PC Meeting Date: November 21, 2024
To: Members of the Planning Commission
From: Mikayla Schmidt, City Planner
Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Title
Staff Updates.
Body
Action Requested:
The Planning Commission is asked to hear updates from staff.
Summary Report:
City Council Information
- The upcoming agenda items list is attached for reference.
Planning Applications & Related Updates
- See hyperlink to development map.
- The City has applied for a zoning map amendment for the Northfield Ice Arena. The amendment will change the zoning of main parcel where the ice arena sits from PI-S: Public Institutional to C2-B: Highway Commercial. The other parcel, the land adjacent to the river, will be changed from PI-S: Public Institutional to PB: Public Benefit.
o A minor subdivision was executed to adjust property lines.
o Both map amendments were approved by City Council on Nov. 12
- Staff has completed text amendments related to Parking and Signage in the Historic District. City Council completed first and second readings of the text amendments. The changes will go into effect on Nov. 22.
- A text amendment on Lighting is still under review to make minor edits. Second reading is planned for Nov. 26 City Council meeting.
- Staff is working on amendments to the City Code related to:
o Rental licensing including addressing short-term rentals (colloquially referred to “Air BnB”)
o Cannabis licensing and appropriate standards for retail and other license types, including growing, research, production, etc. includes adjustments to restrictions of tobacco licensing to match pending Rice County changes regarding flavored tobacco products and vaping products, including menthol cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Staff is collaborating with Administration and Police.
o Updates to the rental licensing provisions and along with ordinances to strengthen the city’s ability to support residents of any income, particularly those who are low- or very low-income in finding and retaining quality housing.
- A site plan review application has been approved for St. Olaf College to construct a Thermal Energy Storage Tank within the Internal Development Area.
- Staff is working with volunteers and the Heritage Preservation Commission to apply to locally designate Central Park as a historic property. Link to the HPC meeting is attached.
Comprehensive Plan
- Staff anticipates handing out hard copies of a complete draft of the Comprehensive Plan Document for review and public hearing at the Planning Commission meeting in December 2024.
Training Opportunities
- Thanks to a generous grant from the National Parks Service and the State Historic Preservation Office Community Development Department staff is hosting the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC) who will be providing the Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program (CAMP) on Saturday, November 23 at Carleton College. The training is led by qualified preservation professionals in support of NAPC’s mission to build strong local preservation programs and leaders through education, training, and advocacy. Six topic areas were chosen for the event: Standards and Guidelines for Design Review; Legal Basics; Meeting Procedure; Preservation Planning; and a specialty topic designed for Northfield related to resiliency in the face of climate change and new materials.
Alternative Options:
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Financial Impacts:
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Tentative Timeline:
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