Meetings

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Agenda spine

8 items as recorded in the packet and minutes.

1Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance

Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance

Called to order at 7:00 p.m.; pledge recited.

meeting administration

No action

p. 1p. 1

2Roll Call

Roll Call

Commissioners Ames, Jorgenson, Haapala, Bies, and Pearo were present; Commissioners Lewis and Carlson were absent.

meeting administration

No action

p. 1p. 1

3Approve/Amend Agenda

Approve/Amend Agenda

The presented agenda was approved.

meeting administration

Approved

p. 1p. 1

4Approve August 26, 2025, Meeting Minutes

Approve August 26, 2025, Meeting Minutes

The August 26, 2025 minutes were approved.

meeting administration

Approved

p. 1p. 1

5aInterim Use Permit: Home Occupation for a Commercial Kennel at 8614 211th Ave NW

Interim Use Permit: Home Occupation for a Commercial Kennel at 8614 211th Ave NW

The Commission recommended approval with staff conditions and an added condition allowing dogs to be walked on leash throughout the property.

Operation Good Dog kennel IUP

Approved with conditions

p. 1p. 3

6aPlaisted Minor Subdivision on 229th Ave NW

Plaisted Minor Subdivision on 229th Ave NW

The Commission approved the Plaisted minor subdivision subject to the findings and conditions in the packet.

Plaisted minor subdivision

Approved with conditions

p. 1p. 4

6bRecommend members for Zoning Ordinance Committee

Recommend members for Zoning Ordinance Committee

The minutes say the Commission agreed to recommend three names, but no names or formal motion were recorded.

zoning ordinance working group

Discussion only

p. 1p. 4

7Adjournment

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.

meeting administration

Approved

p. 1p. 5

Issues addressed

What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.

Operation Good Dog kennel interim use permit

The Commission held a public hearing on Luke Braith's request to operate Operation Good Dog as a home-based commercial kennel and dog training business at 8614 211th Ave NW. The discussion focused on the number of dogs, use of the garage and home, customer traffic, barking control, the 25% home-occupation space limit, and whether dogs could be walked around the property. No public comments were offered. The Commission recommended approval with the staff conditions and added a condition allowing dogs to be walked on leash throughout the property.

Agenda: 5a. Motions: M3. Speakers: Cindy Nash, Luke Braith, Commissioner Pearo, Chair Ames, Commissioner Haapala.

Plaisted minor subdivision on 229th Ave NW

The Commission considered Plaisted Farms' request to create one new home lot on 229th Ave NW from large agricultural parcels. The main issue was road access: 229th Ave NW is maintained by Nowthen but lacks a proper turnaround and recorded easements for the full road width. The proposal included an easement and cul-de-sac at the road terminus, with the applicant either completing improvements before recording or entering an agreement with financial security. The Commission approved the minor subdivision subject to the packet findings and conditions, including the park and trail dedication fee.

Agenda: 6a. Motions: M4. Speakers: Cindy Nash, Brandon Derks, Commissioner Haapala, City Clerk Johnson.

Zoning ordinance working group

Planner Nash explained that the City Council authorized a full zoning ordinance update and that a working group would include City Council members, Planning Commission members, and the City Clerk. Commissioners discussed why the ordinance needed updating and the amount of review work expected. The minutes say the Commission agreed to recommend three names to the City Council, but the names and any formal motion were not recorded.

Agenda: 6b. Speakers: Cindy Nash, Chair Ames.

Routine meeting administration

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m., the pledge was recited, and roll call showed five commissioners present and two absent. The Commission approved the agenda and the August 26, 2025 minutes, then adjourned at 7:52 p.m.

Agenda: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7. Motions: M1, M2, M5. Speakers: Chair Ames, City Clerk Johnson, Commissioner Haapala, Commissioner Pearo, Commissioner Bies, Commissioner Jorgenson.

Motions and votes

5 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

M1MOTION BY COMMISIONER HAAPALA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEARO TO APPROVE PRESENTED AGENDA.

moved by COMMISIONER HAAPALA, seconded by COMMISSIONER PEARO

Passed

YCommissioner Ames
YCommissioner Jorgenson
YCommissioner Haapala
YCommissioner Bies
YCommissioner Pearo
·Commissioner Lewis
·Commissioner Carlson

p. 1p. 1

M2MOTION BY COMMISIONER HAAPALA, SECONDED BY PEARO TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 26, 2025.

moved by COMMISIONER HAAPALA, seconded by PEARO

Passed

YCommissioner Ames
YCommissioner Jorgenson
YCommissioner Haapala
YCommissioner Bies
YCommissioner Pearo
·Commissioner Lewis
·Commissioner Carlson

p. 1p. 1

M3MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAAPALA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE INTERIM USE PERMIT FOR A HOME OCCUPATION COMMERCIAL KENNEL AT 8614 211TH AVE NW WITH THE CONDITIONS AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF AND INCLUDING THE ADDITIONAL CONDITION ALLOWING DOGS TO BE WALKED ON LEASH THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY.

moved by COMMISSIONER HAAPALA, seconded by COMMISSIONER BIES

Passed

YCommissioner Ames
YCommissioner Jorgenson
YCommissioner Haapala
YCommissioner Bies
YCommissioner Pearo
·Commissioner Lewis
·Commissioner Carlson

p. 1p. 3

M4MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER JORGENSON TO APPROVE THE PLAISTED MINOR SUBDIVISION ON 229TH AVE NW SUBJECT TO FINDINGS AND CONDITIONS IN THE PACKET.

moved by COMMISSIONER PEARO, seconded by COMMISSIONER JORGENSON

Passed

YCommissioner Ames
YCommissioner Jorgenson
YCommissioner Haapala
YCommissioner Bies
YCommissioner Pearo
·Commissioner Lewis
·Commissioner Carlson

p. 1p. 4

M5MOTION BY AMES, SECONDED BY JORGENSON, TO ADJOURN.

moved by AMES, seconded by JORGENSON

Passed

p. 5

Money discussed

Each figure links back to the document it came from. When the council voted on the amount, the motion is shown.

Conditional & Interim Use Permits application for Luke Braith / Operation Good Dog LLC listed a $250 base fee.

fee · IUP application base fee

$250

inflow

Council approval status: not yet on record.

p. 19

The IUP application listed a $2,000 escrow deposit for City administrative, planning, legal, and engineering fees.

fee · IUP escrow deposit

$2,000

inflow

Council approval status: not yet on record.

p. 21

The commercial kennel license application for Operation Good Dog listed a $25 application fee.

license · commercial kennel license application fee

$25

inflow

Council approval status: not yet on record.

p. 24

The IUP application office-use section listed $2,275 as the amount paid.

fee · IUP and kennel amount paid

$2,275

inflow

Council approval status: not yet on record.

p. 19

The Plaisted minor subdivision packet condition required a $2,500 park and trail dedication fee for the one new lot before final documents are signed and recorded.

fee · Plaisted park and trail dedication fee

$2,500

inflow

Council voted: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER JORGENSON TO APPROVE THE PLAISTED MINOR SUBDIVISION ON 229TH AVE NW SUBJECT TO FINDINGS AND CONDITIONS IN THE PACKET. Passed

p. 32p. 4

Memory cues and prior history

When someone tried to remember earlier business, we cross-reference the corpus and write a short related-history note.

Chair Ames asked why the ordinance needed updating. Nash explained that the current ordinance is difficult to read, has been amended many times over the years, contains provisions in unexpected locations (including ordinance language embedded within definitions), and needs updating to current statutes and standards.

— Chair Ames and Nash

What this is about
This cue points to the history and condition of the existing zoning ordinance as the reason for forming the zoning ordinance working group.

p. 4

Related history

The records show this was discussed at the October 28, 2025 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Under “New Business – Recommend Members for Zoning Ordinance Committee,” Planner Cindy Nash said the City Council had authorized a complete overhaul of the zoning ordinance and that a working committee would be formed with two City Council members, two Planning Commission members, and the City Clerk to work with her before bringing a draft back to the full Planning Commission. At that same meeting, Chair Ames asked why the ordinance needed updating. Nash explained that the current ordinance was hard to read, had been amended many times, placed provisions in unexpected locations, and needed to be updated to current statutes and standards. The Commission agreed to recommend three names to the City Council for the committee to avoid quorum issues. The search results do not include the underlying City Council meeting date or vote authorizing the overhaul.

Oct 28, 2025  Luke Braith, the applicant and owner of Operation Good Dog, addressed the Com
Oct 28, 2025### NEW BUSINESS - RECOMMEND MEMBERS FOR ZONING ORDINANCE COMMITTEE Cindy Nash explained that the City Council has autho
Feb 24, 2026## SELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR <figure> </figure> Chairman Ames opened the floor for nominations for the Chair pos
Oct 28, 2025  Commissioner Pearo asked if the proposed 28'x40' outdoor fenced area would be
Dec 23, 2025  ## CITY OF NOWTHEN MEETING MINUTES PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REGULAR MEE

The city doesn't have recorded easements for the full 66-foot width typically required for roads, but instead has rights through use and maintenance over time.

— Cindy Nash

What this is about
This cue points to past maintenance and implied road rights for 229th Ave NW that may be relevant to earlier road or subdivision decisions.

p. 3

Related history

The records searched show a partial match. For 229th Avenue NW specifically, the 2026 Overlay Road Improvement Project included portions of Westpahl Country Acres, including 229th Avenue, Argon Street, and Waco Street. At the April 14, 2026 meeting, the packet included resolutions to approve plans/specifications and advertise for bids, and to prepare proposed assessments; the initial estimated project cost was $491,400, with $245,700 proposed to be paid by the City and $245,700 assessed to benefited properties, plus overruns and $128,000 in budgeted road repair costs. A May 12, 2026 amended assessment resolution revised the estimate to $462,800, with $227,840 City share, $227,840 assessed share, plus overruns and $81,710 in budgeted road repair costs. The clearest record of the “use and maintenance” concept is not for 229th Avenue, but for Pinnaker Road NW in the Mark Limpert minor subdivision materials. At the February 24, 2026 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, and again in the March 10, 2026 Council packet, the findings stated that Pinnaker Road NW appeared to exist by “use and maintenance” only, meaning the City had maintained it as a public road but it had not been dedicated or conveyed by deed or easement. Those findings also said granting a right-of-way easement where the road abutted the property was required for the subdivision. The records provided do not contain a prior decision specifically finding that 229th Avenue NW lacks a full 66-foot recorded easement or relies on implied road rights, but they do show related road-improvement and subdivision discussions where that legal issue was relevant.

Apr 14, 2026  any obstructions (vehicles, dumpsters, etc) at the scheduled project start d
May 12, 2026  ## CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA ## RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX
Apr 14, 2026  # CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA # RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX #
Mar 10, 2026FINDINGS OF FACT AND DECISION Minor Subdivision APPLICANT: Mark Limpert APPLICATION: Request for approval of a 2-lot sub
Mar 10, 2026  # Collaborative Planning, LLC ## Memorandum <table> <tr> <td>To:</td> <td>P

City Clerk Johnson confirmed that road maintenance agreements with neighboring jurisdictions are generally informal "gentleman's handshakes" rather than formal agreements.

— City Clerk Johnson

What this is about
This cue points to prior informal road maintenance arrangements with neighboring jurisdictions, especially for town line roads such as 229th Ave NW.

p. 4

Related history

The records searched do not contain a prior decision or formal agreement matching the recollection that road maintenance with neighboring jurisdictions was handled by informal “gentleman’s handshake” arrangements. The closest related item is the 2026 Overlay Road Improvement Project: at the April 14, 2026 meeting packet, 229th Avenue was listed among the streets included in the proposed overlay work, along with roads in Country Meadows, Westpahl Country Acres, Morton Farm Preserve, 224th Court, and 218th Avenue. That record concerns city road improvements and bid authorization, not an agreement with a neighboring jurisdiction. The records provided do not show a formal vote or written agreement specifically about town line road maintenance arrangements.

Apr 14, 2026  ## Municipal Services and Operations Several operational priorities were dis
Mar 23, 2026 ### Municipal Services and Operations Several operational priorities were discussed: Seasonal Employe
May 12, 2026## 9. Clerk's Update City Clerk Natalie Johnson reported that Miss Riley had returned, and is filling in while another e
Apr 14, 2026## 9. Clerk's Update City Clerk Natalie Johnson reported that Miss Riley had returned, and is filling in while another e
Apr 14, 2026# CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX # RESOLUTION APPROVING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS

Meetings

Planning & Zoning Meeting

Agenda spine

Issues addressed

Motions and votes

Money discussed

Memory cues and prior history

Related history

Related history

Related history

Where this came up before

Sources