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5.b Public Comments_Nikki LavinBethany Center Conditional Use Permit Public Comments February 28, 2022 Nikki Lavin 202 7th St W Apartment 602 Saint Paul, MN 55102 RE: Bethany Conditional Use Permit Application Ms. Eklund- My purpose in writing this is to voice my strong opposition to the above-mentioned permit application. My family has been in Scandia since the early 1900’s. We have been at the same spot on 240th Street. My sister has even settled there with her family. She no doubt did that because of the environment that has been created in Scandia. It is a beautiful area that allows for access to quality schools in either Forest Lake or Chisago. It is an area that is incredible to grow up in. Growing up in Scandia no doubt shaped me as a person and gave me the tools to grow into a very successful adult. This permit application goes against and threatens all that which I grew with. It is a threat to property owners- past, present, and future. I am afraid that the city of Scandia and its Planning Commission has not done a thorough analysis of the wide impact that granting this application would cause. On many fronts. See below. 1. Scandia has progressed. And yet, it has retained its charm and history. It states in the application that many of the buildings will be “refurbished” or changed to serve other purposes. That is destroying the charm and history of Scandia. 2. I do not believe that any environmental study has been done. The area in question is home to deer. Pheasants. Some bears. Birds. And other animals. The application also states that “most of the trees” will be maintained. That implies that some will be destroyed, impacting the environment on many levels. Impacting what these animals use for their home and/or food. Of note, it is interesting and frankly, hypocritical, that the gentleman who submitted the request is an “environmental architect.” His proposal does nothing to protect the environment. 3. Has the Planning Commission looked into what impact this permit will have on property values? It doesn’t seem like it. Scandia is about growth but family and community. There is not one fact in the application that seems it will contribute to the property values of the surrounding land owners. People move out to Scandia to have space and peace. Adding Bethany Center Conditional Use Permit Public Comments buildings and people take away from the attractive nature and peace of living in Scandia, therefore lowering a property value. 4. Has the Planning Commission thought of the utility burden that allowing this permit would create? Building a large number of cabins would most likely not be sustainable with the current septic system. It would most likely need additional septic systems. This would further alter the land. Extra cabins and other things would also increase the electrical burden, necessitating utility poles and further alteration of the land. 5. Has the Planning Commission thought of the impact that having large groups of people would have on surrounding land owners? We live in Scandia for the environment. For the peace. Large groups of people are not conducive to that. 6. Has the Planning Commission thought of the impact that extra people would have on the existing roads? The existing roads are not equipped to handle all the extra traffic. To make them as such would require significant alteration and upgrading- further altering the environment and the land around it. 7. Has the Planning Commission thought of who would pay for the required alterations in this application? Alterations to the land, septic, electric, and roads. It seems as though it is very premature for the city of Scandia and its councils to entertain a permit application when it has not done the leg work to investigate its impact. I do not support the permit in the least as it would alter the area that I grew up in and negatively affect the lives of those around it. It makes Scandia an undesirable place to live. And that is unacceptable. I believe that several other members of my family, in additional to other property owners, have written comments regarding this matter. Please add mine to the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting. I am unable to attend due to work commitments. I would appreciate a written summary if possible. Thank You, Nikki Lavin