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7.b)1) Addition-Letter for Nat'l Park Service / � r``/ � � NT s United States Department of the Interior J 31 � NATIONAL PARK SERVICE St.Croix National Scenic Riverway M� X 3;S�q 401 Hamilton Street SL Croix Falls,Wisconsin 54024-0708 IN REPLY REFER T0: June 21,2011 L7615 (SACN) Mayor and City Council City of Scandia 147]7 209'"St.N. Scandia,Minnesota 55073 Dear Mayor and City Council: ' The National Park Service(NPS)has reviewed the proposed new ordinance for wireless communication antennas and towers developed and recommended by the Scandia Planning Commission. The NPS strongly supports adoption of the proposed ordinance. The NPS manages the Lower St.Croix National Scenic Riverway(Riverway),which is along the eastern side of the City of Scandia.The Riverway was established by Congress under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act(Public Law 90-542)to protect its outstanding scenic and recreational values for this and future generations. It includes the St.Croix River and a narrow strip of land on either side. The National Park Service owns only about 1/5 of the land within the Riverway boundary. The scenic values of the Riverway are easily threatened by developments outside its boundary,but visible from within.These threats include wireless communication towers. Protecting scenic values in this narrow corridor requires the cooperation of citizens,businesses,and government at all levels.The proposed ordinance is ar�excellent example of the type of cooperation needed to protect the Riverway. The proposed ardinance states that"Towers shall be a maximum of 75 feet in height and shall be of stealth design if located within one-quarter mile of State Highway 95,within a designated Scandia viewshed, or within the Historic Village Area(VMU A Zoning District).The City of Scandia Planning Commission, Scenic Viewsheds Committee is currently developing criteria for significant Scandia scenic viewsheds. The NPS would suggest to the committee that all viewsheds visible from within the Riverway boundary be considered as significant scenic viewsheds. The NPS urges the Scandia City Council to adopt the proposed ordinance. We applaud the Pianning Commission for developing a proactive ordinance that will protect community character as well as the scenic values of the Riverway and St. Croix Valley. If you have any questions,please call Jill Medland of my staf� at 7]5-483-2284. Sincerely, C' �l/�ti ���� �' `� Christopher E. Stein Superintendent