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