PineandLakes.com: Lake Shore: City approves new zoning, subdivision ordinance 07/29/09

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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

10:50 AM on Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Lake Shore: City approves new zoning, subdivision ordinance

By Nancy Vogt

nancy.vogt@pequotlakesecho.com

The city of Lake Shore has a new zoning and subdivision ordinance after the city council approved it Monday, July 27.

Approval came after the Planning Commission began work on revisions a few years ago.

Highlights of revisions include:

Changing pre-existing lot and nonconforming structure/lots to reflect changes to the state statute this year.

Adding dwellings in transit, which weren't addressed in the previous ordinance.

Changing the Agricultural District zoning classification to Rural Residential because the agricultural use has declined. There was no change in lot sizes or uses. This district still allows agricultural uses.

Adding a new category for buildable area.

Decreasing impervious coverage to 20 percent from 25 percent. A property owner could increase the amount to 25 percent with a stormwater plan.

Allowing the area above garages to be used for guest quarters. A separate structure used solely as guest quarters still needs to meet specific performance standards.

Prohibiting beach sand blankets except for resorts.

Decreasing commercial waterfront lot width and lot size.

Copying performance standards from the Neighborhood Commercial District into the Waterfront Commercial zoning classification, which addressed architectural requirements, parking, etc.

Incorporating land use matrix to identify the permitted, conditional and excluded uses, instead of listing them within each zoning district.

Expanding requirements for fences to address which side of the fence should face the adjacent property.

Discouraging the use of riprap. Previously, riprap was a method to control shoreline erosion, which is no longer the DNR's preferred method.

Significant changes to the ordinance that the council already adopted in the past two years apply to vegetation removal definitions, Lake Margaret Overlay District, park dedication, shoreland conservation subdivision, rural conservation subdivision and resorts/campgrounds.

Permits

The city issued three building permits in May and five in June, which compares to five issued in May 2008 and seven in June 2008.

May permits included one accessory structure and two septic systems. Total valuation for May was $21,000, compared to $224,000 in May 2008.

June permits included one residential addition, one accessory structure, three decks/porches/ patios, and one new commercial for Holiday Resort. Total valuation for June was $495,000, compared to $81,750 in June 2008.

To date this year, nine permits have been issued for a total valuation of $541,500.

That compares to 20 permits issued at this time in 2008 for a total valuation of $1,669,190.

Public safety

Police recorded 235 incidents from June 22 to July 26, including 143 traffic-related incidents and 92 miscellaneous calls.

Traffic incidents included 93 traffic warnings, 43 traffic citations, two DWI arrests and one property damage crash.

Miscellaneous calls included 16 disturbance complaints, nine residential alarms, six dog complaints, five suspicious activity, four fireworks complaints, two fraud/scam complaints, two thefts, one underage alcohol consumption, one property damage complaint and one assault.

Lake Shore police assisted Nisswa police seven times and Cass County three times.

In other business Monday, the council:

Awarded the bid for Pamela Drive road improvements to Anderson Brothers Construction of Brainerd for $43,265.51.

Awarded a bid to put insulation over a pipe under County Road 78 to Anderson Brothers Construction of Brainerd for $5,780.55. The pipe has frozen in the past.

Learned there will be a private fireworks display from a pontoon on Booming Out Bay on Gull Lake around 10 p.m. Aug. 8.

Learned the city's estimated population dropped slightly, from 1,040 in 2007 to 1,034 in 2008, according to the state demographer's office.

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