Home Page

Opinion

On efforts to protect our riverways

To the editor:
I am taking this opportunity to comment on efforts currently underway in Chisago County to provide added protection to our beautiful St. Croix and Sunrise River areas. These efforts began last year with the passing of an interim zoning ordinance that postponed development near the St. Croix and the South Branch of the Sunrise River until the county planning commission and department of environmental services could have an opportunity to study the impact of development in these sensitive areas.
The St. Croix and Sunrise rivers are without doubt Chisago Countyís most important natural resources. These areas have had special protection for a number of years under our current zoning and subdivision ordinances.
However, the ordinances governing development were not designed to address the unprecedented level of development these areas have experienced in recent years.
The interim ordinance was designed to give opportunity for a ìtime outî so that the needs of our river areas could be evaluated before further, possibly detrimental, changes would occur.
As part of the process of evaluation, the county board designated two of its members, Lora Walker and Rick Olseen, as a liaison committee to work with zoning staff on this issue. The y spent several weeks studying environmental, aesthetic and public safety aspects of the river areas.
As a a result of their findings, the liaison committee identified a number of goals and objectives that will help protect the St. Croix and Sunrise River areas. These include preserving or improving water quality, aesthetics, wildlife habitat, environmental diversity and quality of life.
The board has requested zoning staff and the planning commission to focus their attention on these areas as ones of immediate concern.
Consequently, the temporary restrictions on land subdivision in the riverway areas were lifted last week.
The board also outlined six topics of needed study, identified by the liaison committee, and requested zoning staff and the planning commission to address these concerns. They are:
ï defining bluff lines and setback requirements
ï use of conservation-friendly subdivision and landscaping design
ï placement of utility lines underground
ï use of tree planting for aesthetic buffers
ï avoidance of fragmentation of woodlands
ï conducting a natural resources inventory
Planning for the future, by its very nature, comes at a cost to the present. Development of the St. Croix and Sunrise riverway areas will change our county permanently and irreversibly.
It is incumbent upon us, who live here while these changes are occurring, to take the time necessary and have the courage to make wise decisions.
I believe it is possible to make choices that will both preserve and protect our countyís greatest natural assets without trampling on ownersí property rights.
This will take time, careful study, creativity and flexibility to accomplish.
I intend to follow through this process with every resource at my disposal, the most important of which is the opinion of my constituents.
I continue to invite dialogue on these important matters.

Ben Montzka
Chisago County
Commissioner, District 4

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com