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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFYI - Letter to Residents As you are aware, the City and Township of St. Joseph have been working on the annexation of a portion of St. Joseph Township, known as the 1996 Orderly Annexation Area (OAA). As of January 16, 2019 the annexation has been complete and is in the process of being recorded at the Stearns County Recorder’s Office. The City hosted two open house style meetings to gather input as to issues and concerns of the Township residents surrounding the annexation. The issues revolved around land use matters and taxation. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide a summary of information. Land Use Matters - The City of St. Joseph will serve as the Zoning Administrator for the entire OAA (See attached map) regardless if your property was annexed under the Agreement or reserved for future annexation. The City will also provide building inspection services. The building permit process is similar to the process in St. Joseph Township and the same projects require permits to include plumbing, mechanical and all building. Contact the City Offices for all land use or building permits and the City staff will assist you with the process. Annexed property will come into the City with the same or similar zoning regulations. If your property was zoned as Urban Expansion (UE) it will be rezoned to Rural Residential. The creation of the RR Zoning District included provision so that you may continue to use your property in the same fashion as you do today. The City and Township created a new zoning district and entitled it Rural Residential (RR). A copy of the Ordinance that regulates your property is available on the City website: www.cityofstjoseph.com. The information is located under the category on the top left entitled Resources. Once you have selected Resources you will see a category named Orderly Annexation Agreement. The bottom of the page has links to the applicable Ordinances, the original 2010 Orderly Annexation Agreement, the 2018 Orderly Annexation Agreement, and a copy of this letter. St. Joseph Code of Ordinances RR Rural Residential includes Rural Quality of Life Provisions which exempt property owners from certain regulations in the urban/city area. Those items include:  Animals: flexibility in the license and regulation of animals;  Hunting/Firearms: allowance to continue without a permit provided property owners follow State and Federal laws and monitoring by the Police Chief as properties develop  Burning: Burning is allowed; however must be approved and permitted by DNR  Rental License: no restriction on renting dwelling or portion thereof provided a City license is secured  Wood Burning Stoves – allowed  Noise – exempt from City Ordinance 1002 provided it does not become a public nuisance or endangerment to others. Annexed property currently zoned Commercial will be rezoned to B2 Highway Business (Ordinance 502.04) and Industrial Property will be rezoned to Light Industrial (Ordinance 502.62). Copies of these Ordinances can be found on the website as well and are similar to the Stearns County Ordinance. The rezoning hearing will be held on February 11, 2019 at approximately 6:15 PM. The City is required to mail to notices to all impacted property owners as well as those within 350 feet of the rezoning area. The only property annexed are those that are being rezoned. The property in the hatched area remains in St. Joseph Township. The map in the hearing notice will identify those property owners impacted. Taxation – A second issue raised was taxation. The concern was that many areas would not receive City services, yet they would be taxed at the City rate. As a result of those discussions, the annexation agreement includes the creation of a Rural Taxing District which continues until the property is developed industrially or commercially or water/sewer are readily available. The Rural Tax rate will be adjusted annually proportionate to any increase or decrease in the City Tax rate. Property zoned RR will not receive City services and as such are not required to be on the City refuse program and are not eligible to participate in the annual spring and fall cleanup. Compost permits will remain at the rural rate of $ 60.00. In addition, the City has opted to keep the contract with Astech for snow removal services so that you continue to have the same level of service. Commercial and Industrially zoned properties will be phased into the City tax rate by equal increments over a six year period. If you have additional questions feel free to contact Judy Weyrens at 320-363-7201 or by email at jweyrens@cityofjoseph.com. REMINDER – Receipt of this letter does not mean that your property has been annexed to the City of St. Joseph. Notices are mailed to property owners within 350 feet of the rezoning. If your property is located on the map in the colored areas your property was annexed. Property located in the cross hatch indicates your property is not annexed. This property remains in St. Joseph Township and land use matters are handled by the City of St. Joseph as the Building and Zoning Administrator and the Joint Planning Board will hear public hearing Mfhfoe 3129!Boofybujpo Djuz!pg!Tu!Kptfqi qbsdfmt Qspqptfe!\[pojoh!Ejtusjdu Ijhixbz!Cvtjoftt Mjhiu!Joevtusjbm Svsbm!Sftjefoujbm Gvuvsf!Boofybujpo 13-1115-1112-111 Upxotijq Psefsmz!Boofybujpo!Bsfb.Sfnbjot!jo!Tu/!Kptfqi Gffu