As the planner for a rural Township in Washington County, I am facing the issue of neighbor complaints about a dirt bike course on private, residential property. The course is only used by the residents. Our zoning ordinance is silent about dirt bike course and ATVs, and so far it has been considered a legal accessory use.

What has been your experience with this issue, as the planner? Are courses like this something to regulate as a land use? Should we strengthen our noise ordinance? I would very much appreciate hearing how the issue has played out in your community. Thanks.

Berry Elizabeth Farrington, AICP
Planner
phone: (651) 726-7904
fax: (651) 292-0083
email: berry.farrington@tkda.com

Members:

The Metropolitan Council and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development are presenting a Brownfield Workshop on Feb. 23, 2010, at 8:00 AM in Arden Hills. See attachment for more information.

Otto/Peg Schmid
Co-administrators APA Minnesota

We are looking at refining our code enforcement process within Community Development, while working cohesively with the Police Department. How are other cities handling their code enforcement process? Which department handles which violations? How are other cities handling abatement of non-corrected issues, or are they issuing citations? If so, how are they handling the longevity of the process? Please email your information to me at trosenfeld@ci.belleplaine.mn.us.

Thanks, Trisha

I have a City Council Member interested in hearing about other cities’ experiences with windmills. In particular:

1) How did the windmill(s) come to the city- private company or city initiated?

2) Is there a revenue stream for the city?

3) What are the overall impressions of the windmill from a city’s perspective- was this a good thing for the city or not?

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Kari Barker

Associate Planner

City of Hastings | 101 4th Street East | Hastings , MN 55033 | p. 651.480.2377 | f. 651.437.7082 | www.ci.hastings.mn.us

Does anyone have any suggestions for good conservation subdivision regulations ? Ideally, an ordinance that would show a “gridlike”, “modified grid”, or “connected” street pattern, as opposed to subdivisions with cul-de-sacs.

Thanks,

Dan Olson

City Planner

City of Northfield

507-645-3056

Dan.Olson@ci.northfield.mn.us

Hello All,

I’m looking for a sample ordinance of an Interim Use Permit. If you have one that you could share with me I would appreciate it.

Thanks,
Austin Bleess
Community Development Director
City of Wells
ableess@cityofwells.net
Direct Dial: 507-553-6373
Fax: 507-553-5126

Planning commissioners throughout Minnesota are faced with complex planning and design questions. When reviewing planning applications, commissioners are faced with specific questions related to interpretation, performance review, findings of fact and past precedent. To complicate things further, members are often asked (by applicants) to approve an application for an assortment reasons not related to planning, zoning, city ordinances or state statutes.

Within the past several months, the MnAPA has increased membership of Planning Commissions throughout the state through the special membership offer and help from the West Central Initiative. This increase in membership is intended to create dialogue between planning commissions and advisory bodies throughout the state. In addition to dialogue between members, our recently elected Citizen Planner, Cathy Waldhauser of Golden Valley will be an excellent resource to provide information and discuss topics.

The Executive Board wishes to welcome the 30 new Planning Commissions to the MnAPA. We hope that you will become active members in this organization, post comments, ask questions and reach out to other commissions, advisory groups, and MnAPA members throughout the state! (If you know of a Planning Commission that would like to become a member, please contact Chapter Administrators Peg or Otto Schmid).

Welcome aboard new PC member communities…
Sartell
Golden Valley
Fergus Falls
Otter Tail County
Barnesville
Moorhead
Nisswa
St. Michael
Barrett
Frazee
Breckenridge
Montrose
Madison Lake
Clay County
Hawley
New York Mills
St. Paul
Alexandria
Wright County
Glenwood
Traverse County
Perham
Douglas County
Glyndon
Detroit Lakes
Pine City
Burnsville

Are there any MnAPA cities providing incentives for residential development by writing down utility costs? Please provide any responses to jklima@ci.shakopee.mn.us.

Thanks,

Julie

Julie Klima

Sr. Planner

City of Shakopee

Phone: 952.233.9347

Fax:952.233.3800