Minutes 1-3-07 - Pierce County Home Page

not an appropriate use for a commercial use. The Planning Commission amended Mr. Brenner’s
petition from commercial to light industrial with a conditional use. The public health, safety and
welfare is adversely affected. There are only two ways in; Hwy 10 to 400 th St or Hwy 72 onto
gravel roads. That is not adequate public access for a commercial use. There will also be increase
public services needed and the taxpayers will pay for that. Water quality is trouble already, if we
add runoff from impervious surface, sewer for bathrooms and a kitchen. If you should vote for
this add conditions to keep it to what he was originally proposing; limit the days of the week, no
amplified music, no special events, weddings or live concerts. Donald Hines, I live up the valley
from Mr. Brenner. I contacted him because I wanted to see what he was proposing. A few years
ago my wife and I bought a bed and breakfast in Maiden Rock. With the zoning they have now,
we would have never been able to do it. It’s a thriving business. Pierce County has been trying to
promote tourism, Pierce County Partners in Tourism. Here is one way of doing that. Ron
Hendershot, I’ve lived on the Rush River for 37 years and it’s one of Pierce County’s pristine
treasures, help preserve it. Lynn Thomchek, my main concern is what kind of precedence will
this set. Others can have businesses and we could have them running every night of the week. It
won’t be tomorrow but down the road. Lester Heise, Chairman, Town of El Paso, I have to
defend our road. The state says it qualifies for 700 cars a day. During the fishing season there are
50 to 75 cars a day driving on them. Andy Schneider, lives in River Falls, states Mr. Brenner is
looking to rezone four acres of his 300 and keep the rest pristine. Between River Falls and
Hudson, there is no open land left pristine. The developing will continue, there is a holding tank
not a septic system. If his land gets developed it could be 20 homes and 20 septic systems. Scott
Brenner, Trimbelle, Larry’s brother received a letter from John Kaufhold, Kaufhold’s Kurds who
couldn’t be here. Mr. Brenner read the letter which was in favor of the project. He is asking that
the vote be based on everyone that would benefit not just the few people against it. Pichotta, I
received an e-mail from Don & Dorothy Armstrong stating they are against the rezone and would
like it to stay in farmland, ag use. They are concerned that if Mr. Brenner decides to sell in the
future, it is uncertain what happens with business. Paul Seeling, Gilman Township, states he has
owned a business for four years and has witnessed how the economy has ebbed and flowed away.
The farming economy has changed and tourism is going to be an important aspect to this area.
This program Mr. Brenner is proposing seems to fit the ag-tourism. Gerardo Cortez, El Paso
Township, an adjacent neighbor to Mr. Brenner, originally had a problem with this proposal but
stated he feels someone should be able to do what they want with their property within the terms
of the law. There are other commercial properties in the valley and it hasn’t had a negative impact
on the area. Public hearing closed. Sanden asks Mr. Brenner what his perspective is on the
project. Mr. Brenner states he has plans for a Thursday evening maybe 100 -200 people, May
through September. Then in October, a small pumpkin patch open on the weekends, sell
pumpkins, have spaghetti, a petting zoo. I’ve offered this to the neighbors to get them involved.
Maybe in December, sell Christmas trees and have hayrides. Sanden, the Town of El Paso has
looked at this for a year and given it full consideration. They are at the beginning of their
Comprehensive Planning process, the mission and vision statement is one in the same. The issue