Mayor Mary Rossing convened the gathering of representatives of the city’s many boards and commissions.  Thanking them for the work they do, she outlined some ways the members can be more effective.

Noting that people are often moved by and appointed because of their expertise or passion, once they step into the position, they become a representative of the city. “No longer can you say ‘they” but you must way ‘we’ – ‘our Land Development Code, Parks Plan, etc.’” Decisions aren’t made on a personal filter, but are made on behalf of the entire community.

The main function of boards and commissions is to contribute to the economy and efficiency of the city. Their work supports the strategic goals of the council and feeds into what the council does. The chair is spokesperson for the group and responsible for keeping it working on the council’s charge. Agendas are set with the help of the staff liaison, and are accountable to the council. She noted the city has a book available to chairs as a resource for running effective meetings, but it is incumbent on the members to help make things run smoothly.

Rossing admits that there is room for improvement in communications. The first tool is the staff liaison who records action,  and provides information and support. If there is additional work for them to do it must go through the city administrator who is responsible for assuring that it accomplishes the goals of the council.

Each board and commission has a council liaison for two-way communication with the council. They can help clarify ideas to help make them consistent with the council goals, and they can serve as a sounding board. She advised the group to use the liaisons to the fullest.

The monthly memo advisory groups send to the council provide updates and can focus on particular issues the council should know about. The advisory groups’ yearly report summarizes their work, but with larger projects, periodic reports to the council in order to get further direction are useful.

Heritage Preservation Commissioner Steve Edwins asked whether there is a distinction between a commission, board or task force.  There is not 100% consistency, according to City Attorney Chris Hood, but a board has some kind of regulatory authority, a commission deals more on the policy level. A task force usually has a short life. There were questions about whether the emails of board and commission members are public. Hood said yes, if you are communicating about activities involving city business.  Liz Wheeler, City Clerk said if people don’t purge their emails, the city would have to produce them if you’ve kept them and if there is a data request.

Attorney Hood led the group through a presentation of the requirements of the open meeting law and the data practices act.  There were a number of questions for clarification and to seek guidance from Hood for hypothetical situations.  When copies of Hood’s notes become available, we will post the links here.  To see a list of the city’s advisory groups and to link to their individual web pages go to: http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/government/boards

Commissioner Tracy Davis chaired the meeting in Commissioner Greg Colby’s absence.
All other members were present.

There was standing room only at this meeting. Over 50 people were on hand, drawn by the question to be addressed at the public hearing:  Is the proposed annexation of the Prawer/Gill properties consistent with the Comprehensive Plan?

In their report ,  the staff provided an analysis of how the proposed annexation might meet the many elements of the Comprehensive Plan. For example, though the plan expresses a preference for infill development, it also provides for development at the edge. This must occur with an effort to minimize new infrastructure, and should be designed to create areas of commerce that will “serve to create a green edge and not compromise the rural landscape and small town character.” The staff concluded that the properties “are within the priority growth area and could be described as being a part of future land use strategy.”

For the foreseeable future, the property owners will continue to use the land for agricultural purposes, and eventually will sell them for a business park development. According to the Comprehensive Plan, by the year 2027,  1,411 acres will be needed to accommodate growth.  Annexation of the Prawer/Gill properties, together with the recently annexed land west of the city hospital would “also represent a significant shift in the balance of the land resource inventory when comparing residential land use with commercial and industrial land use of the City of Northfield”.

The first speaker at the hearing was Kathleen Doran-Norton, a Bridgewater Township Supervisor. Referring to the report from  “Rice Creek Concerned Citizens Recommendations,” she noted that these were the result of weekly meetings over a number of months to devise ways to protect the two streams and other natural areas in the area. The group urges the local governments (Cities of Northfied and Dundas, as well as Bridgewater Township)  to work together “to develop and implement a long-term monitoring project along the creeks.”

League of Women Voters of Northfield and Cannon Falls member Alene Moesler said the League had no position on annexation, but based on the League’s policy on natural resource protection is concerned that strategies to protect the creek be created. Moesler is a former director of the Cannon River Watershed Partnership, and she reminded the group of work CRWP staff member Chris Robbins had done in the late 1990’s. Funded by the McKnight Foundation, the legislature and the Nature Conservancy, CRWP developed a plan to protect Rice Creek. Robbins also tried, unsuccessfully, to get a stream protection plan adopted by the city of Northfield.

The two landowners spoke. Both reported that the city’s Economic Development Authority had approached them to apply for annexation. He said it “didn’t come easy.” The farm has been in the family for 100 years. He realizes it is in the urban expansion zone and that the city needs land for local jobs. He has spent some money on a concept plan, which is subject to change. Bonnie Prawer told the commission  “We love the land. We have not entered into this with the idea of selling the land.”

Like many other speakers, St. Olaf professor Paul Jackson said he has concerns about how the annexation will affect the area’s natural resources. He has met with the concerned citizens group regularly in a room at the college’s science center from which you can see an expanse of the large roofs of the light industrial development below. He has three concerns: that we recognize the outstanding recreational and educational value of the area; that regulations be in place to protect the warm and cold water streams; and that the city get base data and then commit to maintaining or improving the watershed while also improving the economic system. Don Werner owns property adjacent to the annexation area and fears the nice features of the land will be lost if it goes through, and that development will reduce property values.

Northfielder Jim Holden, an avid trout fisherman, said that 80 or 90 years ago the Schilling family (former owners of the Prawer property)  “bought trout and dropped them into the stream and now the DNR uses them as brood stock in their hatcheries.” One speaker, Bridgewater Township Supervisor Glen Castore, is concerned that the anticipated development will harm the financial health of Northfield, and that the city is going forward without sufficient analysis to be certain that the investment will yield reward. He isn’t against annexation, but thinks there needs to be more discussion. “We don’t want to have a half-developed industrial park”.

At the end of the hearing, Commissioner Davis thanked the citizens for their testimony and explained that the commission will use the Comprehensive Plan as a lens through which it will consider their comments and arrive at the decision. Community Development Director Brian O’Connell said they will synthesize what the commission has heard and decide on the next steps. When asked about a timeline, he said that in order to make sure the commission is ready to make a recommendation to the council, “it is incumbent on us to the time we need.”

During the business portion of the meeting, Michele Merxbauer, city Housing Manager, explained the request for the Commission to recommend to the city council establishment of a tax increment finance district to finance the rehabilitation of the 30 year old Jefferson Square Town Homes, as well as to amend the master Development District, and to determine that this is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. This financial assistance will make it possible for the town homes to be completely refurbished inside and out, and for there to be built a small club house and additional parking space and still keep the housing affordable. The partners in this project include Dominium Development, Three Rivers Community Action, Inc., and the Northfield HRA. According to the staff report, Dominium Development uses principles of good land use by preserving and renovating existing rental property. The HRA assisted Dominium in applying to the federal Housing Finance Agency for tax credit assistance by agreeing to a waiver of certain fees and the development of a TIF district.

The request was approved unanimously.

The commission meets next on December 1, 2009.

Tonight the commission took up the Chapter 4 of the comprehensive plan dedicated to land use. According to the draft, the purpose of the chapter is to “address how the future land use pattern will be shaped to be more efficient in terms of fiscal impacts of new development, mobility and connectivity, and guiding land use decisions that help the community protect cherished cultural and environmental resources.”

The chapter reports key findings about existing conditions, shows existing land use, spells out land use principles and the regulatory implications. Finally, it lays out eleven objectives indicating specific policy direction along with strategies necessary to achieve them.

Two commissioners, Alice Thomas and Ron Griffith, provided written suggestions for revising the document. The evening was taken up reviewing many of those and agreeing on which changes should be made. Thomas’ memo raised a question as to what the balance between “residential” and “business and industry” should be. Are there indicators which would tell whether a city had achieved balance? The commissioners decided that annual monitoring of the trends in development would be an operational tool.

A concept in this plan is the “context zone” which it defines as “areas of the city with a combination of elements that create a specific character.”  The chapter identifies ten different zones and defines them. An example is the Core, “the densest development located in the center of the original plat of Northfield which offers a mix of uses.”
The commission struggled with how this concept actually works. Even the staff seems at a loss as to how the zones were determined, what role they play and how the accompanying maps are applied.

The staff will continue to review the submitted comments and incorporate them for the commission’s review later. Staff will confer with consultants Friday to determine how this concept can be administered on a day-to-day basis. If staff is ready for a continued discussion of this matter, the commission will meet next week to complete their review of Chapter 4.

All commissioners were present.

Although they had tackled what may be the most difficult decision of their terms on the planning commission, the seven members completed their work on the Greenvale Township landowners’ request to amend the land use map and to annex acreage and adjourned slightly before 9 p.m.  The relative brevity of the meeting didn’t preclude serious deliberation and thoughtful consideration of alternatives, however.

In preparation for the commission’s decision, staff identified four alternatives for the commission to consider and attached findings to support each alternative. The alternatives ranged from approving the request to amend the future land use map from residential cluster to business park/light industry and to annex 530 acres for a future business park development, to tabling both measures so that additional information might be provided.

The decisions were made in two steps: First, land use map designation and second, annexation. On a vote of 6 to 1, with Commissioner Jim Herreid casting the negative vote, the commission decided to designate a portion of the Sorem property west of Garrett Avenue and all of the Fink and Lysne properties business park/light industry (instead of residential cluster as is the current designation). These lands would be included in the city’s urban expansion area, but not the priority growth area. The Sorem  and the St. Olaf properties would also be designated business park/light industry, and would be included in the priority growth area.  In effect, the commission approved only a portion of the requested acreage to be part of the city’s supply of developable land.

In the second decision, also on a divided vote with Herreid in the negative, the commission agreed to recommend annexation of 354 acres, rather than the 530 originally sought by the Land Vista, the company representing the landowners. The annexed land includes 90 acres owned by St. Olaf College, located between the city hospital site and the Sorem property. Although the college also was seeking annexation of their property, at this time, the college does not intend to develop it.

The decisions were preceded by discussion of the many factors influencing the city’s decision. Commissioner Thomas acknowledged the city’s need to improve the tax base, and that business and industrial development can help this. However, she wondered whether there is a way for the city to set a goal for and then measure whether residential and commercial/industrial development are in balance. Staff responded there is not. Commissioner Griffith said he was not persuaded that annexing 530 acres is in the best interest of the city or of agriculture. Commissioner Colby said he thinks we are having a major change in the economy with competition with India and China for gasoline, so transportation is an issue. Commissioner Currier agreed, and said the lack of a nearby railroad bothered him most. “If this property had access, I wouldn’t be losing sleep at night worrying about this annexation.” Commissioner Herreid worried that the city will not “have a deal if we don’t take it all.” He noted that the taxes on his property have greatly increased since and we need the tax base.  Asking what the downside is of having all of the acreage in the jurisdiction of Northfield, Commissioner Davis noted that if we have land as part of the city we have more control over the use. A question was raised as to how development would affect adjoining landowners. If Mr. Sorem comes up with a developer, the other farmers can still farm and won’t lose their Green Acres designation. (This is a program which reduces taxes on certain ag land.)

In the packet for the meeting, the staff provided helpful information including the council’s goal of establishing a business park, the EDA’s resolution in support of the original annexation request, information about the estimated costs of infrastructure for area in question as well as the Waterford Township and the Bridgewater Township “Infill” areas, reference to the St. Olaf College Land Use Study, the Northwest Northfield Corridor Study, and comments from the Minnesota Department of Transportation on the proposed annexation. This, along with the public hearing on April 29 and the information meeting on May 13, provided the commission a lot to think about as they forged their recommendation to the council.

The council will have a work session on the matter to familiarize them with the issues and the commission’s recommendations on June 9. The council will need to take action at their June 16 meeting in order to meet the July 1 deadline.

With this important decision, the commission will return to work on the revision of the comprehensive plan, with their June 3 session devoted to the chapter on land use. Staff said with a meeting on each of the 5 Tuesdays during June, they should be able to complete work on the plan that month.

A major a part of the meeting was taken up with a discussion of the request to annex land in Greenvale Township and future land use map amendment for the purpose of creating a business park west of the Northfield Hospital. Prompted by April 29, 2008 public hearing, the commission received a report from staff answering questions and providing additional information. This included clarification of the buildable acres (300), the threshold for an Environmental Assessment Worksheet, and explanation of how the 60-day rule applies in this matter. By state law the city is required to deny or approve a zoning-related request within 60 days. The 60 days in this case have expired. Olson said that the city has received an extension of 60 days, which means that the City Council has until July 1, 2008 to approve or deny the matter. In order to extend the review of the application another time, the City would need another letter from the applicant.

Olson reported that there was a request to address the commission from one or more Greenvale Township residents who hadn’t attended the hearing. He noted that the chair (Greg Colby) has the authority to allow this without reopening the hearing. Colby granted this, and seven Greenvale residents spoke. Anne Occhiato said that many residents of the township were not aware of anticipated changes in the transportation system which are prompted directly by the business park development in the proposed area for annexation. In addition to destroying family farms, there would be increased pressure to rezone away from agriculture toward commercial development. She said that while the town board supervisors have the best interest of the township at heart, they don’t have the resources to notify the residents and were under pressure. “There is a David and Goliath scenario going on here.”

Linus Langer was grateful that the planning commission wants to be a good neighbor and listen to concerns. He regrets that the residents were deprived of an opportunity to look at this earlier and doesn’t believe that many residents of the township are in favor of the annexation. There are a number of uncovered facts: “The cows are in one pasture, the grass in another.”

Scott Nakunus called attention to the hydrology of the area and warned that there is a bit more impact than is shown on the map. David Lawrence agreed and warned that the city had not done its homework and has no clue how much it will cost to provide utilities and construct buildings in the area.

Robert Kluver, a township resident who teaches in the Northfield schools, also thanked the commission for listening, but said that this matter has bothered him a lot and he is not in favor of it. He believes there are other options the city could consider.

The commission then talked about the status of the comprehensive plan revisions. Because of a significant change in the approach to writing land use regulations, the chapter on land use is still incomplete. The commission will review this chapter at their May 26 meeting which is also the meeting at which they plan to complete their discussion and make a decision on the annexation and land use plan revision request.

The group met as the zoning board of appeals prior to the planning commission meeting
in order to consider a request for a variance to allow Greenvale Park Elementary School to exceed the maximum number of parking spaces as part of an improvement project the school is undergoing this summer. The request was denied. As a commission, they agreed to recommend approval to the city council an amendment to the conditional use permit for the project, enabling the school to complete the improvements (relocating pick up and drop off areas, widening of a delivery driveway and replacing a pedestrian bridge, but not to include the additional parking spaces). School officials were on hand and heard the concern of Greenvale neighbor, Cleve Crowenshield, about the intrusive light caused by lights in the school property. So, while the permit request did not include a lighting plan and thus the commission was not able to act on the complaint, Colby noted that likely the school would make note of the problem.

At their meeting on May 20, the commission will take up discussion of the revised comprehensive plan, minus the land use chapter.

All commissioners were present except Tracy Davis.

The commission is considering a major change in the city’s land use map as well as the annexation of 530 acres west of the Northfield City Hospital for the purpose of creating a new business park. A proponent of these changes is the city’s Economic Development Authority, which has been working on achieving a better balance between the residential and commercial/industrial tax bases in the city. The 2001 Comprehensive Plan provides that “Economic development creates jobs, tax base, and a strong economy, all of which are vital to Northfield’s future prosperity and quality of life.” The council’s recently adopted land use principles say: “The preference for accommodating future growth is in infill locations . . . When new development occurs at the end of the Community through annexations, it will be done with great care by creating well defined neighborhoods, a green edge or well designed place for commerce, so as not to compromise the rural landscape or small town character.”

Rick Estenson, EDA President, laid out the case for the annexation request. He noted that EDA believes that Northfield has the potential to recruit quality businesses, but first must gain control of some land. The current (2001) comprehensive plan includes in the priority growth area three areas for business park/light industry, one in Bridgewater Township, the second in Waterford Township and about 150 acres west of the hospital in Greenvale Township. Estenson said the EDA envisions a 25 year-plan for the new area, which would include a business park committed to sustainable design, green building principles and one that supports a greenway corridor system. He said that with the proposal of Larry Larson of Land Vista and the three farm families (David Sorem, John Fink and Donald and Ruth Lysne), there is now a preliminary concept to help achieve that vision.

The proposal would bring the three properties, along with another owned by St. Olaf College, into the priority growth area on the new comprehensive plan’s future land use map, and would change the guidance from “Residential Cluster” to Business Park/Light Industry.” (St. Olaf does not intend to develop their land at this time, and is not requesting land use map amendment.) If the commission and the council approve the request, the property owners would at some future time request that the properties be rezoned to an appropriate commercial and/or industrial zoning classification. The staff recommends that the commission be prepared to make a recommendation to the City Council on the request at their meeting on May 13, 2008.

There was standing room only in the council chambers. Following presentations by staff (Dan Olson, City Planner) Mr. Larson and Pete Sandberg (representing St. Olaf) and questions posed by commissioners, 16 citizens addressed the commission.

Former planning commissioner Margit Johnson supports industrial development, but warned that land annexed 10 years for this purpose was eventually rezoned commercial, providing around 40 full time jobs which pay less than industrial probably would have paid. She urged that the commission delete any reference to commercial zoning and do their homework and get satisfactory answers to their questions before making a recommendation to the council.

Olivia Frey said annexing 530 acres would go against the public preference for infill and preservation of green spaces. Instead, industry should be put in the infill areas. The land under discussion should be retained for local farm economy and shouldn’t be paved over. Mike Swift asked whether the property could be used for low-density housing, but Olson explained that land is not zoned agricultural so the landowners would have to come back and ask for rezoning. A member of the city’s Energy Task Force, Bruce Anderson, said there are strong ramifications for this decision. He cautioned that annexing 400 acres of prime agricultural land 3 miles from downtown, with the infrastructure more than a mile away when there is tremendous economic uncertainty with soaring oil prices and an impending food crisis requires careful deliberation.

Scott Schumacher, recalling the public meeting at the Armory seeking public ideas for Northfield’s future, said that we can come up with better ways to balance our tax base.
Angel Dobrow questioned the timing of the decision. She understands this may be an opportunity but that until the comprehensive plan is final it is premature to make such a decision. She expressed concern as to who is driving the decision.

Victor Summa wondered about the time frame for responding to the request. Olson said the commission has 60 days, with the option to extend to another 60. Summa said the commission should use the 120 days to complete the comprehensive plan and hammer out the land use regulations.

David Hvistendahl said that rarely has anyone come to the planning commission to object to typical suburban residential growth, which he says is what is turning us into a faceless community. He believes we need to act now, and that if we don’t annex we can’t control development. High taxes are killing the downtown. He said Waterford cannot prevent annexation (of the land north of the city) that state law provides that the city can annex without the township’s permission. “Before you conclude we have to work hand to hand with townships, look at the case law.” State law favors annexation, according to Hvistendahl.

David Ludescher, former Chamber of Commerce President, stressed that there is an opportunity here. The city needs to do something to correct the tax burden created by imbalance of tax base. The landowners can do anything they want to the land. We want it for our industrial base. “If they walk away and don’t come back, what will we do? “Set aside your personal ideas and do what is best for the city.”

Suzie Nakasian, a member of the city’s Environmental Quality Commission echoed Margit Johnson’s statement about loss of control. She would like to see control put into the agreement. If that isn’t there, the comprehensive plan is undermined.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kathy Feldbrugge said the Chamber supports the request and the planning for 20 years and believes that 320 acres a minimum for that period. The northwest area has always been envisioned for a business park.

Kiffi Summa said there is no question there is a need for industrial development, but no one has explained why this decision must be made now before the comprehensive plan and land use regulations are in place. She cited the July 9, 2007, City Council meeting in which Noah Cashman requiring that the landowners agree to the future comprehensive plan and land use regulations. She asked whether the city has such a letter from the landowners.

Bridgewater Township resident Leif Knecht, who lived in Northfield for 40 years, said that without businesses, property taxes are too high. He warned that unless the land is ready and waiting, businesses will go elsewhere. This still makes it possible for us to provide the amenities we all enjoy.

Greg Langer, a resident of Greenvale Township, supports the Chamber’s mission and realizes Northfield must expand business. However, there are some residents in the township who want to protect the land as open space, and should talk with the Township board.

Jerri Hurlbutt was concerned about the effect on natural resources, traffic patterns and the expansion of highway 10 of this proposal. It isn’t clear how much of a financial burden this will be for the city.

Edric Lysne, who grew up in Northfield and now lives in Minneapolis, is concerned about protecting open space. He believes that a community that protects natural apace is likely better off than one that permits uncontrolled development. “Open landscape defines a down just as does a historic downtown.” He would like the city to consider making some of the land a protected area. Lysne showed a map depicting fragile areas and a plan for preserving it. He worked as an intern in the city’s planning department. He noted how open space had declined since then. “If we drastically change the natural landscape, we do a disservice to our children and ourselves.”

Ruth Lysne, one of the landowners, noted that the people who have brought the petitions are close to or beyond retirement age. If the city doesn’t act now, it will have to start all over again with the heirs who may not be as interested in Northfield as we are. The group made the proposal because they care about the land and believe that rather than each landowner selling separately, the group should work together collaboratively.

The final speaker was a St. Olaf senior who has been following the comprehensive plan process urged that the commission take into account the Land Use Principles the council adopted in 2007.

Following the hearing, the commission approved an amendment to the by-laws Commissioner Alice Thomas offered providing that “immediately after a vote has been taken at a meeting on a recommendation to the City` Council, the Commission will compose a short, but clear written rationale for the decision . . . (which) will be read by staff when presenting their recommendation to the City Council.”

November 27,2007

6:00-7:00 p.m.

Jane McWilliams, League Observer

Members of the Planning Commission, City Council, Economic Development Authority and others as well as Dan Olson, City Planner, Katy Gehler-Hess, City Engineer, Joel Walinski, Public Services Director, Brian O’connell, Community Development Director and Al Roder, City  Administrator and several members of the public were in attendance. The city’s consultant, Chris Chromy of Bolton Menk, Inc. was the presenter.

The purpose of the meeting was to bring the groups up to date on the work of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), appointed by the council to draft a transportation plan. Members of the committee are: Joel Walinski; Dan Olson; Katy Gehler-Hess; Ross Currier, Planning Commission Chair; Betsy Buckheit, Park Board/Non-Motorized Transportation Task Force.

There has been a series of public meetings to gather information from transportation partnering agencies, businesses and large transportation users, as well as the public at large. Based on the input, as well as technical background information, the committee is working on goals and objectives for the plan. Under consideration are all modes of transportation, motorized, non-motorized, mass transit, rail and air. A starting point for their study was the 1998 Transportation Plan.

Mr. Chromy presented the four goals for consideration. The objectives were not ready for this meeting, but, along with the goals, will be presented to the city council on December 17. The committee will be asked whether the plan is moving in the direction the council wishes. The anticipated date of completion of the plan is April or May. Work on the Transportation Plan is being done both parallel to and in conjunction with the work on the Comprehensive Plan: for example,  the Comp Plan land use map informs in the Transportation Plan. Because the Comp Plan progress is slower than anticipated, this has affected the Transportation Plan’s pace.

Comments from the commissioners and others mostly reflected their desire for more content than is evident from looking solely at the goals. There was concern that additional public input be permitted. Olson noted that there would be at least two more open houses, scheduled in late January and in April.

Gehler-Hess informed the League Observer that they hope to have a draft of the goals and objectives up on the website some time during the week of December 3. Draft chapters of the Comprehensive Plan are available at: northfieldplan.org.

The Planning Commission discussed the Preliminary Plat and PUD, (Planned Unit Development,) for Fargaze Meadows #2, located in the far southeast part of Northfield. Four Fargaze residents spoke about family safety and nature’s impact the faze 2 development will have to the neighborhood at the public hearing.

Both plans were approved with the following conditions:
1. Provide sidewalks on both sides of the street.
2. Staff will investigate alternative transportation flow because of limited access to Maple Street, a collector street.
3. A trail connection should be described between the outlot proposed trail and existing trails around the ponds.

Two variances were recommended for approval to City Council in the Zoning Board of Appeals part of the meeting.
1. The Boudreau’s, 820 Woodley Street East, asked for a 16 foot rear yard setback (35 feet required), to construct a side utility room addition which would not extend behind the existing house.
2. At 300 Fifth Street East, Sandler and Westall asked for a variance to expand an existing attached garage to a two stall garage.

Next meeting: June 25, 2007

The Planning Commission discussed the Open Public Comprehensive Plan
Meeting to be held Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at the Armory. Brian O’Connell,Community Development Director, will begin the evening by explaining the April 3rd, 2007 Community Choices Workshop results including the following:
Treasures of Northfield results
Preferences for where we grow
Ratings for how we should grow
Your strong places, weak places

Ross Currier, Planning Commission Chair, will describe the “station”
exercise in which meeting participants will provide written comments on cards to specific questions at each of 12 development principal stations.A list of the 12 draft principals and an explanation of each can be found at northfieldplan.org.

The Zoning Board of Appeals considered a variance to reduce the R-5
residential density at 1104 Greenvale where applicant,Trevor Geckler of Lakeville plans to construct a triplex.
Greg Kneser, St. Olaf Dean of Students, spoke against the plan which had two setback variances approved at the previous Planning Commission meeting. Kneser noted that at Mr. Geckler’s other large triplex at Lincoln and Forest,10 occupants enjoy outdoor activities on the sidewalk as the property has no yard. The new triplex at 1104 Greenvale is also a very large structure on a small lot and will house 15 people. He encouraged the City to hold to the setback standards that are in place.The board sent a recommendation for approval of the third variance for the property to City Council in a 4 to 2 vote.

Open Public Meeting, Tuesday, May 15 at the Armory
Next Planning Commission Meeting, Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Submitted by Pat Kriesel, LWV Observer
The main thrust of the meeting was a continued discussion of Chapter 7 (Land Use) of the Comprehensive Plan.

Before that began Bruce Anderson, RENew Northfield Executive Director, submitted non-motorized transportation recommendations for the City of Northfield to the commission. The goal is to increase walking and biking to meet community transportation needs. It was spurred by Bill Ostrem, formerly of Davis, California, where a “platinum level” bicycle friendly community was established. Ten steps were suggested including a Dundas and Northfield Mayor’s Task Force, a “signed” network of trails and “Safe Routes to School” program.

Comprehensive Plan Land Use:
Brian O’Connell, Community Director, and Ross Currier, Chair, led the discussion. Net densities are land areas not including right of ways (streets), ponds and parks. Net is privately owned property. 2 – 4 units in the newer areas of Northfield give most of the problems. The city would like lower densities but developers prefer large front yard setbacks and large homes that are easier to sell than attached units. The regulations don’t work to implement the Comprehensive Plan. Dan Olson, Senior Planner, suggested giving developers several options to get lower density. If codes apply, PUDs (Planned Unit Developments) would be used only for special cases. Neighborhood Commercial Nodes are desirable but not viable for a low density area.

Next meeting, August 14, 2006