On 11/24/09, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the request for annexation from two landowners in Bridgewater Township. The Commission discussed the request and its attendant issue at our 12/8/09 and 12/15/09 meetings. The links for the dates referenced contain the minutes from those meetings.
On 1/7/2010 the Planning Commission made its official recommendation, which will be presented to the City Council at their 2/9/2010 meeting.
The Planning Commission’s recommendation to the Northfield City Council, along with its rationale, is as follows:
The vote of the Commission was five to one in favor of the request. The vote
against annexation was based on the position that it should be delayed until
completion of both the Land Development Code and the updated stormwater and
stream protection ordinances, both critical tools given the unique, sensitive
natural resources involved.
Commission members stated that they are unanimous in their support of the
annexation requests, but have significant concerns about the impact of future
development on the environmental resources, including the two streams in the
area and more particularly the Brook Trout habitat represented in Rice Creek.
The Planning Commission advises the City Council that development in this area
should preserve and enhance the environmental features of the annexation area,
while at the same time pursuing viable economic development for Northfield.
To accomplish this, the Commission encourages the Council to direct that any
eventual development on the site be informed by a complete hydrological and
biological work-up for both Rice Creek and Heath Creek, research needed to
ensure that these acres are developed in a manner that accords with the principles
of the 2008 Comprehensive Plan. Furthermore, in accordance with the conditions
stated in Option #1, the Planning Commission encourages the Council to direct
City Staff to work closely and cooperatively with Bridgewater Township and to
engage the technical expertise of the Rice Creek (Spring Brook) Concerned
Citizens Group, the Cannon River Watershed Partnership, and other interested
groups, in the revision of storm-water and stream protection ordinances.
(Found on p. 17 of the 19-page Staff Report on the Gill-Prawer Annexation in the 2/9/2010 meeting packet.)
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I was disappointed at the 5-1 vote on Jan. 7. The Planning Commission was a thoughtful group and I felt there was a chance they would recommend the eastern half for annexation as had been done by the Planning Commission (when Ross Currier and Ron Griffith were members) in dealing with the Greenvale one. Obviously, Northfield does not need as much land in either business park.
Perhaps if the open meeting law problem had aired earlier, more members of the current Planning Commission would have had the courage to say no Jan. 7 until staff had supplied answers to their questions.
Obviously, I am equally disappointed at the unanimous Council v0te giving “preliminary approval” to the 456-acre annexation last night, Feb. 9. Dan Olson’s “power point” did not include maps. I requested Exhibit 5 map be put on screen for the audience, but that failed (it was flashed on and off without comment after I had spoken). I did appreciate Olson saying he was unfamiliar with annexation procedures.