In 1986, five local families purchased land along the west shore of Swan Lake to hunt and preserve critical wetlands and wildlife habitat. We've worked to maintain and improve these resources. This land is also used for the public good as a training area for public safety officers.
In 2003, land abutting our property was purchased for residential development. This land consists of extensive wetlands and steeply sloped grasslands. The soils are classified as poorly suited for construction, septic absorption and roads.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources requested the zoning board deny the plat, due to severe waterway erosion to Swan Lake from water entering the lake from upstream field tiling. Residential development will add to this problem and further damage the lake.
The private road, which is the only access to this proposed development, has been ruled by both Kandiyohi County Court and Kandiyohi Township Board as a private road. How then is it permitted for a developer to access this plat over a poorly maintained private road?
Another issue is the ability to hunt at our 20-year-old hunting club. Minnesota law prohibits taking a wild animal within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling, thus denying our right to hunt. It has been stated that only the rights of the developer are important.
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Now, on Feb. 21, the county board voted 3-2 to approve the plat, even though the plat requirements have not been fully met. County officials are allowing the county ordinance of 2003 (five revisions ago) to be used. Any of the subsequent revisions would prohibit the development of this subdivision. Final plat approval, according to the 2003 ordinance, required approval within 60 days, not two years, or it must be re-submitted under current ordinances. Somehow, these points were not considered important.
Why do the developers' rights trump our rights and those of the other area property owners? After 20 years, we lose our property for its intended use even though we have worked to protect the wetlands and natural habitat. The developer uses unsuitable land for development, which eliminates the natural habitat and overwhelms the wetlands and lake.
Something is wrong.
Larry Peart, Jim Tiede, Dan Ahlquist, Guy Feldmann
Willmar
