4.c 7a Bob Johnson letter to PCMarch 30, 2016
To the members of the Scandia Planning Committee, I feel compelled to
send you this note to voice some of my concerns about the proposed Solar
Garden on Oldfield Ave N.. The legal issues were brought up at the meeting on
March 22, 2016 and I would like to highlight a few other issues. The first being the
property in question is one of the HIGHEST POINTS in Washington County which
would make it very difficult to obscure 40% of the panels from the right-of-way as
well as the neighboring properties. The second being the erosion on the property
which has been a real problem in past years when we have received lots of snow
and a very quick melt in the spring. I have witnessed this first hand.
My wife and I have lived in Scandia for 40 years and have always been
proud to be associated with this town. I also served on the Scandia Fire
Department for over 20 years and was proud to do so, wanting to give back to our
community for all that it had given to us. My thoughts and feelings of being able
to say I live in Scandia will change greatly if projects like this are put through
against the wishes of so many local citizens of this great town.
There are certainly other areas that would be a better foot print for a
project like this, but not the highest point in the county. I would hope that deep
down you know this to be true. To repeat a quote from our Mayor Randall
Simonson that he gave at the July 28th, 2015 meeting concerning the building of
solar gardens in the town of Scandia, "Design and location are two important
factors to consider in being sensitive to our aesthetics and neighbors." I hope you
remember this quote when the time comes to make a final decision.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Bob Johnson
23935 Oldfield Ave N.
RECEIVED 651-433-5392
MAK 31 2016
CITY OF SCANDIA