By MaryHelen Swanson

On May 24, North Branch native Clayton Anderson, now in his 90s, was present at the county board meeting accompanied by attorney Virginia Bell to attempt to get a decision, made by Chisago County Engineer Bill Malin and Engineering Tech Ben Utech, overturned.

Public Works had made a decision to deny a driveway access off County Road 68 (aka Falcon Avenue) due to spacing issues.

Requesting the access, property owners Old Little Sweden, Inc., said they need the access to make their planned development work.

Besides, Bell said, an access is required by the state of Minnesota.

And presenting a map of the area, she showed that an access off 68 has been there for decades.

Furthermore, Bell claimed the county had already approved an access in 2001 when Nelsonís Market had plans to build on this land.

Describing the access as a right in-right out only drive, Bell said the group she represents believes the access is safe.

She believed the access fell within county ordinance, also.

The access would be placed about mid-way between Hwy. 95 and 386th Street. It is at the west end of a large parcel of land which is currently occupied on the east end by Community National Bank and a liquor store.

The commercial development being planned for this 12-acre area includes a medical and dental clinic, several office/retail spaces, a gas station and a fast food restaurant. There would be accesses to 386th, which currently runs east-west from CR 68 to the Tanger Outlet area.

But OLS claimed they need the CR 68 access to retain the development value of the property.

As for the countyís transportation plan and ordinances, Bell felt the Spacing Guidelines in the plan were just that, guidelines.

Bell also indicated in a written correspondence that should the denial hold, they would be requesting a variance from the ordinance.

Melin responded saying it was the Public Works departmentís opinion that this would be an unsafe access.

Utech, in a letter to Old Little Sweden, Inc., noted that CR 68 is classified an urban collector. And spacing requirements for such roads say accesses need to be at least 435 feet apart, per the countyís transportation plan. From centerline of CR 68 to the centerline of Hwy. 95 is 680 feet, so the new access could not meet the required spacing distance, Utech explained.

Additionally, Utech noted that access locations should be directed onto roadways with lower functional classification or lower traffic volume.

Public Works does not believe that is or will be the case with all the proposed development in that area on the west side of the freeway.

While there was more discussion on the issue that day, there was no decision by the board on the appeal.

Action was deferred to June 7. The board meets tonight at 6:30 p.m.