Opinions 4 Guest Column Letter Box

4
Guest Column
CROSBY-IRONTON COURIER
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014
Opinions
Reflections of my hometown
Letter Box
Plowing was
appreciated
Dear Editor:
I can’t tell you how much
it meant to me to have the
nice gentleman with the New
Holland tractor plow out my
yard on Birch Street on
Veterans Day! Without your
help it would have taken
hours to clear the snow in my
yard. Your kindness is very
much appreciated.
Randi Want
Crosby
Recycling program
needs to stay here
Dear Editor:
In response to the article
on the front page of last
week's paper, I strongly urge
our city leaders to continue
having recycling within our
area. I know that Crow Wing
County has cut over $16,000
in recycling program for the
year 2015, but I do hope that
we are able to come up with
$7,000, if that is what is
needed, to continue our local
efforts.
We need to be mindful of
keeping our recyclable items
from our landfills. It's the
right thing to do.
It is being good stewards
of our land. So please consider all aspects of continuing
recycling for all of us on our
community as well as the visitors who wish to help keep
our towns clean.
Jill E. Mattson
Deerwood
Watch for buses
Dear Editor:
I would like to share with
you what happened to me
when I failed to stop properly
for a school bus. I was driving in the town of Crosby
when I came to a four-way
stop. At the four-way stop and
to the left of me was a school
bus with its lights flashing
and a kid getting off the bus
onto the sidewalk. I hesitated
for a moment, looked at the
bus driver and smiled then
continued on.
I didn’t know at the time
that I had done anything
wrong until the police department called my house. The
officer told me what I had
done and said it was a stop
arm violation and that I might
have to go to court and also
pay fine.
Well, I did end up going to
court, and had to sit in front
of the Judge and explain what
happened. I had to go and get
fingerprinted and have my
picture taken. All of this made
me very scared and also made
me realize just how serious
this was. I was given a choice
to do community service or
go through the Restorative
Justice Program. I chose to do
the program and I am glad
that I did.
I got to meet with Josh
from the school bus garage
and tell him my side of what
happened. He listened then
explained how I should have
handled the situation and
what I needed to know and do
to as a driver to keep the kids
safe. Another part of my program was to go with Josh to
the Driver’s Ed class in
Crosby and address Tim Roth
and his class about stop arm
violations. The whole experience has made me more
respectable to school bus
drivers and to appreciate the
job they do by keeping kids
safe and that we as drivers
need to do our part too.
My hope in writing this is
to make young drivers aware
of what’s going on around
them. Please put your phones
away and keep your eyes on
the road because it might not
just be a stop arm violation
that you get, it might a life of
someone you take.
Amanda Schneider
Crosby
The election is over
Dear Editor:
Well the election is over,
now we see what the aims are.
The leaders of both houses say
they want to remove the regulations and controls on the financial industry. We did this about
twenty years ago it was predicted then that the country would
have another severe depression.
About ten years or so later it
came so they changed the name
to recession to lessen the fear
and panic or finger pointing?
Hedge fund managers and
senior executives in the financial industry donated huge
sums to elect candidates that
they thought were more favorable to their views. I don't think
that they can be stopped so I
would like to see a different
approach taken. When corporations do things that cause harm
to the country or people they
should be held accountable not
just made to provide some
money. Minimum jail sentences for CEO's, Chairman of
the boards, CFO's Chief Legal
Councils, and Risk Managers.
If the people in charge knew
that they would spend jail time
they wouldn't say I don't want
to know how, just get it done.
They play games with peoples retirement funds, their life
savings, their health funds.
They are all just account numbers that have no faces
attached. When companies are
reorganized and the funds for
retirement are shifted to a company that has no employees:
Employee's are shifted to a
company that has neither health
plan nor retirement. The stress
can cause people to get sick,
die, or they may have someone
who is uninsurable in their family savings doesn't last long.
No one is charged with
murder or even manslaughter.
When a new plant is opened
and children or adults get sick
or die from the pollution does
anyone go to jail no, the insurance pays eventually sometimes after a lot of litigation.
The primary question to be
asked when something is being
sited would the senior executives in the company, the parent
company and the financial
organization live there and send
their children or grandchildren
to school in the neighborhood if
not.
It shouldn't be approved no
matter what the environmental
impact statement says. That
would just be the Christian
thing to do, not the American
thing there is a major difference. These people don't see
themselves as doing anything
wrong they probably see others
as doing wrong when it happens but it is just good business.
Good business is just GREED
when I was young parents like
mine punished us for being
greedy and not looking out for
others. When we went to school
we read Julius Caesar Brutus
killed Julius for being greedy as
it was a grievous thing so it isn't
new that greed is looked on as
problem and the greedy don't
recognize that they are doing
anything wrong.
Jesse Nix
Emily
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Newspaper on the Cuyuna Range…
By Susan Iverson
The road between Crosby and training. It’s about understanding
here is not too long; it takes a little what came before so we can add to
over an hour to make the drive. It it instead of reinventing the wheel.
is often a lovely drive. The land- It’s about appreciating beauty and
scape is typical northern art to enrich our lives. It’s about a
Minnesota; bright and fresh in the fundamental knowledge of literaspring, lush and green in the sum- ture and culture. It’s about knowmer, stunning colors in the fall and ing how our government works so
white blue and gray in winter. The we can be responsible citizens
road is often difficult in winter, instead of robots and morons folwhich leads one to be cautious lowing the latest political fashion.
about the trip when the snow flies It is about being the people our
ancestors hoped and sacrificed for
and the winds blow.
I left Crosby a long time ago. that we might become. But I
I left the big house on the lake and digress.
I remember Crosby beach
my parents and sisters, and went
off on my own to make a life for most of all, growing up in that
myself. I was so anxious to be in neighborhood with the Belfiori’s;
charge of my own life, so anxious always a ready playmate to find
to grow up. I wanted the responsi- there. We walked and played along
bilities and the rewards, and I was those roads so much I feel like I
not about to go back ever. I am not still know every inch of them. I
sure why now. A lot of things mel- remember winters where we had
low with age and what I remem- tunnels through the ditches so we
ber is good. And it is gone. I regret hardly had to go outside to go over
not spending more time with the there, and oddly enough we were
people I loved when I had that not killed or suffocated as we had
time. Life has a way of teaching us enough sense if the thing collapsed
that presence is the real gift. The to stand up. In the summer we
rest no matter how well inten- caught crawdads and garter
snakes, and I will never forget how
tioned is simply lip service.
Crosby-Ironton is an unusual angry Jean Belfiori got at Betty
place. It is not like anywhere else and me for accidently releasing
that I know of. It has a rich histo- one of those garter snakes in the
basement at her house. Down the
ry, of which I am a part.
I am old enough to remember way a bit was a stand of pine that
E.W. Hallett and his pink Cadillac; someone had planted for
we all just got out of the way when Christmas trees long ago, but had
we saw it coming. I don’t think he let get too big, and we would get
should have been driving, but up in the tips of them while our
everyone made allowances. He friends pulled the lower branches,
was, after all, the richest man in thus we “rode pine trees”. Who
town. He often would visit our knows what our parents would
summer neighbor, Mrs. Grace have said about that. All I do know
Middlebrook, another really rich is we had boundaries, and we were
lady. She played golf and lived in to be home at six every night.
Florida in the winter time. I Otherwise we were in school or
remember old Grace being so turned loose for the most part. We
ticked off at E.W. that she could never worried about our safety,
have spit tacks because he left a every adult knew who we were
$50 bill under his plate at a lunch- and where we belonged, and
eon she had at her cabin. would phone our parents if we
Admittedly, that was a bit rude. were doing something dangerous
Summertime meant her white and they caught us. We could
head sitting in the window of the knock on any door and be let in.
cabin while she knitted away. For We were safe. Every yard was
more than 20 years my mother explored by us, every twig known
took care of Grace’s lawn all sum- and every rock examined. And no
mer and opened the cabin for her one seemed to mind, mostly
each spring. She always told us it because we all played together.
And that wonderful old house
was the right thing to do, and it
wasn’t that much extra mowing I grew up in; Mom cutting pictures
after doing ours anyway. Grace from “Better Homes and Gardens”
gave her a generous easement of magazine that my Dad tried to
the land when she sold for all she make come true for her. He loved
had done, which was really nice, her so. Together they worked very
though I still think Grace came out hard to make life good in that place
far ahead on the deal. Mom didn’t by the lake.
Dad worked all the time. I
care, she said it was our duty to
take care of others, and she was remember waiting up for him to
right. I think we still have some of show him an agate I had found, or
the oversized wool socks Grace to tell him about something we
would knit for Dad. They were the were learning in history class. He
would come in so dog tired I am
warmest things EVER!
I also remember when down- sure all he wanted to do was eat
town Crosby had a hardware and sleep, but I would get his dinstore, and I remember tin robot ner for him or help him get it, and
toys in the back of the dime store he would get out a book or two to
that sold for a few dollars. I sure show me something that would
wish I had purchased a few of add to what I was learning in
them and left them in the box until school. Or in the case of Minnesota
now! I remember buying a dress History class, tell me a story of
and
jeans
at
Skogmo’s those old mining days in Crosby.
He had a lot of stories. I miss those
Department Store.
I remember my Grand-moth- stories, and him, more than I can
er running the Ironton Public say.
My roots in Crosby go deep.
Library. We were allowed to look
at the books only after we had My great-grandfather Sunde
washed our hands, and oh how we homesteaded near Riverton, and
loved going there. She had pro- my grandparents were both born
cured library cards number 1, 2, and raised in Crosby. Grandma
and 3 for me and my sisters, sav- was a teacher until she married,
ing those numbers for years until and then became a librarian.
we were ready to have the cards. I Grandpa worked in the mines as a
remember going to girl scouts in heavy equipment operator. Dad
the basement there too. And I worked in the mines too, until they
remember going to grade school were shut down in the ‘60’s. I
at Ironton. What a lovely building remember bringing him a lunch or
that was. It seems a shame it was something like that, him wearing a
razed. It had the most beautiful helmet with a light in front of it and
woodwork and floors, and such coveralls completely covered in
grand entrances and staircases and that red dirt. He adored the mines.
gigantic windows. It would have He loved working underground.
made a lovely apartment building. Ask anyone lucky enough to have
I have no idea why no one did it. had one; he gave the best tours of
Probably thought no one would the Croft mining exhibit ever. He
want apartments there. That seems loved geology. He loved learning.
funny in retrospect. It could have That was something I think both
been an amazing hotel too. Now his parents gave him; and somedays that would be the busiest thing he gave to me.
Now more recently, my niece
hotel/motel ever, well at least for a
and nephew make the fourth genfew months a year.
I remember going to junior eration to graduate from C-I high
high at Riverton, and when they in my family. One of the best times
built the first big addition to the I have ever had was watching my
old high school. How much fun nephew play basketball. And here I
we had doing plays in that old the- thought I would never again have a
atre! I have photos of my great reason to yell “GO C-I GO”.
Now my memories are only
aunt when she was in high school
there participating in her junior that, memories. I share some of
and senior plays. It’s such a them with those of you reading
shame they don’t do them any- this, and some I share with no one.
more, those kinds of things were But the truth of it is, no matter
the fun part of school. And they where I go or what I do, I am still
were tremendous learning oppor- part of that red earth that made me.
tunities. Sometimes I think we It flows through my veins as sure
have stripped the real meaning of as the blood which sustains my
education from our kids by con- life. I feel it every time I come to
vincing them it’s all about dollars visit, the minute I pass the Riverton
and cents. To me education is and turn-off. It is, was and always will
ought to be about more than job be home.
Crosby variance discussion…
—from page 1
Lattery advised Wilding that the
issue under consideration is the
variance and rezoning.
Jim Grgurich, 208 1st St SE,
stated that it is very obvious
what the hospital is doing: they
want the whole neighborhood.
The property values have been
negatively impacted. The council expressed concern at its last
meeting about a project in northeast Crosby and the city lacks
funding. When a house is
allowed to be demolished, property taxes are no longer collected and funding reduced.
Sova read the staff recommendations submitted by
Planning
and
Zoning
Administrator Justin Burslie,
Community Growth.
With regard to Appeal of
Approval
of
Rezoning
Application 14-4266 (CRMC,
rezone multiple parcels from R1 Single Family Residential to
B-2 Highway Business):
1. Although referenced in the
findings of fact of staff report,
the council's decision ultimately
was not dictated by the mediated
settlement
agreement
between the city of Crosby and
CRMC. The application was
reviewed independently of the
mediated settlement agreement.
2. Without a future land use
map, any rezoning decision
made by the city of Crosby is
made difficult.
3. There were multiple
parcels involved with the
request. The city reviewed the
application as a whole, as all
properties are under common
ownership. One application was
received for all properties
involved with the request. In the
staff report the properties were
broken out into logical “areas”
so the council could thoroughly
examine each of the properties
involved with the request. The
council did have the ability to
rezone some parcels while not
rezoning others involved with
the request.
4. Some of the parcels that
were rezoned are non-conforming. Many of the parcels were
also non-conforming to the standards of their prior zoning classification (“R-1, Single Family
Residential”). Many of the
parcels were included in the
original plat of Crosby and do
not meet the minimum width or
area requirements of either or
“R-1, Single Family Residential
Zone” or the “B-2, Highway
Business Zone.” The lots were
required (per condition number
one and per metes and bounds
approval of prior applications)
to be consolidated to be “as conforming as possible.” The city
may still require a variance for
the undersized lots if they
desire.
5. In order to mitigate potential issues between the residential and commercial zones, the
city placed conditions on the
rezoning approval.
6. The CRMC property was
formerly zoned “R-2, Multiple
Family Residential.” Clearly, a
“campus-style” hospital and its
ancillary uses (parking areas,
generators, helipad, etc.) are not
conforming or compatible uses
in that zoning classification.
The city has attempted through
multiple means to clearly delineate the hospital property from
the adjacent residential properties. The use of fencing, curbing,
vegetation and the alteration of
traffic patterns have all been
used (or will be used) in an
attempt to delineate the commercial property from the residential neighborhood.
With regard to the appeal of
Approval
of
Variance
Application 14-4267 (CRMC,
exceed maximum impervious
surface coverage in the B-2
Zone).
1. Although referenced in the
findings of fact of staff report,
the council's decision ultimately
was not dictated by the mediated
settlement
agreement
between the city of Crosby and
CRMC. The application was
reviewed independently of the
mediated settlement agreement.
2. The public was sufficiently notified per State Statute.
Staff attempted to “reasonably
notify” the general public of the
variance hearing. All property
owners within 350 feet of the
subject properties were mailed a
notification regarding the public
hearing. The original submittal
identified an incorrect impervious surface coverage number.
That number was placed on the
notification. The public had
access to any and all application
materials (at city hall and
online) prior to the meeting. The
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council made its decision based
on the “correct” impervious surface coverage percentage identified in the staff report and
update plans.
3. The impervious surface
coverage calculations were provided by a professional architecture firm. The professionals that
provided the calculations and
corresponding storm water
management plans are licensed
through the State of Minnesota.
4. The appealer mentioned
the impervious calculations
were inaccurate because they
“….did not take into consideration the impact of the roadways
separating various parcels.” The
variance request was for the private property owned by the
applicant. The impervious surface coverage located in the
public right-of-way was not a
part of the application, nor
should it have been.
5. The variance request was
to “exceed the maximum impervious surface coverage of the B2 Zone.” The application was
made “contingent of approval of
Rezoning Application 14-4266
(CRMC)” involving the same
properties.
6. There were multiple
parcels involved with the
request. The city reviewed the
application as a whole, as all
properties are under common
ownership. One application
was received for all properties
involved with the request. In the
staff report the properties were
broken out into logical “areas”
so the council could thoroughly
examine each of the properties
involved with the request.
7. The appealers referenced
language in the land use ordinance regarding criteria on
which variances is decided. This
language includes the “undue
hardship clause” of which no
longer applies as the Statute was
changed in 2011 to include
“practical difficulties” instead.
It's commonly accepted the
“practical difficulties clause”
gives cities more latitude in
approving variance requests.
Specifically, variances shall be
granted if: (1) the property
owner proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner permitted by the ordinance, (2) the
owner's plight is due to circumstances unique to the property
not created by the owner, and
(3) the variance will not alter the
locality's essential character. If
the variance is granted with conditions, those conditions must
be directly related to, and bear a
rough proportionality to the
impact of the variance.
Lattery called for discussion
of Rezoning Application 144266 (CRMC, rezone multiple
parcels from R-1 Single Family
Residential to B-2 Highway
Business). Paul stated that the
decision was based on law.
Shankle stated that although
unfortunate, the council needs to
follow staff recommendation.
Vukelich stated that the city
hired professional planning and
zoning consultants to provide
the guidance necessary and
trusts their advice.
Pearson stated that the city
was not bound by the settlement
agreement in making the decision on rezoning and granting
the variance. The appellant's
comments do not give rise for
overturning the decision.
Comments related more to the
hospitals impact on the neighborhood and while the council
acknowledges these concerns,
they are not reason enough to
overturn the grants.
A motion was made by Paul
and seconded by Vukelich to
deny the appeal and uphold the
planning commissions decisio
of the rezoning application 144266 based on the findings presented. All members voted yes.
Lattery called for discussion
related to the appeal of the
Approval
of
Variance
Application 14-4267 (CRMC,
exceed maximum impervious
surface coverage in the B-2
Zone).
Paul stated that he feels he
needs to follow the advice of the
professionals. Shankle stated
that she understands the concerns presented by the neighborhood but feels the city needs to
follow
the
advices
of
Community Growth. Vukelich
agreed
Vukelich motioned, seconded by Shankle, to deny the
appeal and uphold the planning
commissions decision of teh
variance application 14-4267
based on the findings presented.
Motion carried unanimously.
The meeting adjorned.
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