Planning Commission / Board of Adjustment Meeting

We have a lot in Pine Haven, a development that we were attracted to because of the natural beauty of the area, including the scenery along the County Road. It is no wonder that people want to live and recreate in this area, including the thousands of people going to Carlos State Park every year. It was very upsetting to get a notice about the proposed large storage shed development so close to Pine Haven.
We strongly oppose the development for the following reasons:

1) It is in a clear, significant conflict with the mission statement of the Glacial Ridge Trail Scenic Byway: A large area of 68 storage units, each 27 feet high, is the opposite of promoting, preserving, enhancing, and interpreting the rich cultural and historic resources, scenic beauty, and recreational resources of the region. Even if a buffer of conifers and shrubs is created, it will take 10+ years for it to offer any kind of an actual, concrete buffer.

2) It is in a clear, significant conflict with the GRT Corridor Management Plan Strategy for Balanced Growth: The proposed development does not consider the impacts of the project on our communities and on our tourism product, as the Corridor Management Plan mandates.

The development would impact both the local community and tourism product in various ways:

• The already existing, mature conifers would get cut, immediately affecting the beauty of the area. Instead of seeing grassland with wildflowers and dozens, if not hundreds, of mature, healthy evergreens, those traveling on County Road would see a wall of 27 feet heigh storage sheds.

• The proposed development would create light pollution. For safety, we assume the development would be well, if not heavily, lit. Even if the lights were directed a certain way, those traveling on County Road would go from calm darkness to a sudden flooding of light, a jarring change.

• The proposed development would create noise pollution. The height of the sheds suggests they are intended for storing RVs and other large items. All of these items would need to be hauled into and out of the development, using large trucks. Especially during busy seasons, because the development contains so many units, the added noise on the road can be significant.

3) It is in a clear, significant conflict with the location of other, previously developed storage unit areas: The other near-by storage unit developments are not visible from the road. This would not be the case with Lakes Storage South units that would be built close to the county road, making them highly visible. If the development is approved, it sets a dangerous precedent for other commercial developers who want to build in similar, easily accessible and visible areas.

4) It is in a clear, significant conflict with encouraging residential use of the land: If this storage unit development is approved, it may deter home building in the immediate area, resulting in loss of property taxes, among other negatives. Most home owners take pride in their house and yard, thus adding to the overall look and feel of the area. Commercial developers do not have this kind of connection and commitment to the land.

For these reasons, we ask that the permit to build the storage units will be denied.

Respectfully,

Chris Susag and Kirsi Halonen