Long Range Planning Commission

BAXTER LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, August 28, 2023 at 6:00 PM “A Growing Community” Baxter City Hall, 13190 Memorywood Drive, Baxter, MN CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Baxter Long Range Planning Commission was called to order at 6:00 pm by Chair Donnay. ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Kevin Donnay, Commissioners Lori Rubin, Cathy Clark, Mark Cross, Rock Yliniemi and Council Liaison Jeff Phillips MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioners Mellissa Barrick STAFF PRESENT: CD Director Josh Doty, Planner Matthew Gindele and Chief Jim Exsted OTHERS: Justin Barrick and Gregory DenHerder MINUTES 1. April 24, 2023 Long Range Planning Commission Meeting Minutes MOTION by Commissioner Yliniemi, seconded by Commissioner Rubin to approve the minutes from the April 24, 2023, as presented. Motion unanimously approved. COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS None OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS 2. City Hunting Map Chair Donnay asked for the staff report. Planner Gindele started with reviewing each requested change to the hunting map with aerial maps. They were the following areas: Project Area One is located on the west side of Whipple Lake on Red Sequoia Drive. The project area is approximately 29 acres in size and is outlined in blue in the image. The property abuts a large, vacant, privately owned parcel of land to the west and southwest that currently allow shotgun and archery hunting; and abuts large tracts of wooded land to the north which currently allow archery hunting. 8/28/2023 Long Range Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 The Police Chief received this request from one of the property owners to allow archery hunting on this property. The individual requesting the change stated that he was certain he could get signatures from all the residents on Red Sequoia, although no petition has been received by the City. Staff is supportive of adding this property to the Archery Only areas within the City of Baxter. Project Area Two is located on the east side of White Sand Lake on the south side of Kimberlee Drive. This is a request of the property owner to allow archery hunting on the subject property outlined in blue on an aerial. Staff is supportive of making this change to the map as the property is over 4 acres in size, is wooded, and is across the street from a larger vacant tract of land that currently allows archery hunting. Project Area Three is located approximately ½ mile west of White Sand lake north of HWY 210 and consists of 8 residential lots that are about an acre in size. The subject area totals approximately 8.75 acres in size and abuts a large vacant tract of privately owned wooded land that currently allows archery hunting. The residents within this area have all signed a petition to allow archery hunting. Staff is supportive of making the requested change from no hunting to archery only. Project Area Four was requested to be changed from archery only hunting to no hunting by a resident on Paris Road. The subject property is adjacent to Hwy 371 on its west side just north of the bridge over the Mississippi River and is approximately 16 acres in size. Paris Road borders the property to the south and Jasperwood Drive borders it on the west. A segment of the Paul Bunyan State Trail parallels both Paris Road and Jasperwood Drive on the edge of the subject property. The individual requesting the change states that he believes that hunting could be a safety hazard on the subject property due to its proximity to the trails. City staff has not received any complaints or hunting incident reports on the subject property. Additionally, there are many other properties in Baxter that border walking trails, parks, and more urbanized residential areas that allow hunting which the City has also not received any incident reports on due to hunting. For these reasons, staff is not in support of making the change to no hunting and recommends keeping it as is to allow Archery hunting only. Project Area Five is located between Rush Lake and Perch Lake on the west side of Knollwood Drive and is approximately .9 acres in size. The owner/resident of the subject property is requesting it be changed from no hunting to archery only. Due to the size, the location, and distance from any other large-tract parcels open to hunting, staff is not in support of changing it to archery only and recommends keeping it as no hunting. Planner Gindele stated that there was an additional request from Councilmember/Commissioner Cross to add his parcel of land as archery. There are homes to the south and east of the land, however BPU has a large tract of land to the west where a solar panel array is going to be installed. Chief Exsted and Planner Gindele reviewed the request and are comfortable allowing archery only. Planner Gindele stated staff recommends that the Long Range Planning Commission review the Hunting Map Amendment options and recommend specific map amendments to the City Council. Specifically, staff recommends that Project Areas 1-3 be changed to archery hunting only, Project Area 4 remain as is with archery hunting only allowed, and Project Area 5 remain as is with no hunting allowed. And the addition of 12843 Eagle Dr. to allow archery only. 8/28/2023 Long Range Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 Mr. Gregory DenHerder 6245 Paris Rd.-His concern is that the state of Minnesota just updated archery hunting to allow cross bows in the archery zone. A cross bow is much more dangerous being allowed to travel up to 400 feet in a second verses 200 with a regular bow. The City put parking on Paris Rd. and there are always people walking down there. It is extremely dangerous for the city of someone gets hurt or killed in that area. He added that he doesn’t want his family or animals hurt with a cross bow. He is asking for it to not be archery only. Chair Donnay stated that we lean on Chief Exsted to watch and determine the safety factor of the hunting map. Chief Exsted stated that he has been watching several safety aspects that have come up this year. He called on Justin Barrick who was in the audience and is a lifetime bow hunter. The chief stated that they have not looked into the archery/cross bow changes. He had a couple of thoughts, the first being if someone was injured, he doesn’t think the liability would fall on the city. The second is if the city was concerned about the cross bows there would be a lot of color removed from the map that we have worked very hard for 10 plus years on opening up land for hunting. Mr. Justin Barrick 4897 Oak St.-Indicated that Chief is correct, he has been in archery his whole life. His father now uses a cross bow, and they are very nice. He noted the gentlemen that spoke was correct, with the per second. He explained that the crossbows are very precise which might make up for the speed difference. He suggested turning this area red, where there is limited people allowed in there and they have to take the archery course and proficiency test to hunt in that area. Mr. Barrick added that everyone has worked hard to manage the deer population and removing some of the archery areas because of crossbows would reverse what has already been working to thin the deer population. Commissioner Cross stated that when he turned 60 he got a crossbow, and yes they shoot faster and are extremely accurate. It is a much cleaner shot than having to track down a wounded deer. Commissioner Cross asked who owns the property currently, Chief responded the same person from Bismarck bought that tract as well. Commissioner Cross asked if he is allowing people to hunt on that property, the Chief wasn’t sure, however all hunters still need owners’ approval to hunt on private land. The other property he owns is very limited hunting on his other parcels. Chief Exsted explained the “red” being added to the map a managed archery area. His other thought with the new crossbow regulations may all need to go red with all archery areas to be more restrictive. (person talking from audience) CD Director doty added that he has had conversation with the property owner over his parcels, however not about hunting. The owner met with many of the neighbors that used to hunt the Potlatch property and he has clamped down on the number of users. Chair Donnay asked if the property was changed to managed hunting what potential problems would that create for staff. Planner Gindele stated that the management plan was previously approved by this Commission, however it has not gone to Council as the map and management plan should go together to the next council meeting on September 5, 2023. He added that the management plan was only for city owned property when it was approved by this Commission. Chief Exsted stated it would not change the workload, as most of the work has been done. Commissioner Cross and staff had conversation about the corridor and city owned property to the north. Planner Gindele added that when writing the report on the Red Sequoia Dr. property the requesting party did not have a signed petition from the neighbors. Recently the petition was received with all property owners agreeing on Red Sequioa and a few on Ceder Scenic Rd. 8/28/2023 Long Range Planning Commission Minutes Page 4 MOTION by Commissioner Yliniemi, seconded by Commissioner Cross to approve the Hunting Map Amendment options and recommend specific map amendments to the City Council. Specifically, staff recommends that Project Areas 1-3 be changed to archery hunting only, Project Area 4 remain as is with archery hunting only allowed, and Project Area 5 remain as is with no hunting allowed. And the addition of 12843 Eagle Dr. to allow archery only, as presented by staff. Chair Donnay asked if there was any discussion. Commissioner Rubin stated she would like to know what the property owners would like done with that parcel. She was uncomfortable making that motion without hearing from the owner. Commissioner cross asked if she was OK with leaving the property as is at this point, she indicated that she was OK with archery only until hearing from the property owner. Commissioner Clark asked if there is any data indicating how many deer are taken from these locations. Chief Exsted stated that currently they are not, however he is working with IT to have a registration of deer taken. It should be up and running shortly. The language was placed in ordinance also. Baxter has been added to the DNR bonus hunt also. He added that the data is only as good as what they receive. Motion approved unanimously. CD Director Doty stated they would reach out to the property owner. He noted that this recommendation will move forward to Council for approval next week to keep the other property owners moving forward with the archery hunt for this season. Staff will inform the Commission at it’s next meeting. (person speaking from audience unable to hear) The Commission had conversation regarding the changes to the archery rules and that now anyone can use an archery bow, crossbow or compound bow with no age requirement, as indicated in the past. 3. Demographics Review Chair Donnay asked for the staff report. CD Director Doty stated the City of Baxter’s 2015 Comprehensive Plan includes demographics information from the 2010 Census. With 2020 Census information available, staff has reviewed 2020 census tables online. Attached are some updated numbers to the demographics section of the Comprehensive Plan. While not in the 2015 Comprehensive Plan, staff found a table that provided renter vs. owner occupied percentages, which staff thought was data that was interesting to add to the discussion. CD Director Doty reviewed the demographic trends with the Commission in the packet. He reviewed household sizes, number of houses, racial profile, age characteristics, household income, Housing tenure, employment, income, and residential land needs. Commissioner Cross noted that before Arbor Glen came along there were no places for older people to downsize to when they sold their larger properties. Now with more senior living people are staying in this area. The Commission noted the growth over the pandemic. It was noted that the rentals are up, especially with the multifamily housing being built. CD Director Doty noted the county data showed a need for additional housing. He noted the growth has been steady. 8/28/2023 Long Range Planning Commission Minutes Page 5 Commissioner Clark asked if there was data on the pandemic. CD Director Doty indicated that he does not have that data. She was curious about what drew people to the area. 4. Comprehensive Plan Review Chair Donnay asked for the staff report. CD Director Doty stated that the comprehensive plan is used by staff regularly, especially during development. As previously discussed, the 2015 plan is 8-years old and questions have been raised if the plan is due for an update. Staff has been documenting possible initiatives for next time the plan is updated. CD Director Doty reviewed each chapter and bullet point in the comprehensive plan review with the Commission. Chapter 2-Commissioner Cross asked if Baxter has any R-1a lots currently. CD Director Doty indicated that there are not any currently, however that zone is on the zoning map. He added that no one has come forward and requested smaller lots. Currently, the single-family homes being built are on existing lot sizes. With the number of lots available, there hasn’t been a need to rezone and plat new single-family lots. Commissioner Cross stated the city was supposed to get mixed use on the Good Sam site and then City center came in and nothing came about. Commissioner Cross jokingly asked if the city can buy it for 1 million and get that location moving. CD Director Doty joking had no comment. Chapter 3-Commissioner Cross noted that Duluth has motorized bikes and it is nice to jump on one of those to go from the hotel to the DECC, versus taking a car. Chapter 4-Commissioner Cross asked regarding the Gull Lake Trail, where that trail coming around Gull Lake, as it comes out by Madden’s, how far east on County 77. CD Director Doty stated they are showing the trail currently exists on County 77 as road shoulder, however it’s not a grade separated trail like we have in Baxter on the Clearwater trail corridor. Chapter 5- CD Director Doty stated these were some of the items he has taken notes on since the last comp. plan amendment. Commissioner Cross stated he has been through quite a few of these plan updates over his career and he tends to get gun shy, however, knows it has to be done. He challenged everyone to be very careful about the wording that goes into the plan. He explained that one sentence in multi-mobile and it cost the city millions of dollars on our streets. One sentence on renewable energy and we get a project in here that is comp. plan driven for us to run through the system. Commissioner Yliniemi stated that letting the neighbor cut down a tree so they can have a solar panel. Commission Cross added or a field of solar panel next to residential. Commissioner Cross commented on the smaller lots to make things more sustainable. He questioned, are big cities more sustainable? He felt there is a line there, people want to lie in Baxter for a 1-acre lot. If they want that then they should go to Brainerd. When asking for more density we should be asking for multi-family. He doesn’t understand why people won’t build townhomes anymore. Finding out what people want is also a need to know. CD Director Doty added that there have been rental townhomes developed in Baxter but far less owner driven townhomes. 8/28/2023 Long Range Planning Commission Minutes Page 6 Commissioner Cross noted we are not a bigger city. Chair Donnay added that that he has only been through one comp. plan and restraint is important, be careful what you wish for, as not everyone in Baxter wants the same thing. He added that broad thinking and creativity will help the city thrive and prosper. Commissioner Clark said being visionary and intentional because change is going to happen, don’t you want to steer and guide the change. She noted that everyone says, “they don’t like change”, however we all know it’s coming, let’s get ahead of it. She spoke of driving conduct and about and the huge issues with pedestrian connections. She spoke of narrowing the driving lanes for the bike path. Commission Yliniemi added that Baxter has narrowed lanes to allow for bike lanes, such as Memorywood. CD Director Doty stated staff is looking for guidance on some of these items. He asked the Commission to give staff comments if there was something that wasn’t discussed tonight. There is no time crunch on this, it’s up to this Commission, and the Council to decide when to work on the plan. Commissioner Cross asked if this is something staff wants to take on or if a consultant is going to be hired. CD Director Doty said to work on all the initiatives in the staff report would require a consultant, as that is a lot to take on. Commissioner Cross asked what the last consultant cost. CD Director Doty was not sure of the exact amount but is was a large amount and he wasn’t sure what today’s costs would be. CD Director Doty stated if there were a few small things that were updated staff could do those. He added staff doesn’t have the software to do many of the graphs and graphics. Stantec, for example, has a template to create different graphics for plan documents. The other item that must be factored is including the public. All comp. plan updates are required to hold public hearings but updates also have outreach to the public for the process. Chair Donnay suggested each Commissioner come up with the top five items. It was noted that the 210/371 corridor may change the whole conversation. There is money ear-marked for that project. Commissioner Cross noted that the Council will be discussing this at the Council budget meeting on August 29, 2023. He noted the Council will have to budget for a consultant. Commissioner Clark stated it would be nice to have some actionable items instead of just talking about items. Commissioner Yliniemi added if we are going to hire someone to look at Baxter green way, then we have some outsiders telling us what we need to put in that corridor, not this Commission or the people that live here. Commissioner Cross added last time we had community involvement and only 50 people showed up and placed sticky notes on specific areas. There is a disconnect with the public and now we are a city of 9,000 people, there needs to be more involvement. CD Director Doty stated that getting public involvement is always the hardest part of a public process. He noted there are more digital ways that we can reach out. Commissioner Cross said Stantac did more to guide us, the previous consultant, who wrote the comp. plan for us. Commissioner Yliniemi stated we were supposed to have the Gateway standards, now five years later we are hiring a consultant to write those standards. Commissioner Cross stated that the consultant would not be hired to create standards, but to take what we give them. After that plan update there were ordinance changes made to reference the comp. plan. Chair Donnay liked the guidance from Stantec. UPDATES Commissioner Cross noted that there were chairs from other Commission that were not present. CD Director Doty said that this Commission was to include the chair or designated representative from each commission. Commissioner Cross asked which Commission is not being represented. CD 8/28/2023 Long Range Planning Commission Minutes Page 7 Director Doty indicated Planning and Zoning and Park Commission. Chair Donnay asked if Chair Barrick was no longer with the Parks Commission. CD Director Doty replied that Chair Barrick requested not to be involved with the Commission. Chair Donnay said we have all asked not to be involved and it didn’t work for them. CD Director Doty noted that the ARC Commission was disbanded, so that is another topic for discussion. Commissioner Cross said the Parks and Planning and Zoning Commissions are a big part of this comp. plan and should have representation. Chair Donnay said maybe the commission should be complete prior to starting any work on the comp. plan. CD Director Doty agreed. ADJOURN MOTION by Commissioner Cross, seconded by Commissioner Clark to adjourn the meeting at 8:01 p.m. Motion unanimously approved. Approved by: Submitted By: ___________________________ ______________________________ Kevin Donnay Shanna Newman Chair CD Administrative Assistant