annexation

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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There was a Planning Commission special meeting on 1/7/10. (Meetings are considered “special meetings” rather than “regular meetings” until the City Council approves changes to the City ordinances reflecting the change of meeting nights for 2010).

At the meeting, the Planning Commission discussed and voted on the Prawer-Gill annexation request in Bridgewater Township. The Planning Commission voted 5-1 to recommend that the City Council approve the annexation request. Details on the vote, and a written summary of the discussion, will be published in the staff report to City Council, which I’ll post here as soon as it’s available.

The Commission also elected its officers for 2010 (Chair: yours truly; Vice Chair: Alice Thomas), discussed new liaison assignments, and conducted its annual review of the Planning Commission by-laws, making a couple of small updates.

There will be a Planning Commission work session on 1/14/10.

Links to the individual meeting meeting date pages on the City of Northfield website will also include the minutes of the meeting after they have been approved on a subsequent date.