City Council Meeting Date: July 9, 2024
To: Members of the City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Nate Carlson, Economic Development Coordinator
Title
Consideration of Northfield Planning Commission and Northfield Economic Development Authority Recommendation Options Related to an Interim Ordinance to Temporarily Limit Development in the Northwest Area to Orderly Plan for Development of the Northwest Area.
Body
Action Requested:
Consider and discuss PC Resolution 2024-002 and supplementary Economic Development Authority Resolution 2024-003 recommending an interim ordinance enacting a moratorium on new development applications in the 530 acres of land known as the Northwest Area.
See "Alternatives Options" section for different action options for Council to consider.
Summary Report:
The City has been planning for the development of the Northwest Area in addition to other redevelopment and infill site strategies consistent with the City's Strategic Plan related to tax base growth. This area is being explored to be further enhance updates for development in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan update that is part of the City Strategic Plan. Although delayed by COVID and other priorities, staff is making substantial advancement in advancing the Council dire recommended an incremental approach to development in the area, memorialized in Resolution 2019-008 (Attachment 3). Some market conditions have revised the approach on this area related to the market conditions and locational advantage for this area to service data centers. The AUAR process specifically included this market and staff have been responding to interest and advancing data centers as a prospective development for the NW Area.
Background
Under Minnesota law (Minn.Stat. ?462.355 Subd. 4), a city may adopt an interim ordinance, often called a moratorium, to protect the planning process. Such an ordinance may, "regulate, r...
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