PC Meeting Date: March 19, 2026
To: Members of the Planning Commission
From: Mathias Hughey, Associate City Planner
Title
Public Hearing on the Conditional Use Permit for Carleton College to make specified transportation facility improvements north of 1st St. E. within the Perimeter Transition Area.
Body
Action Requested:
The Planning Commission is asked to conduct a public hearing to gather input on the conditional use permit (CUP) for Carleton College to close the privately-owned portion of College Street north of 1st St. W. to vehicle traffic, relocate parking spaces and the bus stop from that area to the lot northwest of the intersection of 1st St. E. and Nevada St. which will involve an expansion of an existing parking lot within the Perimeter Transition Area.
Summary Report:
Carleton College has applied for a CUP to close the privately-owned portion of College Street north of 1st St. W. to vehicle traffic, relocate parking spaces and the bus stop from that area to the lot at the northwest corner of the intersection of 1st St. E. and Nevada St. which will involve an expansion of an existing parking lot. Consideration of a recommendation to the City Council will follow the public hearing.
Public hearing notices were mailed to property owners within 350 feet of the property on March 6, 2026. A copy of the public hearing mailing and location map are attached. The public hearing notice was published in the Northfield News on March 4, 2026.
The following is the procedure of the public hearing per the City Council’s adopted Rules of Business:
Public Hearing Procedure:
A Public Hearing is used by certain Boards/Commissions to solicit the public's comments on various projects or issues as authorized for the board or commission by their enabling authority provided in charter, state law, city code or City Council enabling resolution.
A. The Chair will open the hearing by identifying the subject.
B. Staff Presentation - staff will give a presentation on the subject.
C. Applicant's Presentation - if needed.
D. Public Input - The public will have the opportunity to speak for or against the issue. The public may ask questions, make comments, voice support, agree or disagree with the issue.
1. The Chair will recognize a speaker at the podium and comments/conversation will be between the Chair and speaker; and between the Chair and Board/Commission Members.
2. At the podium the speaker must give their name and if representing a business, must give the name of the business or corporation. If an Attorney or consultant is representing a client, the client must be identified for the record.
3. Speakers will be allowed to speak a maximum of two (2) minutes per item (not including interpreter’s time, if applicable).
4. Speakers who have material to be handed out to the Board/Commission Members will pass the material to the Staff Liaison. The Staff Liaison will then pass the information to the appropriate people. A minimum of twelve (12) copies are needed.
5. Persons cannot gift their two (2) minute speaking time to other members of the public.
6. Persons cannot observe silence for the entire two (2) minutes or any part of their two (2) minute speaking time.
E. Questions or Clarifications from Board/Commission - After the public input of the public hearing is completed, the Board/Commission may request questions or clarifications prior to closing the public hearing. This section will be used when there are questions related to the topic on which the public hearing is being held. Questions should be succinct and avoid being rhetorical or leading in nature. Subsequent actions of the Board/Commission provide for opportunities for further questions or clarifications from the Board/Commission.
F. Any material to be entered into the record shall be noted. Any written communication presented to the Board/Commission during a meeting shall be simply delivered to the Board/Commission and not publicly read at the meeting. They shall then be recorded in the minutes by title and filed with the minutes in the office of the Board/Commission liaison.
G. Motion to Close Hearing- The Chair will state if there is an extension of time for public input into the hearing. If not, the Board/Commission will make a motion, second, and vote on closing the public hearing. Following the public hearing, the Board/Commission members shall deliberate and vote on the matter.
Staff will give a presentation on the CUP. The relevant background materials and information for this item are included in the agenda item immediately following the public hearing to consider action on the application. There will not be a separate staff presentation for that agenda item and there will not be separate testimony for that for the applicant or public at that time.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Timelines:
March 4, 2026: Public hearing notice published in the Northfield News
March 6, 2026: Public hearing notice mailed
March 19, 2026: Public hearing & recommendation from the Planning Commission
April 7, 2026: City Council decision