04-15-2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes—April 15, 2024 5853 the Cass County Comprehensive Plan, the Cass County Highway Access Plan, the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, the Cass County Subdivision Ordinance, and all other applicable regulations. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. 11. ROAD, Cass Highway 14 Access Permit tabled The Highway Department has been working with the City of Horace and the developer of Oak Valley Subdivision to come to an agreement on the proposed access location along Cass Highway 14 west of Cass Highway 17. The existing accesses on the south side of Cass Highway 14 between Cass Highway 17 and the Sheyenne River are cumbersome. There are accesses for private drives, commercial businesses, township roads, cemeteries, and residential subdivisions. The location of the existing access makes it difficult to accommodate new access points while following our County standards to make a safe roadway for the traveling public. Assistant County Engineer, Kyle Litchy was present and said the Highway Department has been working with a developer to find a suitable solution to the access issues and to comply with county standards, the access needs 800 feet of each side of the highway to build out turn lanes. He said from a road safety standpoint, the current access point proposal provides the safest way for roadway traffic. Director of Development of Eagle Ridge, "the Developer", Jonathan Youness was present and said Eagle Ridge is the developer requesting access permits. He said Eagle Ridge is trying to identify the best location for access. He said there are challenges and Eagle Ridge would like to continue working with the County to resolve the issues. Attorney Brock Wieber representing the Naseth's, a property affected by the proposed access to the south on Robin Drive was present and said the Naseth's believe the presented access points create a safety hazard, take away access to the Naseth's property, and the new alignment would adversely impact the property owned by the Arnold's to the north. Mrs. Scherling asked if the developer has met with any of the neighboring property owners. Ms. Wieber said the Naseth's have not been approached by the developer. Mr. Grindberg asked how long this issue has been going on. Mr. Litchy said there have been rumblings of the potential for an access application for a while, however, the formal application was received by the Highway Department three weeks ago. Mr. Grindberg suggested the developer and nearby landowners work together to talk through the issues before a decision is made. Mr. Kapitan asked if the Naseth access must be removed. Mr. Litchy said at this time the Highway Department is not requiring any access be moved, however in the future if the accesses need to be connected changes will be needed. He said this has been a quick process and direction from the City of Horace is not clear. He said the Highway Department wants the solution that makes the most sense for traffic safety and future development. Landowner Sharon Arnold was present and said the developer was not proactive in informing landowners the new access was being considered. She said the presented access locations would split up her property and take away future development. Ms. Arnold requested the Commission table action until the issues can be resolved. Mrs. Scherling asked when the existing developments were built. Mr. Litchy said the current developments and access points were built before the current standards and regulations were in place. He said the development to the north was built in the '70s or '80s. Mr. Peterson said he would like to see the developer work with the Highway Department, City of Horace, and nearby landowners and come back to a future Commission meeting with an update. MOTION, passed