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Town of Montrose Land Use Committee July 27,2015 Meeting Report All Members Present: Deb Brucaya,Junior Eichelkraut, Jerome Gobel,Tom Sarbacker,Tim Schmitt Minutes are not official until approved by land use committee(LUC)members. Minutes of the June 22, 2015 land use committee meeting were approved. The only item of business was review of and possible action on a conditional use permit(CUP) application by Knight Family Farm to build a farm residence at 6610 Sun Valley Parkway in Section 2. Mike and Dagny Knight were present, as were Ed Short and the prospective builder, Scott Poulsen. The existing farmhouse is now used as the farm's business office. A double-wide trailer serves as a cooler and a place to process produce from the Knight's aquaponics operation. Build dates for the trailer and house are unknown. The proposed new farmhouse would be located atop the rise to the north of the existing farm buildings. The Knight's own 116 acres (three 40s) so it is expected three divisions may be available. If the township approves this request,the Town of Montrose's land use plan requires use of a split. See Ag. Policy items 3. and 5. The Knights were asked to obtain an official splits analysis from the county. The existing driveway, which serves the Knights,the Doerfers, and the Kneebones,passes under a wooden trestle railroad/bike trail bridge. The 10' 6"clearance between the drive and the overpass is insufficient to allow passage of emergency vehicles. A minimum clearance of 18' is needed. Mr. Knight suggested they self-insure their property and sign a hold harmless agreement to exempt the township from responsibility should an emergency occur. Other suggestions included raising the bridge, lowering and widening the driveway, realigning the bike trail, and gaining access from Sayles Trail or across an adjacent property. Even if any of these options were reasonable, emergency vehicles may not be able to make the two 90 degree turns that exist elsewhere in the driveway. The best solution appeared to be improving to town standards the existing farm road located west of the existing driveway. This road is labeled "safety driveway"on the aerial map provided to the committee by the Knights at the meeting. The Knights recognize the necessity of emergency vehicle access yet they are concerned that the rural nature of the landscape will be marred by an improved farm road and that a large storm water retention basin may attract insects detrimental to their lettuce growing operation. Various pond locations were discussed. They hope to minimize the impact of the safety drive and the storm water pond on the existing landscape, and to keep as much land in agricultural use as possible. Mr. Knight is considering removal of the two existing hog sheds now used for a shop and wood storage, as a way to reduce the size of the storm water basin. Their removal may also be needed to allow emergency vehicles to reach the proposed new home. The safety driveway and the site's storm water management plan,which is needed for a building permit to be issued,have not yet been designed. The Knights are asking for the town's approval so they can proceed with engineering the drive and developing the storm water management plan for Dane County's ZLR meeting on August 18t. Deb moved and Jerome seconded to recommend town board approval of Dane County Planning's CUP-2015-02324 application from the Knight Family Farm to build a new farm residence at 6610