---

The Moody Farmstead, complete with its historic round barn, was probably established where it was 130 years ago because it had access to markets, it was on a nice little lake with good water and the land was pretty. Fast forward to 2003 and those are the same reasons why the farmstead is in danger of being parcelled-out and the round barn lost.

The developers of Moody Lake Estates have been working with the Chisago County Historical Society to somehow maintain the historic integrity of the farmstead but the breadth of their magnanimity is narrowing.

Developer Robert Briggs told the County Board last week after lengthy public comment opposing the plat for the project that “...time is a problem.”

Briggs was responding to neighbors residing in the Scandia Preserve speak out against a through-street to service Moody Lakes Estates.

In a rather irregular procedure, County Board action on the plat was moved to later on the agenda to allow the audience to make public remarks during the 7 p.m. “public forum” prior to regular County Board action. Normally the County Board does not convene public hearings on plats.

The 20 or so residents demanded at the meeting the dead-end (243rd) be allowed to remain in Scandia Preserve. Moody Lake Estates should not be attached and would also be a dead-end.

Briggs said he could re-do the plat design, but the delays are beginning to make “certain things cost-prohibitive.”

Briggs explained that he got a non-conditional okay from the Chisago Lake Township Board for the through street.

The county Planning Commission also okayed the plat with two members voting nay.

Zoning Administrator Marion Heemsbergen noted that 243rd was only allowed to be built in Scandia Preserve well in excess of a normal cul-de-sac length; because it was understood that road would become a through street someday.

“It was designed to be continued,” he stated. “Many of your homes wouldn’t be here if only the length (1,320 feet max.) allowed in code was built,” he informed the Scandia Preserve property owners.

Cheri Breyfogle, representing Scandia Preserve, spoke about the lack of sidewalks in the area and speeding and hazardous driving in the neighborhood. She said there are 30-plus children in a short segment of roadway and a daycare provider.

Under a motion by Commissioner Lora Walker and seconded by Bob Gustafson the matter was “sent back” to the planning commission.

The planning commissioners are asked to develop more information with the developer on feasibility of a cul-de-sac, sidewalk costs and possible location, clarify the involvement of the township board in the new review and look at the historic preservation needs.

The planning commission meets November 6 at the Government Center to take up Moody Lakes Estates again.

According to a letter from Chisago County Historical Society Director Sherry Stirling, the barn and farmstead face some preservation hurdles; not the least of which is the developer’s ability to donate the farmhouse and sell the barn site for a greatly reduced price to the society.

The developers need to temporarily relocate the house outside of the development construction terrain, until a new site can be prepared for the house nearer the barn.

A lot needs to be delineated for the barn and house that is not within County Road 24 (Lofton Avenue) right-of-way. The road right-of-way is proposed to be shifted 10 feet west to clearly leave the barn out of the right of way.

Moody’s round barn is on the National Register of Historic Sites and is one of about 12 round barns left in Minnesota.

---