agenda scott county board of commissioners shakopee, minnesota ...

option for the keeping of animals. Currently, the code limits how many animals a landowner can have
based on the amount of “productive acreage” they have. This fails to recognize the role and impact
management can play. A landowner could, for example, have fewer animals than the code currently
allows but create a greater environmental impact than someone who has more animals but does a
better job of management. The Administrative Permit would give staff the flexibility to allow a landowner
to exceed the minimum animal densities subject to compliance with approved best management
practices. These changes to Chapter 9 were discussed and reviewed by the Farm Advisory Task
Force, which expressed no objection to the proposed changes.
Chapter 16 (Exhibit 4)
Ag Buildings and Uses: Staff is recommending modifications to the description of “Agricultural
Buildings” and “Agricultural Uses” based on direction from the Farm Advisory Task Force. The
changes allow an agricultural building to be used as a place for employees to process, treat or package
farm products – as long as those farm products were grown on site. Ag buildings cannot be occupied
by the general public. The recommended change to Agricultural Use reflects the growing trend of
smaller, locally-grown operations that provide seasonal share distributions.
Utility Lot Size: Staff is recommending a clarification that would allow lots used for utility structures or
similar essential services to be exempt from the minimum lot size requirements set by the zoning
district.
Drinking Establishments: Based on a request by Spring Lake Township, staff is recommending
removing “drinking places” from the description of retail commercial establishments allowed as an
Administrative Use in the C-1 General Commercial Zoning District and moving it to Restaurants – which
is allowed as a Conditional Use. Township officials felt and staff agrees that drinking establishments
are more appropriately reviewed as a conditional rather than administrative use because CUP’s require
neighborhood notification and public review process.
Landscape Supply: Staff is recommending adding landscape supply with “Lumber Yard” as the two
uses are similar, and both would remain allowed as a conditional use in both the C-1 General
Commercial and I-1 Rural Industrial Zoning Districts.
Chapter 70 (Exhibit 5)
Lake Classification: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) updated its Public Waters
Inventory (PWI) in late 2008 and released new geographic data last year. The PWI is the basis for the
Shoreland Zoning Overlay that regulates DNR protected waters within Scott County. Most of the
changes to the lakes tables are minor name corrections and an Ordinary High Water Level adjustment,
but the one significant change is that Markley Lake in section 6, Credit River Township has been
changed from a Natural Environment Lake to a Recreational Development Lake. This change means
reduced setback requirements for parcels adjacent to the lake.
Agricultural Uses in Shoreland Areas: The changes to section 70-8-11 are recommended by SWCD
staff to clarify management of vegetative cover and review of agricultural uses by the SWCD within
Shoreland areas.
Chapter 20 (Exhibit 6)
Uses Table: The recommended changes to the Uses Table reflect the amendments described under
Chapter 16 and Chapter 9.
Staff is recommending approval of Resolution # 2011-014.