Planning Commission August 8th

The Isanti Planning Commission will be meeting Tuesday at 7pm. We will be discussing the following topics:

The proposed AmericInn on Main Street north of Hurricane Car Wash

A discussion regarding Iverson Real-estate’s request for a development with extremely small lots less than 6,000 square feet

Isanti adopting the recently accepted County Tattoo Ordinance

Residential Landscaping standards

Vehicles in residential neighborhoods

Changing public storm water ponds to private ownership

The first item is the final arrival of AmericInn to Isanti. Having a place for visitors to stay is a critical part of any community’s growth. This is especially needed with Spectacular Events on highway 5. We have many summer wide events that will also benefit from lodging accommodations. This coupled with the commercial growth on the corner of 65 and 5 will bring Isanti a great future if it is managed well. I am excited about this first critical step in our city’s future.

Iverson Real-estate’s request for extremely small lot housing does not benefit Isanti. This may make the property cheaper and easier to sell but it also creates row housing of a style that was considered detrimental to a City by the late 1960s. This item was tabled two weeks ago and sent back to the Planning Commission by the City Council because Mr. Iverson presented many new claims and documentation refuting City Staff’s and Planning Commission’s findings of fact to deny this request. There is nothing new in the materials presented to show a reason to allow such a detrimental development in our great city.

I have asked the Planning Commission to review and recommend the adoption of the County Tattoo Ordinance. This will bring us into sync with the county.

Residential landscaping requirements have caused some confusion. Current City ordinances state you may sod or seed. City staff has been using a document agreed to by several builders, former city Administrator and the Mayor. This document mandates items not in ordinance. This is absurd. Side agreements can not take the place of city Ordinances. We need to codify City requirements so everyone knows the rules they need to follow.

Vehicle parking in residential areas have become a hot topic. The main discussion revolves around commercial vehicles in driveways, RV parking and vehicles/trailers on grass areas. I look for ward to a vigorous debate on this topic. There are many standards that can be applied. We need to create an environment with flexibility yet have a City that is aesthetically appealing.

The last item is Storm Water Ponds. Isanti had a disastrous history with private storm water ponds. Landowners will fill and use the area and degrade the storm water retention capacity. Water damage will result as has occurred over and over again in current private storm ponds in Isanti. The main issues revolve around area and City wide ponds having to be maintained by private owners and tax hikes on these same owners. Please see:

http://georgewimmer.blogspot.com/2006/04/response-to-commissioner-duffs-letter.html