Construction moratorium provides 60-day review of comprehensive plan

Posted 6/22/01

Construction moratorium provides 60-day review of comprehensive plan

By Jason Sileo

The Stacy City Council has placed a 60-day new construction moratorium on the city while comprehensive plan issues are are dealt with and clarified.

Stacy Mayor Kathi Lawrence said the moratorium, approved by the council at its June 12 meeting, will allow city government to bring the comprehensive plan up to date before any new construction is permitted in the city.

The moratorium states, ìthere is a need to study issues related to permitted uses in various zoning districts to determine what regulatory controls may need to be adopted to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.î

The moratorium will not apply to work that has received all the necessary permits and approvals from the city prior to June 12, the effective day of the moratorium.

Mayor Lawrence said the comprehensive plan, basically a long-term blueprint for city planners and land use officials, is not necessarily due for a major overhaul, just a bit of a tune-up.

The city council also voted to form a fire hall committee to study fire protection issues in the city and bring its findings and recommendations to the council. Lawrence said the committee, upon formation, would then ìaddress the cityís options for fire coverage.î

Lawrence said the city had received correspondence from Chisago County Commissioner Ben Montzka regarding the cityís disagreement with Lent Township regarding fire coverage. That situation was reported at length in last weekís Post Review.

Lawrence said Montzka has recommended Jim Thoreen, county administrator, to play the role of a negotiations moderator. The mayor said the city would be interested in pursuing Montzkaís suggestion.
ìWe all agreed that that would be a good idea,î Lawrence said of the suggestion to include the services of a moderator in joint powers talks.

Mayor Lawrence said issues regarding access to the Stacy Amoco had resurfaced. Motorists had been taking a shortcut across a residentís property and city curbage to gain access to the adjacent Amoco station ñ currently inaccessible off County Road 19 ñ and the city feels Amoco management is responsible for placement of a live barricade/ screen in the area.

Orange construction cones and private property warning signs had been placed along the property line in question in recent weeks by the city, but Lawrence said those measures were ìnot enough.î

Amocoís conditional use permit for the property calls for the placement of a ìlive bufferî (trees, shrubs, etc.), Lawrence said, and the city believes the situation remains Amocoís responsibility.

The council accepted with regret the resignations of Jim Donahue and Dennis Thieling from the Stacy Planning Commission, and the city is now accepting applications for placement of two new planning commissioners. ìWeíre looking for anyone whoís interested in helping our community grow and prosper,î Lawrence said. ìOne voice helps a lot.î

In other business, the council:

ï Agreed to consider a new exterior paint job for the municipal liquor store.

ï Approved the purchase of OSHA-required health and safety equipment for Tom Archibald, head of city maintenance, with regard to confined entry practices in the city.

ï Denied a variance request from Ray Sandstrom regarding construction of a new garage. The council maintained that Sandstrom had failed to demonstrate undue hardship with his request for the variance.

ï Agreed to examine and consider updating the cityís emergency management plan following the suggestion to do so by a concerned citizen.