City Council Meeting Date: June 16, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Mikayla Schmidt, AICP, City Planner
Scott Wopata, Community Development Director
Dave Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Consider a Citizen Petition for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) to be Completed for the Proposed Harvest Hills Second Addition Development.
Body
Action Requested:
Staff recommend a motion to approve the Resolution to deny the citizen Petition for the preparation of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the proposed Harvest Hills Second Addition development.
Summary Report:
The Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) process related to this agenda item before the Council is a quasi-judicial decision, rather than the legislative matters the Council typically considers. In this role, Councilmembers must base their decision on the record, applicable ordinance standards, and evidence presented through the public process. Councilmembers are encouraged to avoid ex parte communications-direct discussions with the applicant or interested parties outside of the public meeting-as outlined in the City's Ex Parte Communications Policy (see attachment). If such communications do occur, they should be disclosed on the record at the meeting. Maintaining this approach helps ensure fairness, transparency, and the legal defensibility of the Council's decision.
By letter provided via email, from Sarah Lerohl, Environmental Review Program Administrator with the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board ("EQB"), the City of Northfield ("City") received a petition for an environmental assessment worksheet ("EAW"), dated May 29, 2026 (the "Petition"), for the proposed Harvest Hills Second Addition development. The Petition has been signed by over 100 individuals and has been submitted pursuant to Minnesota Rules, part 4410.1100.
MN Rules include categories of projects and thresholds that trigger a mandator...
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