Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon. I'd like to call to order the planning commission meeting. It is 4:30 on Thursday, November 20th, 2025. First item on the agenda is the approval of the October 30th, 2025 planning commission meeting minutes. Are there any corrections or additions? Do I have a motion? A motion to approve. I have a motion. Is there a second? I'll second. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? I opposed. Minutes have been approved. Are there any corrections or additions to the agenda?

Uh yes, we would like to address um two items on the agenda. Um, one is the continuation of the variance application for 1527 South German Street and then also the continuation of the simple lot division request also for that same address. Um, if you remember from our last planning commission meeting, um, in October, the planning commission directed staff to take a look at the zoning ordinance, specifically the R3, uh, medium density residence district, and provide language for potential amendment to that zoning district to allow the development of a what we would call a grid lot um, for single family homes in that district using what were uh would be the RT2 or the traditional neighborhood district single and two family residence district standards. Um we did uh work with the city attorney to draft an ordinance for your review today. Um but it's the attorney's recommendation uh to do this in the proper order um would be to first review and make recommendation on the ordinance amendment and um then your recommendation would go to the city council. The city council would do um two different readings of it and then it would go into effect 30 days after it's published. If that um if that were to happen, a number of the variances uh that would be required by Mr. Cretch at 1527 South German Street would go away and all he would need to request for a variance would be that front yard setback off of German Street. So, it would be our request tonight to pull um 3.1 and 4.1 or not go over them um through

the whole full staff report tonight and go over those and the December meeting. Is that acceptable to everyone on the commission? Yes. Yes. Yeah. One other thing I would note is that with uh both of those items um we are subject to the 60-day um so is it on the agenda for December? So what now what we're going to do is we're going to advise the applicant that we're going to extend the uh time period for consideration of his request an additional 60 days which we're allowed to do by state. Okay.

Thank you. Oh, fine then. So, I'm moving to 3.2, the zoning ordinance amendment. I'll go. Before I get into the report, I'm going to pull a map up on the screen so we know what areas we're talking about as we go through this staff report. Um so this is a public hearing on an ordinance amending section 4.1 of appendix A the zoning ordinance uh to the city code. The applicant uh is the city of Newm. Um there is no deadline for a decision um on this um ordinance amendment and the zoning designation that we're specifically um working with um or working on is the R3 medium density residence district. There was a public hearing notice published in the November 8th, 2025 edition of the journal and to date we have not received any comments from the public uh on this zoning amendment. Um, amended sections of the zoning ordinance would include the following. Uh, section 4.11 uh C would establish a 13th standard in the additional requirements table that would be applicable in the R3 medium density residence district. Uh, the standard would include the following. Uh there are a total of four uh existing properties in the R3 R3 district that fit the description of a grid lot that are 8,250 ft in size. Um and the new standard would apply to these lots. In attachment um 3B of your staff report, we have a map showing uh the locations of the four grid lots that this would apply to. Um,

one is the one that we've heard a variance request on here at the corner of 16th and South, uh, 16th South in German. Uh, there's one north of that. Um, and then there's two, uh, just to the south of that abuing each other and directly um to the west of Rolling Thunder. So, they're all in that area of New. They're not in the other R3 districts on the north end or with uh, in the middle of the city. The zoning ordinance defines a grid lot as a parcel of land with a legal subdivision composed of two sets of lines each set drawn to a definite pattern and intersecting to the other right uh at right angles to form a grid. Grid lots are found within the grid pattern of the city. Uh the grid pattern is defined as the type of city uh a type of city plan in which a network of composed a which a network composed of two sets of streets each set drawn in a definite pattern consisting of two uniformly spaced parallel streets intersecting uh the other right at right angles also known as a grid plan a grid street plan or a grid iron plan. If you recall, uh, earlier in the year when we made a zoning amendment to the I1 zoning district standards, we actually defined those two terms and now they're part of our zoning ordinance. So, um, the amendment uh would allow for these grid lots in the R3 R3 district that were recorded prior to October 1st, 1968 that do not meet the minimum zoning standards to follow the standards that apply in the RT2, that's traditional neighborhood, single and two family residence district. Um, right now the grid lots in the R3 district, these grid lots in the R3 district are not developable for single family homes using the existing R3 zoning standards. Um, examples of the lots subjects to

this change uh are shown here on the screen. Um, and the following RT2 standards would apply to these lots. So, I'll um just run through those real quickly. Um, so the minimum lot area uh in that will apply would be 8,250 square ft. If it's a corner lot, um that can go to 4,000 square ft um for both the um front and back half of that lot. um right now the um without without getting a variance uh that he wouldn't be able to split that corner lot um using a simple lot division because the minimum lot size is 10,000 square ft. So if we're applying these new sets uh or this new set of rules, he would be able to do that. Um minimum lot width is uh 50 feet or 80 feet on a um single family detached uh dwelling on a rear corner lot. Minimum lot depth is 165 ft um and then 80 ft um for a detached dwelling on the front corner lot and then 50 ft on a detached dwelling on the rear corner lot. Uh the the minimum front yard setback is 30 ft. Um, if it's a a split corner lot, it's 30 ft from the name street and 10 ft from the numbered street. Interior side setbacks are all 5 ft. Uh, the street side setback um is 10 ft. If it's uh the the front corner lot, it's uh 10 ft off of the numbered street. Uh the rear side setbacks are 5T. Um the rear uh the rear with alley for a single t single family detached dwelling uh would

be 35 ft. Uh the rear with no alley would be 35 ft. Uh the alley sideyard would be 5t. Maximum heights would apply 35 ft. Minimum floor area 720 square feet across the board. um minimum building depth and width is 24 feet. Um and then we also increase uh the maximum um building coverage in the uh single family detached front corner lot and also the rear corner lot uh to 60% and 70%. So, all we did was took the standards directly out of the RT2 zoning district and would have that apply to these grid lots in the R3 uh in the R3 zoning district. Um uh purpose of the zoning amendment. Uh the amendments uh being proposed are to correct an error in the existing zone zoning ordinance and account for an existing situation or configurations uh that were not considered when developing the standards for the R3 zoning district. Um we have attachment one which is the proposed new zoning ordinance. So at the end of the R or the end of the residential zoning standards there's a table that addresses a number of different let's call them unique situations that we have in our residential areas and we try to go through those uh standards or have separate standards that would apply. And this uh new zoning amendment would go in that table where we have kind of unique situations. It would be the last uh the last number number 13. Um so this is what this is what would be added to the zoning ordinance.

Um attachment two, everything highlighted in red are the R3 zoning districts uh within the city. Um, here are the four lots that we're specifically talking about in the R3 district. Again, on the south end of town, uh, again, attachment 3B, here's the four lots that, uh, this new regulation would apply to. I took actually took pictures of all all of the lots that this would apply to. Uh, you can see right here uh, that this is already being used as a driveway. So, this would be the furthest north um on German Street, that vacant lot. Um so, it's it's unlikely. Um not saying it's won't happen, but it's unlikely that this would be developed in the future. Um and then here are the other two lots further to the south and on the west side of South German Street um between two uh residences. Um, as far as we know right now, there's no plan to develop those. Um, but that could happen at some time in the future. Um, so we wanted to make sure that this amendment would apply to all of these lots in case there were um, some consideration for development in the future. We have the staff completed findings of facts as attachment five. Um so the approval process following the public hearing the planning commission shall adopt findings of facts um uh finding a fact and a recommendation using each of the review criteria outlined in section 2.4B5. Uh recommendations and decisions and zoning amendments shall be based on the consideration of the following review criteria. A whether the proposed amendment corrects an error in the original text or map. B, whether the proposed amendment addresses a need arising from a changing condition,

trend, or fact affecting the subject property and surrounding area, and C, whether the proposed amendment is consistent with achieving the goals and objectives outlined in the comprehensive plan. So, does the planning commission believe that the proposed amendment complies with the review criteria outlined in appendix A? Um, are there additional or fewer requirements the planning commission would like to see incorporated into the uh recom into the amendment? Staff would recommend approval of the zoning amendment described in the proposed ordinance. Um, the ordinance amendment takes into consideration present lot situations uh in the existing zoning districts that were not considered during the adoption of the new zoning ordinance in 2022. vacant grid lots in the R3 uh zoning district are currently not buildable uh without this zoning amendment. We have two potential motions. One to recommend approval of the ordinance amend amendment and one to recommend denial. And that would conclude the staff report. Okay. Excuse me. Has everyone on the commission had a chance to review the finding of facts form that was presented in your packet?

Yes. Um, do you all accept the finding a fact form as presented or are there questions or changes that you want to make? Questions about answers or changes you wanted to make? No. So we are all in agreement that we accept the finding of facts form as presented. Okay. Yes. Yes.

Thank you. That saves us some time. So is there any other discussion or questions for the city? Hearing none, I would entertain a motion. I'd move to recommend approval of the ordinance as written. Second. I have a motion and a second. Are there any other Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I I opposed. Motion is carried.

So, this will go to for the first consideration in front of the city council on December 2nd at 4:30. Okie do. Great. Thank you. That moves us on to um discussion of the December planning commission meeting.

Go ahead. I'm um maybe just uh question, John, do we need a motion to continue consideration of 3.1 and 4.1 for 60 days? an additional 60 days. That might be appropriate for the plan to do that. Can we make a motion for both of them? Yeah. In in one in one motion for the variance and the simple act division. Okay. So moved. Second. Second. I have a motion and a second to approve the continuation of items 3.1 and 4.1. All in favor? I

I opposed. Motion carried. December. Um the week before worked for this meeting. Does it work for everyone for the next meeting the the 18th or whatever? Yes. Is that is that what you does that work for you guys?

Um this room is available um on the 17th and the 18th. So the 17th is a Wednesday, the 18th is a Thursday. It's also open the 29th and 30th, which is a Monday and a Tuesday. I will vote for the 18th. I think the 18th. Same.

Yeah. Y agreement on December 18th. Okay. Mhm. Now that I shoved that one down, you probably should have a um motion to or at least you should maybe adjourn to that date. Okay, that I can do. Is there any city council decisions that you wanted to bring forth? It's not

um There were there were a few at the November 4th meeting. Um this is a non-planning commission item. Um they did um authorize um a professional services contract with McDonald and Mac architect in the amount of $13,250 to prepare a detailed cost estimate for dismantling and reconstruction of select pieces of the Herman monument. Also at that meeting, they approved the conditional use permit that um Christy Loose had applied for to allow the operation of indoor commercial, entertainment, recreation land uses at 123rd North Street and 318 to 326 North Valley Street. and that was unanimously um approved. Um at the um November 18th meeting, again, it's a nonplanning commission item. Um they conducted a public hearing on the use of tax abatement uh financial assistance um for the Oak Hills um apartment project. then that was um unanimously um approved. And then uh another item again that involved the planning commission um the city engineers report on the 2026 capital improvement plan was presented.

That would conclude. Thank you. Is there is there any funding for monument um rehab?

Elwood's going to get lots of grants. He's got his hands out. Um as of right now, no, there's not fun. Well, we have after this 100,000 goes out, 300,000 in a Herman fund. We've got some that we've been setting aside from the HPC carryover funds of about 30 to $40,000, but we were approached um bring in front of the legislators for um some bonding money, not bonding. They have the legacy. Yes. Sure. Um up to $10 million. Um so

that's what the $100,000 is doing. and we need to have some fairly tight costs to be able to present to the legislators on that. As someone who has worked with that and and that's a really good route to go, it was a surprise when the Blue Earth County Historical Society did their children's museum through funding that way kind of backdoor. There was a big to-do because it was a lot of people were caught unaware of that you could do that. But it is a wise way to go. Yeah. Because trying to go through Shipo and grants it would be a

20 plus year project probably because you never make a grant cycle to apply for the next year and then you're not as soon getting it. So it's trying to get all the money at once and go from there. How much did does SHIPO still apply though as far as how you can restructure it?

That's kind of up in the air yet on with this monies. Nobody knows for sure how that looks at. Um being they've given us the go-ahad for deconstruction, I think that's a huge step already. That's they've said that's the first time they've ever done that. Um my feeling I think once we get into it, we'll really know once we start deconstructing what's it might come to the point it's just a knockdown from the top down. it. Mhm.

Basically, what I'm seeing is maybe the the steel parts might the 10 columns, the center column, steel ring, that might be good. You're still going to have to have it tested to see if it's structurally sound, but any of the stone and stuff, I don't think is going to be But you but you have a supplier for the stone. The original supplier is still around, correct? Yes. It came out of um Casota Veter Stone owns the pits now. And the same pit that the the Casota Stone came out for the original monument is still open. And they still have the there's seven different tooling marks and they still have all those seven tools and stuff. So it'll be the glazed brick that would be not sourced from the original source, but that's that would be about it. And you have an architectural firm,

McDonald and Mac. McDonald. That's right. I did read that. I'm I'm probably the only one that's really excited about this. I It's amazing project. Long road ahead yet, but it's moving. That's amazing. Aren't there typically fewer strings attached if there are no federal dollars used for that? Yep. Yeah. That's why the state money is nice. And that's was until we we were coming going to come in front of city council and see which way they wanted to really go and that day before um the park and rec director was approached by um somebody from the legislature to see if this is what

we want to do. So, we had to kind of change on the on the run on that and bring that up and and go from there cuz um yeah, cuz without chip money, yeah, you could go in and demolish it and start fresh. I mean, we've got we don't have the original blueprints, but we've got drawings from the assessment study done in 2019. Well, you've got that, but you also have the deconstruction of it if you have the right architectural firm in there, and I think you do, right? Yeah. Yeah, because they're going to have to document everything and every layer has to be documented as far as that goes. So, yeah. So, so you create them backwards pretty much, right? Yeah. And you've got everything out of there in storage.

Yeah. Yeah. There's nothing nothing in the interpretive center. That's all at the library. Okay. Excited. Okay. Thank you. Is there any other business to come before the commission? Yes. Yeah. We have one final item. I don't know if we're going to have a December meeting or not. Uh we do have a um

some recognition to be made. So on this is on behalf of the city of New Presents this recognition award to an Earl for your high level of community involvement and unwavering commitment on the commission as a member from January 2020 to December 2025. Dated this 25th date the day of December 2025. So little early but what signed by Kathleen Becker, mayor, city of New.

Well, thank you. Thank you very much for your service to your community. Thank you. I'll put this next to my probably deserves my I'll put this next to my award for once. I won a day one year by the mayor. I don't remember what the day was either. Yeah, it was fun. Anyway, thank you. Um, if if we don't have a December meeting, I'd like to if we do have a December meeting, please step forward if you'd like to consider an office for the next year because if we have a December meeting, we have election of officers at that meeting.

That is correct. So, so if anyone has an interest, please step forward at any time. Let somebody know so you can be nominated. It's easier. If hearing nothing, that's the end of the meeting. End of meeting. Hearing nothing. I will adjourn this meeting to December 18th. Thank you, 2025.