4.a) Larson LetterPatrick & Faye Larson
16989 197th St.
Scandia, MN
Mrs. Mary Strom
16975 197th St.
Scandia, MN
August 4, 2014
Kristina Handt
City Administrator
City of Scandia Planning Commission
14727 209th St. N
Scandia, MN 55073
RE: Holloway Variance Application Meeting 8/5/2014 Project: 15485.013
Dear Ms. Handt and Committee Members:
As adjacent landowners to the Holloway/Berry/Thompson property, we are submitting our
comments in advance of the meeting since we will not be able to attend the planning commission
meeting on August 5, 2104, due to prior commitments. With regard to the planning staff
recommendations proposed in the memo from planner Sherri Buss, dated July 30, 2014, we are
supportive of the 12 planning staff recommendations and of the plan by Mark Holloway to
improve the property. It is evident that the applicant, planner and other parties involved have
been thorough and fair in their evaluation of the various wetland, setback and scenic variance
requests.
However, some items are not addressed in the memo. Our primary concerns are related to
criteria 5 of Chapter 1, Section 6 of the Development Code and the Lower St. Croix River
Bluffland and Shoreland Management Ordinance, “The proposed variance will not impair an
adequate supply of light and air to adjacent property or substantially increase the congestion of
the public streets or increase the danger of fire or endanger the public safety, or substantially
diminish or impair property values within the neighborhood.” The residents of 197th Street have
access to their properties via a private road which extends north and south of the public road
maintained by Scandia Township. We are interested in clarifying the plan to alleviate road
congestion, address road maintenance, access and noise issues during construction. In 1994,
Mary Strom improved and maintained the southern extension of the private road at the
recommendation of the New Scandia Fire & Rescue and Township Engineer, prior to and during
the construction of her home (see attached letter dated October 10, 1994). Currently the road is
maintained by the residents of 197th Street. More specifically, Pat Larson has plowed the road,
including the hill, during the winter and smoothing the road in the spring and fall, since the
Larson’s and Strom’s are the only year round residents at this time.
Concerns and Questions:
• Where will construction vehicles (dual axel vehicles in particular) turn
around? (Currently most large trucks accessing 197th Street are backing into the Larson
driveway to turn around, which is not acceptable as a solution)
• Where will construction vehicles park?
• How will other residents or fire/rescue access the other properties if
vehicles are parked along the private road?
• Who will be responsible for ongoing road maintenance during
construction? Filling potholes, grading, plowing etc.
• Are any improvements to the private road necessary prior to beginning
construction?
• Will the applicant be responsible for keeping the road in at least its current
condition?
• In the winter and spring who will maintain the private road? (The spring
thaw is a particularly muddy time for the road, even with very little traffic. With added
truck traffic some parts of the road will need attention so that all residents can access
their property and get to and from work and appointments. )
• What is the time frame for construction?
• What will the hours of activity be – how early? how late? Sunrise - sunset?
6am- 6pm? Weekends?
We feel it is important that these concerns be addressed prior to the approval and issuance of the
building permit.
Respectfully,
Faye Larson Patrick Larson Mary Strom
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