Camelot turns into a war zone

Posted 1/24/01

Camelot turns into a war zone

By MaryHelen Swanson

Taking heat for his recent comments and abstention from votes on the county board, Chisago County Dist. 1 Commissioner Tom Delaney started a conversation at the Jan.17 county board meeting saying ìI used to call my district Camelot, but Iím beginning to think itís a war zone because of the last few weeks.î

The issue was the Planning Commission (PC) request of Frankie and Debbie Dusenka for a revised text amendment to Chisago County Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.06 (A) that would allow storage buildings with one common space not to exceed 15,000 square feet per 40-acre parcel in agricultural zones (for the purpose of rental uses).

(At the PC meeting Jan. 4 the Dusenkas also added new language that detailed the type of seasonal vehicles that could be stored in such buildings).

If the amendment is approved, it would allow county residents in the agricultural district to construct storage buildings for the purpose of renting space to outside interests for storage of such items as boats, snowmobiles, trailers, jet skis, etc.

At the Jan. 4 Chisago County Planning Commission meeting, after a very lengthy discussion, the planning commissioners moved 6-1 to deny this request.

And that was the recommendation passed on to the county board.

But the commissioners, on a motion made by Delaney, and on a 3-2 vote, rejected the PC recommendation opting to send the issue back to the PC for more study.

Delaneyís motion was subsequently amended by Commissioner Bob Vande Kamp to give the PC 180 days in which to do this studying.

Then the question came up about the ì60-day rule.î It requires counties to make a decision on a request within 60 days of application or the request automatically becomes effective. Had Dusenka waived this provision? Because if not, the 60 days would be more than up since the original application came in last October.
Tara Delaney, administrative assistant from the zoning office, appearing in place of an ailing Marion Heemsbergen, apprised the board that a waiver had previously been received from the Dusenkas by fax.

Commissioner Delaney suggested that if his motion passed, another waiver would be needed from the applicant. And County Attorney Ted Alliegro agreed adding it must be in writing. Dusenka, who was present at the board meeting last week, verbally agreed to do so and in fact, did sign something drawn up by Alliegro during the meeting.

Why send it back?

Commissioner Delaney said the county needs to decide where all the boats and recreation vehicles from people in the cities are going to be stored.

He said there is not enough room in industrial parks for this kind of storage.

Commissioner Vande Kamp, whose second put Delaneyís motion on the floor, said there was a lot more to be addressed and that it was a bigger issue than this one amendment.

He said it was a big enough issue that it should go to the townships for them to study and make recommendations on and that, he said, is why he asked for 180 days.

Fifth Dist. Commissioner Mike Robinson, on the other hand, said he was at the Jan. 4 PC meeting, and noted it was lengthy. He said if the PC voted 6-1 to deny this request, the board should honor their recommendation.
Delaney insisted there were a ìton of questionsî to be answered. He said he was not being critical of the PC but the question remains as to how the county is going to address issues of storage.

Commissioner Ben Montzka said he leaned toward denial instead of sending it back to the PC and thus he voted against the motion, along with Commissioner Robinson.

Delaney insisted that the comprehensive plan and the county zoning ordinances do not agree and that a ìhasty decisionî should not be made in fairness to the Dusenkas, and the county.
Vande Kamp said it has to be dealt with. ìJust look about the county,î he said.

In a two-page letter to the commissioners dated Jan. 17, the Dusenkas also recommended that their proposal be studied further to determine if what they are asking for is an acceptable and appropriate use.

Following the passage of the Delaneyís first motion, Delaney then moved, and Vande Kamp seconded, a motion to have the planning commission work with staff and the countyís planning and zoning consultant to study and define issues relating to storage of seasonal recreational vehicles, and determine what, if any, changes could be made to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance to accommodate identified needs.

The consultant will then draw up conclusions and the PC as a whole would review them and make recommendations to the county board. This activity is to be done and completed no later than May 2, 2001.

At this point Commissioner Montzka said he thought Delaney was going to move to start the process for a complete revision of the countyís Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance. Commissioner Delaney responded that this was a first step in that direction.

In other business last week, the county board:
ï Moved to hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 on a tax abatement request from Anita Lind of Rush City.

ï Approved administration of and charging $300 for a temporary liquor license (one-three days) which includes running the request through the sheriff and county attorney.