Town of River Falls officials offer comment at public hearing

Voting unanimously in a 7-0 decision, the City of River Falls Plan Commission recommended the passage of Ordinance 2020-09 as amended to uphold its extraterritorial review power, a recommendation the Common Council later took to heart at its regular meeting October 13, also voting 7-0 in favor of the legal update. Motion to recommend passage in the Plan Commission was made by River Falls city alderman Hal Watson, then seconded by Patricia LaRue. A later motion to approve the ordinance in the regular meeting was made by Watson and seconded by city alderman Scott Morrissette. Prior to approval, however, there was input by Town of River Falls Zoning Administrator Jerome Rodewald, along with River Falls town board chair Diana Smith. Rodewald specifically took issue with “16.10.160 Division into smaller lots.” The section in question is among those rewritten in the new ordinance and reads as follows: “16.10.160 – Division into smaller lots. Lots of less than 35 acres but more than 10 acres may be created if, in addition to the other requirements of this chapter, the applicant for the approval of the land division demonstrates all of the following: A. The land division is consistent with the City’s official map.

B. The land division will accommodate an urban street plan and storm water management and the installation of sewer, water and other utilities.

C. The land division will be consistent with efficient delivery of municipal services.

D. Future streets and utilities can reasonably and efficiently connect to existing and planned streets and utilities.

E. The land division will not interfere with development of other lands within 1500 feet of the lands to be divided.”

Rodewald said that while he understood the city council felt it was a platting ordinance he felt that it was a use ordinance, his chief complaint not being with the change (having known it was wrong for some time), but rather the lack of notice the Town of River Falls had received on the matter. He asked the Council to table it, being seconded in this by Smith who asked for time for the various town boards and residents to review the ordinance. Voting later, the Council approved the new ordinance without a dissent.