Concept 6 Maintain the I-35 corridor as an attractive low density, rural entrance to the Duluth-Superior metropolitan area. The I-35 corridor, generally defined as all of Midway south of a line a quarter mile north of the freeway, is important to Midway and the larger metropolitan community. It is Midway’s “front yard” while it serves as the Duluth’s area primary gateway. In both roles it is vital that the corridor generate a desirable, attractive image while still allowing for appropriate development. From the inception of municipal planning by the Town, Midway has sought to keep the corridor dominated by low density rural residential uses and free of any off-site advertising billboards. The exceptions have been and remain the commercial and light industrial uses in the Midway Road / Beck’s Road area much of which was present at the time Midway assumed municipal planning authority. In the four decades that Midway has exercised its own planning and zoning authority proposals for more extensive commercial development have surfaced but none proved to be substantive. That does not mean that future viable proposals might not surface along with proposals for denser residential development. Under the terms of the Orderly Annexation agreement with Duluth, Midway is committed to maintaining the corridor rural and low density so as to facilitate the orderly development of more intensive uses if and when it might be realistically considered. Concept 7 Most properties are to utilize on-site systems for drinking water supply and wastewater treatment. Public water or sanitary sewer services will be provided only where existing development density or site conditions demand and where such services viably can be provided. With large (five acre) minimum lot sizes dominating the township, most development relies on private on-site wells and wastewater treatment systems. In most locations finding water and adequate treatment sites on a lot is no particular problem. The issue in the past with failing wells has been essentially remedied through extensions of water service and digging of deeper wells. Consistent with other plan concepts, the Township will only extend public water and sanitary sewer service only to resolve problems with existing uses and not to permit or encourage denser development in areas where no such development exists today. Under this policy and the provisions of Concept 3, the Township will allow extensions of utility services from the existing Midway Park service area only to existing development in order to address public health issues related to drinking water supply and sewage treatment. this plan’s concepts and policies, sanitary sewer service will be only considered for the following areas (see Map 4):
Midway is committed to ensuring that land use and development within the Township, especially the I-35 corridor, remains rural until such time that Midway and Duluth agree that more extensive development requiring municipal services is desired and warranted. Goal 7. To integrate land use concerns into all appropriate Town administrative and legislative actions. Policies: The Plan Concepts, Goals, and Policies shall be explicitly considered and discussed when making land use decisions, investing in public infrastructure, and evaluating impacts of pertinent projects and programs. The adopted land use plan is the prime tool for intergovernmental cooperation involving land use related issues. The process by which land use related decisions are made is to incorporate the following principles for open and civil discourse: Accept controversy. Controversy is the heart of spirited debate. It is the opposite of conflict, not disagreement. Let the other person speak. Listen to what they say. Ask questions to clarify their position, not debate it. Each person is to have his or her say. Argue the issues, not the people supporting one side or another. People can disagree with each other and still respect each other. on the process. View the process as one in which there are ups and downs but no precisely defined wins and losses. Successes are celebrated as part of community building, not a win over somebody else. Look for common ground. The first and most important step is to find or create areas that are held in common. Recognize the validity and encourage the use of public, actions and private initiatives to implement aspects of this plan. I mplementing this plan will occur over a number of years as resources and circumstances demand and allow. Implementation will not necessarily follow the ranking below as certain low priority projects may