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Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals
Meetings
Third Thursday of each month
6 p.m.
Upcoming PC Meeting
March 18, 2021
Public Monitoring
Members of the public may monitor the meeting by watching the live stream or electronically from a remote location.
Live Stream
GoTo Meeting
PC Meeting
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/945160525
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (571) 317-3122
Access Code: 945-160-525
Important documents
- Planning Commission/ZBA Bylaws
- Comprehensive Plan (PDF)
- Land Development Code
- City Code
- 11-19-2020 ZBA Agenda Packet
- 11-19-2020 PC Agenda Packet @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
Agendas and Minutes
Members
Name | Title | Term expiration | Phone number |
---|---|---|---|
Joe Gasior | Chair | December 31, 2021 | 507-645-1667 |
William Schroeer | Member | December 31, 2022 | 651-295-0860 |
Betsey Buckheit | Vice Chair | December 31, 2023 | 507-581-3991 |
Tracy Heisler | Member | December 31, 2021 | 612-787-7047 |
Vacant | Member | December 31, 2022 | |
Greg Siems | Member | December 31, 2021 | 319-541-2246 |
Brian Nowak | Member | December 31, 2023 | 612-799-3326 |
Grant Boardman | Youth Representative (non-voting) | 2019-2020 school year | Not available |
Sofia Chihade | Youth Representative (non-voting) | 2019-2020 school year | Not available |
George Zuccolotto | Council Liaison | 507-301-8542 |
Staff liaisons
Name | Title | Phone number |
---|---|---|
Mitzi Baker | Community Development Director | 507-645-3005 |
Mikayla Schmidt | City Planner | 507-645-3059 |
Kari Bonde | Administrative Associate | 507-645-3036 |
Overview
Special meetings are occasionally called, four members constitute a quorum. All Planning Commission meetings are open to the public and are broadcast live on the city website.
The functions of the Planning Commission are separate from and exclusive of the functions of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The Planning Commission prepares and maintains the city's Comprehensive Plan and advises the City Council on matters regarding implementation of the plan. The commission also conducts public hearings and makes recommendations to the City Council on proposed changes affecting zoning and land uses within the city, considers site plan reviews, conditional use permits, and variances in conformance to the Land Development Code. The Planning Commission forwards information gathered from these public hearings, along with their own recommendations, to the City Council for final action.
The official Land Development Code is located in the Official City Code, Chapter 34, and will be the code that rules.
Membership requirements
The Planning Commission / Zoning Board of Appeals is comprised of seven regular members who are appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. Each member serves a three-year term. There is a three term limit. Members do not receive monetary compensation.
Applying
-
Apply for a board, commission, or task force
Applications are also available at:
City Hall
801 Washington Street
Northfield, MN 55057Northfield Public Library
210 Washington Street
Northfield, MN 55057
Accomplishments
- In the beginning of the year, the Planning Commission worked very hard on expanding their work plan to coincide with the City Council Strategic Plan. A letter was sent to the Council with three main areas.
- Assisted with beginning steps for several projects, variances, conditional use permits and plats. A few of those included:
- Hills of Spring Creek 9th Addition
- Spring Creek Townhomes 2nd Addition
- St. Olaf College – Ole Housing Project (Rezoning and Conditional Use Permit)
- Approved variances for a front porch, garage, and a sign in the Downtown Historic District. Three variance requests were also denied.
- Conditional Use Permit for Hyacinth Solar
- Community Action Center – Hillcrest Village (Rezoning)
- Provided feedback for plans and projects including Rice County 2020 Comprehensive Plan, the proposed Paulson Property redevelopment project, and the Community Action Center’s Hillcrest Village housing project
2019 accomplishments
- The 5th Street Lofts went through the planning review process to create a 79-unit apartment complex, construction set to begin spring 2020
- Premier Bank will be relocating as part of the redevelopment of the 5th Street Lofts to the northwest corner of Highway 3 and 2nd Street West, which continues the infill of The Crossings
- Hyacinth Solar is in process for a Conditional Use Permit to build a 1MW solar garden west of the Northfield Hospital
- Chub Garden 1MW solar garden was completed off of Garrett Avenue
- Benedictine Living Community completed their build out and have 70 assisted living/independent living units and 24 assisted living/memory care units
- A new self-storage facility is in motion located off Cannon Road
- Added language to the accessory dwelling unit ordinance to create flexibility in locating these types of dwelling units and offer more options in the local housing market
Other notable site plans and projects
- Arcadia Charter expansion
- Bridgewater Elementary expansion
- Maple Brook Townhomes
- Mayo Radiation Oncology expansion
- Northfield Hospital Clinic and Birth Center
- New Greenvale Park school
- Updated language to the historic downtown sign ordinance