08.b Minutes approved 05-23-2022 Planning Commission
May 23, 2022
The Scandia Planning Commission held a special meeting on the above date with modifications.
The purpose of the meeting was to hold the public hearing on the draft Unified Development
Code. The meeting was conducted in-person and virtually over an electronic platform. Technical
problems resulted in muted sound the first ten minutes for those participating virtually, and
occurred intermittently throughout the meeting.
The following were in attendance at City Hall: Commissioners Kirsten Libby and Perry Rynders.
Commissioner Jan Hogle was present via remote attendance. Staff present: City Administrator
Ken Cammilleri, City Planner Evan Monson and City Clerk Brenda Eklund. Council member
Jerry Cusick was in attendance. Consultant Jennifer Haskamp, SHC, participated remotely.
Due to the technical problems, Administrator Cammilleri did not recognize Commissioner
Hogle’s attendance and announced that a quorum of Commissioners was not achieved. Staff
directed the Commissioners to take comments from the public but no decisions could be made.
The meeting began at 7:06 p.m.
SHC consultant Jennifer Haskamp summarized the edits made up to this point, with the objective
of making the code easier to use and understand, being defined as the Unified Development
Code. The City’s development code must be consistent with the 2040 Comp Plan adopted in
2019. An open house was held on the draft document on April 11th, with suggested edits and
modifications incorporated into the draft presented this evening.
Commissioner Libby asked if the accessory structure table was adjusted, as discussed by the
Commissioners at their May 3rd meeting, to allow for more square footage on larger properties.
Haskamp explained that flexibility has been built into the code language. Flexibility from the
standards in the table may be permitted with a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), provided all other
standards and regulations of the Base Zoning District are met. Haskamp said Subdivision 6 (II)
allows that the City shall consider a bonus up to the following limits: a. One additional structure;
b. No more than an additional 25% of total square footage. Staff clarified that a CUP has a lower
threshold of approval as compared to a variance and can be permitted with a set of conditions.
Commissioner Rynders asked for any comments from the public.
Janet Heller, property owner of 11090 190th Street, said they have 18 acres and the number of
accessory structure limits seem very low for property this size which only allows for two
structures. Heller gave examples of their plans for storage space, such as a woodshed, garbage
cart storage, and boat storage in addition to a pole barn. She said they would like smaller
buildings within the allowed total square footage. Currently there is one exemption for a shed
less than 120 square feet. Heller said the wetlands on the property also limit the size of the
building in order to meet setbacks. Rynders said it appears the new UDC would provide the
ability to have one additional structure with a CUP.
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May 23, 2022
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Heller stated that at the last meeting, the Commission discussed changing encroachments into
setbacks for stairs and window wells out to 4 feet. Haskamp said that there was no discussion at
the open house so this didn’t get into the draft code. Administrator Cammilleri noted that the list
of permitted encroachments into required setbacks was on page 3.
At 7:28 p.m., Administrator Cammilleri recognized Commissioner Hogle’s remote attendance
and announced that a quorum was present. Commissioner Rynders officially called the meeting
to order at 7:28 p.m.
Hogle, second by Libby, moved to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 3-0 by
roll call vote.
PUBLIC HEARING: DRAFT UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE
Commissioner Rynders opened the public hearing on the Draft Unified Development Code at
7:29 p.m.
The Commission addressed Heller’s question about the encroachment changes. Commissioner
Libby said her notes indicated the Commission was in favor of changes to address ADA
requirements for sidewalks. Rynders agreed that 3-feet width is not adequate for an ADA
sidewalk. Air conditioner equipment was also recognized as a potential encroachment.
Heller said that other language changes were discussed at the May 3rd meeting. Commissioner
Rynders said he will check to see if any recommended changes were incorporated or can be
incorporated.
Charles DeWolfe, 20394 St. Croix Trail, said he would like to address residential accessory solar
requirements (Local SES). DeWolfe said the National Electrical Code is going away from
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL), and recommended language in the ordinance be changed
to be consistent with the National Electrical Code. DeWolfe said that limiting ground mounted
solar installations to 800 square feet seems arbitrary. Service utilities limit the size to what your
house uses, sizing the system to 120% of the home’s annual usage, making a system design size
of 1,200 square feet for his home. Commissioner Rynders said the size limit is more an aesthetic
standard. DeWolfe said size shouldn’t matter if the system is screened, but rather sized for
infrastructure that meets the needs of the household which should be the determining factor for
the size of the system.
There were no other comments and the hearing was closed at 7:41 p.m.
Administrator Cammilleri recommended the Commissioners hold their discussion on the UDC at
their June 7th meeting because a full Commission was not present.
Commissioner Rynders asked Haskamp if the definition of slope / grade was consistent, because
prohibiting construction on a 25% grade would limit placing driveways through an existing
ditch. Rynders also asked for research on the definition of bluff line.
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May 23, 2022
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Haskamp said the bluff line is protected to the extent possible, subject to review by the city
engineer. The bluff line definition is cross referenced to Chapter 5, the shoreland management
ordinance, so as to define it in one place. Haskamp said this is the DNR definition for shoreland
rules.
Commissioner Rynders summarized action for the next meeting: review of accessory structure
quantity based on lot size; discuss the width of items allowed into encroachments relative to
ADA compliance; discuss maximum ground based solar square footage for residential systems;
discussion on refining residential solar language.
Commissioner Hogle agreed it best to discuss the UDC at the next meeting when all
Commissioners can weigh in on the topics of discussion.
ADJOURNMENT
Hogle, second by Libby, moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 3-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Eklund
City Clerk