07-25-96 growth mgmt task forceJuly 25, 1996
The Growth Management Task Force (GMTF) met on this date. In
attendance were: Co -Chair Blair Joselyn, Edith Hadlich, LaVayne
Dupslaff, Richard Tetzlaff, Terry Dreyer, Charlie Ellis, Mary
Lanz, Bill Plowman, Dan Booren, John Borchert, Gary Hogle,
Colleen Firkus and the consultant, Peggy Reichert.
PICTORIAL VIEW OF COMMUNITY ISSUES
Ms. Reichert presented a pictorial evaluation of the community as
seen through the eyes of task force members. The pictures taken
by task force members were grouped into nine categories:
1) Natural Landscape - we value the views, natural resources must
be managed with care; 2) Scandia Town Center - like small town
character, architectural integrity is important; 3) Agricultural
Preservation - farms are an important part of our landscape;
4) Community Facilities - the school/public parks/playgrounds/
historic sites/public access to lakes are important community
assets; 5) Roadways - beautiful country lanes are attractive, but
maintaining dirt roads is a concern and arterials should be
protected from too many direct access driveways; 6) Residential
Development - design should maintain natural setting, vegetative
screening is important as are setbacks from roads; 7) Town Center
Issues - some buildings have potential but need sprucing up,
architecture is important; 8) Commercial Development Issues -
convenient services, opportunities for more (—=omic development,
but design could be improved to compliment :,.ral character;
9) Rural Area Issues - gravel pits and propane tanks are
necessary but better screening is needed, rural landscape should
not be littered with debris or excessive outdoor storage. The
pictures will be available for public viewing at the community
center in back hallway.
SWOT ANALYSIS
Ms. Reichert conducted an exercise with the GMTF which generated
lists of the Township's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and
Threats (SWOT). The following issues were identified by task
force members voting on the top five in each category:
Strengths: l) Natural resources, environmental setting;
2) Existing agricultural land; 3) Sense of community; 4) Small
town feel; 5) Retail, Govt institutions, Church, School,
Newspaper, Low population density, Isolatedrbut close to Twin
Cities.
Weaknesses: 1) Lack of coordinated development plan;
2) Vulnerability to rapid growth due to lots of open space;
3) Lax ordinance enforcement; 4) Few playgrounds outside town
center; 5) Poor architectural review.
Opportunities: 1) Township may still be able to direct growth;
2) Natural resources still here to protect; 3) Good advance
planning for public improvements; 4) Land available for economic
development; 5) Bring the community together through planning
process.
July 25, 1996
Page 2
Threats: 1) Inadequate government structure to direct growth;
2) Planning and development piecemeal and chaotic; 3) Avoidable
environmental damage due to pace of development; 4) Lack of will
to deal with growth management; 5) Overdevelopment.
ROLE OF TASK FORCE FURTHER DEFINED
The role of the task force will be to ultimately recommend a land
use plan to the Town Board for adoption. Contents and specific
recommendations of the plan will be developed over several
meetings. It was suggested that task force members provide more
community representation by talking with their neighbors to get
their ideas for a vision for Scandia. The community needs to be
informed and educated as to how changes are going to affect them
and their property rights.
PRELIMINARY LIST OF ISSUES
Ms. Reichert presented a preliminary list of issues synthesized
from previous discussions of GMTF, Virginia Harris' report,
County and MET plans. 1) Community's future vision - what should
community look like in 20 years; 2) Agricultural lands - is it
important to sustain traditional commercial agriculture and how
do we maintain open vistas; 3) Natural amenity/protection areas -
are there areas of the Township that should be preserved
permanently (land bank); 4), General rural use areas - should
Township endorse County's policy regarding 10 acre densities with
2 acre minimum lots and can/should Township establish guidelines
for location, pace and design of development; 5) Rural town
center - should Township encourage its growth as a traditional
village with smaller lots and classic design; 6) Commercial/
Industrial development - what types are compatible with the long
term vision of the community.
LAND USE MAPS
The Township has contracted with Jerry Happel of Sight Plans to
provide various land use maps using digitized data from the
County. These will allow task force members to get a grasp of
current land use. Also, maps can be printed in color and sold by
the Township.
The next meeting is scheduled for September 5, 1996, at 7:00 p.m.