Planning Commission

We will be meeting for the last time in the old City Hall tonight. The Planning Commission will be discussing the important issue of Tier One Ordnances. Tier One is the territory that surrounds the City of Isanti that has been designated for future City limit expansion. The City of Isanti has zoning control of this land.

The issue arises when Isanti tries to develop ordnances that regulate behavior and establish precedent. We had an issue recently when a dog daycare and training business in Tier One applied for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). This business did not meet the requirements for such a permit from Isanti County. The City of Isanti has no ordnance regulating this type of business.

Since this property is in Tier One the landowner applied for a CUP from Isanti. This was denied by the Planning Commission and City Council. However, this process did reveal the underlining weakness. The City of Isanti appears to be able to approve such a CUP but has no mechanism to enforce existing noise and nuisance ordnances in Tier One.

This brings us to the current need to establish a policy of enforcement in Tier One. This will be a long involved process that requires both County and City officials to work together in a collaborative manner.

The Planning Commission will be receiving an update at tonight’s meeting. I would like to hear from anyone interested in this issue.