COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL CONSIDERTATION MOVES AHEAD, BUT NOT WITH FULL STEAM!

     The Commercial/Industrial "work group" came before the

Eureka Town Board at the January 14, 2019, meeting

to request the Town Board's approval to engage the Planning

firm, TKDA, to move forward in exploring C/I zoning in the 

Township.
                                                                

   Supervisor Barfknecht suggested this is an issue that should

be addressed at the Annual Meeting. She asked many questions that 

a business person would ask before a project of this scope

would be considered.

     Supervisor Palmquist, a business man, discussed how he

approaches business decisions that are costly and will affect

many property owners.  He suggested a feasibility study. 

Supervisor Murphy, agreed.

     A robust discussion took place with angry voices and 

shouting from 3 members of the "work group." While

trying to "bully" the Board (my opinion), Mr. Hansen

stated he was becoming "irritated." He indicated that

he was almost ready to take his ball and bat and go home.

Butch stated, "Real close to being so frustrated that I

am going to do what everyone else has done and

say figure it out for your own."

     Wendy Wulff, the District 16 Representative of the

MET Council, Vice Chair of the Environment

Committee  and the Community Development Committee,

was present in the audience. Chair Murphy asked her to 

speak.

     Ms. Wulff commented on a statement from Al Novacek

that if the Township does not connect to the sewer system, 

the Township can do whatever they want. Ms. Wulff

stated this is not quite accurate. IF zoning is changed, the

Comp Plan needs to be changed so the zoning is in

agreement. Cannot do one without the other.

     The Comp Plan change would have to come to the

MET Council and approval would depend upon the degree of 

what the Township is doing.

     If the zoning is low intensity as an Ag plus sort of use,

it would probably be less controversial.  If it has a large

traffic volume or large volumes of water, it would be more

challenging and it also depends on the scope.

     She could not predict the MET Council's decision one

way or the other. She also stated the MET Council has not

heard anything regarding the scope of issues and magnitude

Eureka Township is looking at. There is always room for

informal discussions; however, there is no binding action

until a formal request is received by the MET Council.

     She stated a typical urban community has mixed uses 

in a zoning area. The Comp Plan consists of what are the

uses and what % of the area is going to follow under

what use. She has never heard of one that is residential

and Commercial/Industrial. (A use being considered

by the "work group.")

     After further discussion which included a few misstruths
and habitual absurdities by the "work group," a motion
was made to accept the TKDA proposal as submitted,
which would engage a TKDA Planner to complete Tasks 1and 2.
The cost to the Township would be around $2,760.00.
Tasks 3 and 4 will be reviewed by the Board after completion
of Task1and 2 to determine if the Township should move forward.

Motion carried. (Hopefully there will be open houses
to obtain citizen input as the process moves forward).

     Compensation is calculated at the rate of $138.51

per hour with a total not to exceed the amount of $11,000.

for all four Tasks. (Keep in mind, any additional

services required would be an amendment to the TDKA

contract. There could be costs to the Township to installing

independent water and sewer services or any other site costs

such as road infrastructure or storm water management. Future
Board meetings with MET Council, mileage charges etc.

Only to name a few possible expenses.)

TASK 1 and TASK 2 consist of the following:
                                 
                              CONSULTING SERVICES

TASK 1 * Prepare Commercial Uses Concept Plan [Estimated
consulting time: 10 hours]

Prepare a simple concept plan that identifies the location and extent
of commercial and industrial uses proposed for addition to Eureka
Township.

Consultant Responsibilities:

     *  Review location, type, and extent of existing commercial uses
         in Eureka Township.

     *  Review four commercial districts drafted by the work group
         and analyze for land use compatibility and conflicts. Consider
         if four districts are needed or if they might be consolidated
         into fewer districts. Prepare memo to MUZ work group with
         analysis and recommendations. (Eureka Township Mixed Use
         Zoning work group).

     *  Prepare draft map of proposed commercial areas in consultation
         with MUZ work group.

     *  Meet with Commercial Zoning work group to review draft map
         and commercial districts. Revise per meeting discussion.

     *  Prepare memo for Town Board describing the proposed
         commercial districts  and land use map (Commercial
         Areas Concept Plan).

     *  Attend one meeting with Town Board to discuss proposed
         districts and land use map. Seek approval to bring Commercial
         Areas Concept Plan to Metropolitan Council staff for informal
         review and discussion.

Client Responsibilities:

     *  Provide all relevant background materials on proposed
         commercial districts and locations.

     *  Review draft Map of commercial areas and provide feedback
         to Consultant.

     *  Review draft commercial districts and provide feedback to
         Consultant.

     *  Meet with Consultant to review and refine Commercial
         Area Concept Plan, for anticipated discussion with staff
         from the Metropolitan Council.

TASK 2 * Review Commercial Areas Concept Plan with
Metropolitan Council and Identify Steps for Comprehensive
Plan Amendment [Estimated consulting  time: 10 hours]

Discuss Concept Plan with Metropolitan Council Staff and
determine what additional information is required to introduce
it as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan, and the
chances of Metropolitan Council approval.

Consultant responsibilities:

     * Arrange meeting with Metropolitan Council staff and send
        Commercial Areas Concept Plan for their review in advance
        of meeting.

     * Attend one meeting with Metropolitan Council staff to discuss
        Concept Plan, potential to advance it through a Comprehensive
        Plan Amendment, what would be required, and its chances
        of approval.

     * Prepare memo for Town Board summarizing the meeting with
        Metropolitan Council staff. Send to the Town Board for
        consideration of next steps and if they wish to invite
        Metropolitan staff to meet with the Board.

     * At direction of Town Board, determine if Township will submit
        an application to amend its Comprehensive Plan. If yes,
        proceed to Task 3.

Client Responsibilities:

     *  Have Town Board representative attend first meeting with
         Consultant and Metropolitan Council staff to discuss Concept
         Plan and next steps.

     *  Determine if Board will invite Metropolitan Council staff to
         Board meeting to discuss Concept Plan and potential
         Comprehensive Plan amendment and attend such meeting
         if held.

     *  Decide if Township wishes to formally prepare an application
         to the Metropolitan Council to amend its Comprehensive Plan.

(Information taken from the January 14, 2019, Township meeting
and the January 3, 2019, proposal submitted by Merritt Clap-Smith,
Planning Group Manager, and Dennis M. Postler, Vice President,
Municipal Services, TKDA).