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The Wyoming city council last week decided to lay aside a process leading to a rezoning of certain high potential parcels.  City officials have digested the repeated concerns expressed by affected property owners, and the public hearing tentatively scheduled for later this month on the rezoning effort, has been called off.

A secondary act of adopting an amended land use map obsolete color-coding—will probably still be corrected to align with city code text, but, with Council member Ohnstad absent last week this action was tabled, until  September 16.  (See pg 2 graphic.) Mayor Lisa Iverson explained she wanted to have all five council persons on-hand to vote on the map.

The councilmembers attending agreed with  the city planning commission recommendation for halting the rezoning process.  

Remarks by affected property owners during council meetings, open forums, and at planning commission hearings left the impression  of perceived misunderstandings and the city’s efforts on  refining definitions were not well-received.  Mayor Iverson noted last week that directing staff to  halt the rezoning  doesn’t prohibit any landowner from submitting their own requests for action.  

She added that over the past several years Wyoming leaders have been receptive to what residents are saying and based on what’s been expressed, “the rezoning should stop now.”

Iverson disputed complaints that the city did a poor job to communicate this rezoning.  She said 2,784 newsletters went out with rezoning process information on page one and 600 e mail addresses were also utilized.

When council was polled on if they wanted the process to halt, Council member Linda Nanko Yeager happily declared,  “I opposed this from day one.”

Over the months-long process certain parcels being used for agricultural purposes, but which are well-located for other uses, were identified.  Property owners said they feared their ag-related practices and allowed activity would be erased.  Another concern was roperty taxes would increase.

In general, property tax is predicated on the USE of the land, so if agriculture is the main use there wouldn’t be an issue.  But, in checking with County Assessor Daryl Moeller he could not make a blanket absolute statement that parcels would not see any property tax impact. His advice:  if a parcel lacks a Green Acres class eligibility,  the owner should be looking into ensuring agriculture status, anyway.  If the land has been granted Green Acres and is used for agriculture— any definitions by the city won’t make any difference.   The best steps for property owners to  protect their rural lifestyle, is to check with the assessor staff and review their parcel.   Each parcel has its own specific situation, Moeller explained.    The property tax formula in Minnesota is complicated.  If Green Acres has been attached to the land, and if the “primary’ use is agriculture, which relies on the percentage of the parcel  acreage tied to farming practices, then it should retain its agricultural status.

Wyoming City Administrator Robb Linwood added that he understands property

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 owners may fear not being able to utilize their land as desired,  or don’t want to be looked at for a higher density residential use in the future.  But, Wyoming was just trying to get its long range planning in shape and have up-to-date information available.  The “ultimate service” areas that will be connected to municipal sewer and water, should be highlighted.  But, as far as this city council is concerned, Linwood stressed,  there will not be any wholesale zoning directives pursued. 

Building official Weck added  the city was getting good feedback as this issue was talked about and this interaction has been very helpful. He hopes residents stay engaged.    

In other business:  the revisions to a permit from 2004 that Pinehaven had been operating under, needed over an hour to resolve.  

The long-ago Christmas tree farm has evolved into a “haunted” hayride event with spooky, house-like structures and/or a family-friendly Pumpkin Trail, with lights.  There are food trucks and vendors of autumn crafts,  and drinks and live music.  The city called in the owners as conditions on the original permit no longer are sufficient for current operations.

The Wyoming Council was given attendance numbers anywhere from several hundred on weeknights to thousands on weekends. The events run until mid-November.

Concerns revolve around the noise, dust (gravel road) and congestion.  The city has a duty to ensure public safety, especially in light of new holiday-winter events that the owners stated they would like to add.

Public Works Director Steve Reeves estimates city staff have been on site addressing the poor road condition 12 times over the weeks of open hours.  Neighbors say they don’t even try to move about when Pinehaven is fully operational.  Reeves said the dirt road is designed for maybe 400 vehicles daily and there are times it hits “highway levels.”

A condition of the revised permit that was approved, is that the road will be paved, at Pinehaven expense by Sept. 1, 2027. Traffic patterns into the venue are being adjusted and there will be a temporary “light” at Viking Blvd and Kettle River intersection.

Traffic will be directed to not use 280th.

Hours for the haunted trail, spooky houses and family event (actual shutdown and only employees remaining) were clearly defined.

Analysis of road activity will commence this fall with these traffic management tools implemented.  There’s also timed ticketing on-line which helps to distribute the number of patrons on-site.  The study will be submitted by the business. City officials will see how new measures improve the situation after this fall.

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