City Council Meeting Date: October 6, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: David Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Consider Approval of Sale of Property at 1600 Riverview Ln by Northfield Hospital + Clinics.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council consider the attached Resolution approving the sale by the Northfield Hospital + Clinics of real property at 1600 Riverview Ln. and dispensing with review of the sale by the Northfield Planning Commission.
Note: Approval requires a two-thirds (5/7) vote.
Summary Report:
Northfield Hospital and Clinics currently has an ambulance facility at 1600 Riverview Lane. The facility has a joint driveway access with NCC Builders located at 1610 Riverview Lane. The two entities have been working cooperatively to establish a legal sale of property and access agreement for the property as no current legal arrangement exists.
NH+C hospital board approved the sale of the north 21 feet of their property on September 24, 2026. The sale amount is $12,403.00, and as part of the sale a new access easement will be established over 1600 Riverview Lane.
Per Northfield City Charter Section 15.5 a public hearing is required prior to the sale of real property.
City Charter Section 15.5. - Sales of Real Property.
The council may by resolution approved of by at least five (5) members sell or otherwise dispose of any real property of the city. A sale or other disposition of the city's real property may be made only after a public hearing has been held and published notice of the hearing has been given at least ten (10) but not more than thirty (30) days prior to the hearing. The net cash proceeds of the sale of the property shall be used to retire any outstanding indebtedness incurred by the city in the acquisition or improvement of the property. Any remaining net cash proceeds shall be used to finance other improvements in the capital improvement budget or to retire any other bonded indebtedness.
Minnesota Statutes, Section 462.356, subdivision 2 states that no publicly owned interest in real property within a city shall be acquired or disposed of until after the planning commission has reviewed the proposed acquisition or disposal and reported in writing to the city council its findings as to compliance of the proposed acquisition or disposal with the comprehensive plan. The same statute further states, however, that the city council may, by resolution adopted by two-thirds vote, dispense with the requirements of this subdivision when in its judgment it finds that the acquisition or disposal of real property has no relationship to the comprehensive plan.
The public hearing will immediately proceed this item and is a separate item on the agenda. No additional staff report is intended for this action item.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
The property sale amount is $12,403.00 with proceeds going into Northfield Hospital & Clinic funds.
Tentative Timelines:
ü September 23, 2026 Notice of Public Hearing Published
ü September 24, 2026 NH+C Recommendation Council to Approve Sale and Easement
• October 6, 2026 Public Hearing on property sale
• October 6, 2026 City Council votes on property sale
• October 30, 2026 Closing date, if approved