioned to recommend the City Council approve a variance to allow an encroachment into the minimum structure setback to the top of bluff and bluffline and bluff impact zone, with conditions as described by staff within the staff report. Motion carried unanimously, 5-0. The recommendation to approve the ordinance amendment will be presented to the City Council on July 21, 2026. PUBLIC HEARING: VARIANCE TO EXPAND AN EXISTING LEGAL NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE WITHIN THE ORDINARY HIGH WATER LEVEL SETBACK OF BIG MARINE LAKE AT 18510 NORELL AVE. N. The applicant is seeking a variance to allow for the expansion of a nonconforming structure within the ordinary high-water level of Big Marine Lake. The proposed addition replaced the existing three-season porch with interior living space and expanded that space over the existing patio. NO further encroachment toward the lake is proposed. The expansion is lateral along the preexisting setback line. As part of the application, the resident has stated that he will relocate a shed on the south side of the house, farther from the lake. A watershed permit has already been Scandia Planning Commission July 9, 2026 Page 4 of 4 secured by the resident. The DNR offered comments on stormwater management. Staff is recommending approval of the variance. Hogle, seconded by Fodor, moved to open the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0. There were no public comments. Hogle, seconded by Marosok, moved to close the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0. The Commission applauded the applicant for the work he has done restoring the shoreline and working with the watershed on stormwater management. They believe his property should be a model for riparian lots. Commissioners Cullen and Hogle stated the proposed expansion is straightforward. Cullen, seconded by Fodor, moved to recommend approval of a variance to allow the expansion of an existing nonconforming structure, encroaching into the minimum structure setback to the ordinary high-water level of Big Marine Lake, with conditions as described by staff. Motion carried unanimously. 5-0. Staff will prepare the ordinance amendment for a public hearing on July 7, 2026. CITY COUNCIL UPDATES Administrator Morell reported that the City Council approved the variance for 18521 Langly Avenue for replacement and expansion of a nonconforming structure within the ordinary high- water level setback and front setback at their meeting on May 19, 2026. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA th Staff announced there will be public hearings on July 7 for septic setbacks, expansion of a structure, and the ordinance amendment for height of accessory structures, with continued discussion of non-conforming structure ordinance language. ADJOURNMENT Hogle, seconded by Fodor, moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kyle Morell, City Administrator