11-26-96 growth mgmt task forceNovember 26, 1996
The Growth Management Task Force (GMTF) met on this date. In
attendance were: Co -Chairs Blair Joselyn and Kevin Nickelson,
Dan Booren, Edith Hadlich, Bill Plowman, Charlie Ellis, John
Borchert, LaVayne Dupslaff, Gary Hogle, Richard Tetzlaff, Terry
Dreyer, Colleen Firkus and Consultant Peggy Reichert.
MET COUNCIL LETTER
A letter drafted by Ms. Reichert to Curt Johnson, Chair,
Metropolitan Council was reviewed. The letter from Charles
Nordin is the Township's response to the proposed amendments to
the Regional Blueprint. New Scandia Township generally supports
the regional growth management strategy outlined in the proposed
amendments such as the Township being designated part of the
Permanent Rural Area with an overall gross density of one unit
per ten acres with New Scandia acknowledged as an "exception
community" which already exceeds that gross density average. The
Township expressed reservations about the narrow band of land
along the western edge of the Township being included in the
Urban Reserve Area. Finally, the Township requested the MET
Council remain open to the possibility of designating New Scandia
as a Rural Growth Center.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OUTLINE
Ms. Reichert presented a draft outline of the Township
Comprehensive Plan. Most of the information in the outline is
already in the Plan with a new category of a Land Use Plan added
which will be the GMTF area of concentration. Ms. Reichert
indicated the Plan may have to be reorganized and rewritten
instead of adding an addendum in order to fit new information in
the Plan.
ISSUES PAPER I
The GMTF reviewed an Issues Paper prepared by Ms. Reichert. The
paper was outlined as follows: Regional and County Plan and
Growth Management Policies; describing Existing Land Use by
dividing the Township into quadrants with a Rural Town Center;
Planning and Growth Management Goals with possible additional
goals to consider; General Land Use Categories (Agricultural
1/20, General Rural 1/10, Semi -Rural 1/5, Urban Reserve 1/40,
Rural Town Center 1/2 ) and Policies for each category; and Land
Use Alternatives.
Four Land Use Alternatives were discussed. Maps outlining areas
in the Township with categories of land use were used to generate
discussion of how to distribute development density. An
overwhelming majority of the GMTF were against an Urban Reserve
area and for an expansion of the town center. Alternative three
seemed to be a favorite, with the elimination of the Urban
Reserve area. Other points brought up for consideration were a
need to concentrate on Township road patterns, encourage cluster
development in Semi -rural (1/5) areas, and a need to notify all
Township landowners who would be affected any land use changes.
The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 23, 1997
Colleen Firkus
Secretary