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Rivers not only source of beauty in the county

There has been a lot of fuss lately about preserving the land around the St. Croix and Sunrise rivers in our county. I agree completely that these areas should be kept pristine for the sake of future generations. But there are too many people who think that the land around the rivers is the only important asset in our county, and that these areas are the sole attraction to visitors because of their beauty.
Look around everybody, this entire county is beautiful. There are woods, fields and lakes that should be protected as well. Lakes, especially, that attract people summer, fall, winter and spring. Stop by the boat landings and youíll see how much these treasures are being used. With the exception of Sunrise Lake, I have not heard much about preservation around any other lake in the county.
And while you are so worried about the land by the rivers, farm land, especially in the northern half of the county, is turning into a patchwork quilt as one after another small development (10-15 homes) are springing up where once cornfields stood. Approval of such plats comes very easy, it seems, if itís not by a river. We not only will lose the fields, but the trees, magnificent oaks and maples that are ablaze in autumnís glory each year. How dull will be our county when they have all been razed for small housing developments, developments that do not even replant trees for the future.
When you are approving all these plats are you considering if people really want to own a home in a small development in the middle of nowhere or do they simply want a nice home in a more rural community. Outside of any city in the county, especially in the northern half, is definitely more ìruralî than anything in the metro area. When people buy a home in a subdivision, it isnít really living in ìthe country,î with pigs and cows and harrows and plows and stinky manure being spread on fields, itís just living in a housing development thatís far away from services.
Take, for instance, the recently approved development west of Rush Point. Its main road comes out on a busy thoroughfare, County Road 7, right in a very dangerous curve. I know, Iíve seen a number of accidents occur at this site. The plat is for 11 homes, thatís a minimum of 11 additional cars entering the busy county road in the curve, more likely the number will be closer to 22. This development is far away from public services such as police and fire. There is no community sewer system. There are no trees for protection, it was a farm field. Would these homeowners not be just as happy in their $200,000 home built in a two-mile radius from any of the established cities? When do we get to the planning that spreads growth out from the cities rather than dots small housing developments all over our county?
I urge the county to remember that the planning in process is for the comprehensive plan, meaning all inclusive, Chisago County from the Pine City border to Wyoming, from that beautiful St. Croix River to the Isanti County border. While you focus on the rivers, although very important indeed, the rest of the county, more than 40,000 people strong, has needs for good zoning decisions also.
Please, commissioners, donít ignore the rest of the treasures such as our beautiful lakes and forests.
Letís just take a step back and calm down while the county planner and the appointed committee work on the comprehensive plan. It will take time, I know, I followed Isanti Countyís planning process for years. When it was done, it was something that satisfied almost everyone. Farmland was preserved, especially north of Hwy. 95, space was designated for growth around the established cities (who also had a voice in the zoning of those areas), housing density suited the majority, and for the most part, the beauty of that rural county was saved.
We will have a comp plan and eventually revise our ordinances to coincide with that plan. Still, people should understand that, like the sands on an ocean beach, things are ever-changing, even in how a county is developed. New people, different ideas can change a comp plan and ordinance in a flash.
But for now, commissioners, try to think about the rest of the ìtreasures,î too, as rivers are not the only source of beauty in Chisago County.

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