Northfield Zoning Board of Appeals
Tuesday, June 27, 2006–7:00 p.m.
Submitted by Pat Kriesel, LWV Observer
Present: new Planning Commission member, Bill Gordon
Jim Herreid, Ron Griffith, chair Ross Currier, Justin Watkins
Variance at Allina Clinic, 1400 Jefferson Road, to exceed the maximum number of parking spaces for their expanded facility. The applicant would like to add 23 parking places to the 220 spaces City Code allows.
Staff recommends denial due to regulations. The commission approved the change because the nature of the clinic is serving the health of the community.
Planning Commission
Several New Business Items were considered.
a. Finale Plat for the 1.6 acre Green Side Addition on East Woodley Street was approved with conditions of utility and park dedication fees and a proposed private driveway easement agreement.
b. Cannon Valley Veterinary Clinic, 1200 South Highway # 3- Future Land Use Amendment.
Applicant Dr. Mark Werner would like to change the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map on the 2.2 acre Babcock Park between his Clinic and the Cannon River from Parks and Recreation to Commercial to expand his Veterinary Clinic and related businesses. A future step would be to request that the property be rezoned from Agricultural to Gateway Commercial (C3).
Discussion about some of the parcel being environmentally sensitive followed. Since The Crossing and the theaters are going in near the river should the city sell more land along the Cannon? Has an RV Park been considered? Will public access to a bike trail be available? Babcock Park has not been used as a recreational area but as snow storage and Northfield National Guard Armory vehicle storage . It’s a pleasure to see a business in Northfield expand.
A motion for denial failed but a motion to approve passed with Park Board conditions to allow for bike trail access.
c. Final Plat for Fargaze Meadows Townhomes 2nd Addition- postponed.
d.e. Gleason 3rd Addition: Rezoning and Preliminary Plat.
The 22 acre site includes the 8-10 screen movie theater and 15 acres for commercial development (C3), including professional offices, retail stores and restaurants.
Staff’s recommendation to approve rezoning from AG to Light Industrial to Gateway Commercial (C3) passed.
The Preliminary Plat application for the 44.7 acre Gleason development is located west of Highway # 3 and Cannon Road and north of Dundas. Discussion centered on the city’s regional storm water detention pond which would be located in the floodway area of the property rather than on buildable land. How would this effect the Cannon River environmentally?
Eventually the Preliminary Plat for Gleason was recommended to City Council with four staff conditions and three Planning Commission conditions. The latter suggested that the applicant make every effort to remove the storm water pond from the floodway and place it in an upland area.
f.g. Designations for Former Northfield Hospital Site.
Way Park, 801 First Street West changed to Parks and Recreation on Future Land Use Map.
Other properties zoned R-2, one and two family residential, and 7 single family home sites reviewed by the Design Advisory Board to be compatible with existing structures.
Both recommended to City Council.
Next meeting July 11, 2006
