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Town of Lakewood
This Project was funded in part under the Coastal Zone Management Act, by
NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, in
cooperation with Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program. Matching
funding provided by the Town of Lakewood. Facilitation of the Project
provided by the Center for Rural Planning in contract with the Town of
Lakewood.
I. Introduction
The Town of Lakewood’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan had not been
formally updated since the mid-1980’s. Minn. Statutes 394.232, Community-
Based Planning, Subp. 6, Plan Update requires local units of government to
update Plans every ten years. The Comprehensive Land Use Plan provides
the umbrella for zoning ordinances to be enacted by local units of
government.
4. A public open house was held in the second month of the process
to give the public an opportunity to ask questions as well as
provide input.
5. A resident four-page survey was sent to each household to
provide a broad-based input on the future desires for the
township. A 30% return was received on the survey.
6. Residents and property owners were encouraged to apply for
serving on a steering committee which would gather the
information from many sources and develop the draft of the
updated Plan. Thirty seven residents and property owners
applied for positions on the Committee. The Board of
Supervisors selected 17 plus four alternates to serve on the
Steering Committee. The members represented a broad-base of
interests, experiences and backgrounds and represented
businesses, homeowners, and property owners.
7. The Steering Committee met twice per month from April, 2007
through June of 2008. They developed a draft of the Plan and
proposed the draft to the Town’s Planning and Zoning
Commission and the Board of Supervisors for review of clarity.
8. The Steering Committee held two open houses in June of 2008 to
present the proposed updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan to
the public. The updated Proposed Plan included a vision for the
future, planning recommendations for maintaining the rural
character of the community, water resources protection,
environmental protection, housing, transportation, commercial
and industrial activity, and general land use measures.
9. A Public Hearing is required and will be held in August of 2008
prior to the Final Plan being adopted by the Town’s Board of
Supervisors. The Public Hearing was originally set for June,
2008. The public requested more time to review the proposed
Plan, thus the Board of Supervisors extended the review period
from June to August of 2008. The Proposed Plan is available in
hard copy at the Town Office and also on the Town’s web site at:
Lakewoodmn.com.
Land Use Goal 2: Protect and preserve the high quality of the
Town’s natural environment and scenic beauty.
Goal #2 Policies:
Policy 1. Permit future development in Lakewood only where
existing soil and slope conditions are suitable for structures and on-
site sewage disposal systems as reflected in St. Louis County
requirements.
Policy 2. Preserve wetlands, forested areas and drainage systems
that provide wildlife habitat and those that are essential to protect
the ground water and surface waters of the Town.
Policy 3. Encourage the use of natural features, earth tone colors
and other design tools that help blend the design of residential,
commercial and industrial development into the natural
environment.
Policy 4. FEMA designated and other flood management areas
shall not be developed.
Policy 5. Discourage practices which could contribute to rapid
runoff, erosion and sedimentation.
Policy 6. There will be no new commercial junk or salvage yards.
Policy 7. Encourage the protection and management of forest land
as a natural resource.
Town.
Land Use Goal 4: Maintain and promote safe and efficient travel
throughout the Township’s road network.
Goal #4 Policies:
Policy 1. Encourage needed improvements and maintenance of
existing roadways by carefully monitoring intensity of use and traffic
accidents.
Policy 2. Coordinate interior development and new accesses to
promote the efficient provision of public services in a timely and
fiscally responsible manner.
Policy 3. Promote shared or multiple use of existing transportation
and utility corridors to minimize consumption of land for
transportation related uses.
Goal #6 Policies:
should be consistent with the Land Use Plan and based upon need
III. Results
A. Update of the Lakewood Comprehensive Land Use Plan identifies
sensitive environmental areas and concerns. General and specific
recommendations under goals and policies address how and when these
areas should be most noted in planning contexts.
B. The Comprehensive Land Use Plan provides an umbrella for decisions
made by the Board of Supervisors, Planning and Zoning Commission and
the Board of Adjustment as they deal with development requests, variance
IV. Conclusions
A. The Plan will provide a guideline for the citizens and governing units of
the Town to plan for the future.
B. The Plan points to the need to update the current Zoning Ordinance.
C. Involvement of citizens is critical to the development of such a plan. It
needs to be recognized that a diversity of views and opinions about the
future and implementation of planning options are an opportunity, it also
means that such a process will be time consuming.
D. The development of a Comprehensive Land Use Plan should provide for
the community to express its desires for the future.
V. Appendices
A. Proposed Town of Lakewood Comprehensive Land Use Plan – June 5,
2008 (Final Plan to be adopted following 8-5-08 Public Hearing).
B. Appendix to Plan
C. Public Information Public Letter