Harris works to meet moratorium deadline

By Danielle Strenke
Harris will have to work quickly to make changes to the revised draft of its zoning ordinances, before the 45-day moratorium extension is lifted, Mayor Richard Hanson said.
Attorney Kevin Shoeberg has been revising the zoning ordinances for a couple of months, and has added numerous items to the zoning ordinances such as a definitions section including 180 definitions.
At its regular meeting last Thursday, the council discussed changes that to the ordinances.
ìThereís more in here on noise and commercial lighting,î Hanson said.
He is pleased that the zoning ordinances contain sections specifically on what types of buildings can be built for businesses in Harris.
ìThe city can have a certain amount of say as to what they will allow to be put in an area,î he said.
ìWe can tell them what type of building to put up that will make an area look better, not worse.î
Shoeberg told the council the revised ordinances would be more user-friendly. ìTheyíre more organized, which makes it easier for people who want to come in and look something up and eases the burden on city staff,î he said.
Much of the language from the ordinances drafted two years ago remains the same, but items like shoreland and wetland overlays are included as well as a section on sewage systems in rural areas not connected to city water. ìThis section is more restrictive than the state and is modeled after Washington County,î Hanson said.
He said the council along with the planning commission would have to hold workshop sessions until the ordinances were complete, but the council is optimistic they will finish before the deadline of the moratorium extension in October. ìWe will have to go through and find things rather quickly, but even after the moratorium is lifted it will be a constant process of reviewing the ordinances and making changes,î he said.

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