Planning Commission Meeting Date: November 19, 2026
To: Members of the Planning Commission
From: Mikayla Schmidt, AICP, City Planner
Ben Martig, City Administrator
James McDermott, Water Quality Technician
David Bennett, City Engineer/Public Works Director
Title
Consider a Planning Commission Resolution Affirming that the Option/Acquisition Agreement of Property with Post Consumer Brands, LLC for the Ames Mill Dam is in compliance with the Northfield 2045 Comprehensive Plan.
Body
Action Requested:
The Planning Commission approves the resolution affirming that the Option/Acquisition Agreement of Property with Post Consumer Brands, LLC for the Ames Mill Dam is in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan.
Summary Report:
The City Council discussed the proposed agreement with Post Consumer Brands, the dam’s owner, on November 10. Consideration of action on the agreement and initial engineering work will go before Council in December.
The option agreement with Post Consumers Brands, will lay the foundation for transferring the ownership of Ames Mill Dam to the City for its ultimate removal from the Cannon River. The City is proposing to replace the dam with long rock rapid. The Planning Commission is requested to consider if the proposed option agreement for the removal of Ames Mill Dam is in alignment with the Comprehensive Plan.
The proposed agreement would establish an option for future City ownership. Approving it would not transfer the dam to Northfield. Instead, it would establish terms for investigation, cost sharing and a possible later acquisition.
Removing and replacing the Ames Mill Dam is an adopted Council strategic priority. This planned next phase would provide the information needed to evaluate environmental risks, costs and ownership responsibilities before proceeding.
Post Consumer Brands owns the Ames Mill Dam. The aging structure no longer serves its original milling purpose. The first dam dates to 1855, the year Northfield was f...
Click here for full text