Planning Commission Meeting Date: November 21, 2024
To: Members of the Planning Commission
From: Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Title
Consider Text Amendments Related to Industrial and Agricultural Use Regulations in Multiple Sections of Chapter 34 - Land Development Code.
Body
Action Requested:
Consider a motion to recommend the proposed text amendments to Industrial and Agricultural Use Regulations in the Land Development Code, specifically related to the I1-B: Industrial, A-S: Agricultural, and the ED-F: Economic Development Floating districts, to City Council.
Summary Report:
The City of Northfield has been planning for the development of the Northwest Area in addition to infill site redevelopment strategies consistent with the adopted Comprehensive Plan (2008) (Attachment 1) and the City's Strategic Plan (Attachment 2) related to tax base growth for more than a decade. The 530 acres annexed in 2009 were brought into the city limits to address tax base mix and capacity concerns. However, due to economic conditions and other factors, development has been slow to occur. In order to attempt to capture renewed interest in real estate in the greater Northfield area and potentially spur development of the area into a contained industrial park - whether for a technology campus, a light industrial business park or other primarily industrial use focused on increasing the tax capacity within the city limits - staff and financial and planning advisors recommend rezoning the area to fit the Framework Map in the adopted 2008 Comprehensive Plan to industrial which describes the area as "District."
Although delayed by COVID and other priorities, City staff have been working toward the recommended incremental approach to development in the area, memorialized in Resolution 2019-008 (Attachment 3). The approach has included working with Xcel Energy to market the site and participate in its "Certified Site" process, responding to requests for informatio...
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