Bruno resident disputes county wetlands finding, says housing development delayed
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Summary
Resident Doug Bleckinger told the Pine County Board that a new subdivision on the west side of Bruno was declared wetlands by the county after roads and grading were completed, and he raised process and timing concerns that he said are delaying needed housing.
Doug Bleckinger, a Bruno resident, told the Pine County Board during the public forum that a small subdivision on Bruno’s west side — started three years ago by a contractor — is now being treated by county staff as wet meadow or wetlands, which he says is delaying building on 12 half-acre lots. Bleckinger said the area is on one of the highest elevations in "Bridal" (Bruno), is not shown on wetland maps, and has been actively used for the past 50 years. He said the contractor installed over 500 loads of sand and gravel and constructed roads with city approval. "This land is on the highest elevation property in Bridal. It is not on any wetland map," he said. He added that some wetland plants cited were observed in roadside ditches created by the contractor and argued those ditches should be considered constructed wetlands. He questioned the speed of the county’s determination and the composition of the technical meeting that assessed the site, saying only two members were present at that meeting and raising a conflict-of-interest concern about the appeals process. "The appeals process states that [the appeal] should be sent to EWSR, the entity that was involved in the initial assessment. How is this not conflict of interest? It's the same people that did the initial [assessment]," Bleckinger said. Bleckinger linked the determination and resulting delays to local housing shortages, saying long-term renters occupy converted motel units and that delayed septic inspections and wetland determinations lengthen the time before new housing is available. He said Bruno has lost local government aid and faces reduced annual revenue, and that the town is struggling to maintain services such as street lighting and snow plowing. County commissioners acknowledged receipt of his remarks; no formal action or response was recorded in the meeting minutes beyond thanking him for the information. The comment was received during the public forum and not part of a scheduled agenda item.
