Pine Island — Transcript
Monday, August 19, 2024
Story
Pine Island approves new residential subdivision and updates meeting time
Main Street Residential Zoning Interpretation and Variance Request
Change of Regular Council Meeting Time
Adoption of Shoreland Management Overlay District
Pine Bend Subdivision Land Use, Zoning, and Plat Approvals
City Employee Vacation Leave Policy Update
Votes (12)
Public Input: Pine Island Cheese Festival Recap and Future Requests
Dissent: None
Moved by null · Seconded by null
Terry Lynn, representing the Pine Island Cheese Festival, reported a highly successful year with a 40% increase in net income, attributed to sponsorships, carnival sales, and investments. The festival made community donations of $1,800 and introduced a new cheese and wine market. However, she noted 'growing pains' from outgrowing Trailhead Park, leading to turned-away vendors and limited expansion. She requested city collaboration on expanding festival space, revisiting a Main Street footbridge, and developing a flood emergency plan. Council members expressed appreciation for the festival's success and the cooperation with city departments, agreeing to initiate discussions on expansion soon.
Public Input: Main Street Zoning Interpretation for Dual-Purpose Property
Dissent: None
Moved by null · Seconded by null
Nathan, a resident, presented his appeal for guidance regarding his desire to create a dual-purpose (office and occasional living quarters) space on the ground floor of his Main Street business. He argued that his situation didn't fit a typical variance request and questioned the city code's intent on restricting ground-floor apartments in business districts, especially given vacant properties. City Attorney Bobby clarified that current city code does not permit residential uses on the ground floor in a business district. He advised Nathan to pursue a proposal to change the city code through the Planning Commission rather than an appeal on a variance, as the variance was correctly denied under existing rules. The Mayor suggested Nathan work with city staff to explore options, including potential re-zoning.
Ordinance Number 168: Changing Regular Council Meeting Time
Dissent: None
Moved by David [00:25:50] · Seconded by Brandy [00:25:52]
The Mayor introduced Ordinance 168, proposing to move the regular council meeting time from 7:00 PM to 6:00 PM on the third Tuesday of each month. This change was requested by citizens. A public hearing was held, and no members of the public or the city attorney expressed opposition, with the city attorney noting it would be 'fantastic' for him. The Council proceeded to vote on and approve the ordinance.
Public Hearing: Ordinance Number 169 Updating Shoreland Management Overlay District
Dissent: None
Moved by Jason [00:39:05] · Seconded by Randy [00:39:10]
Elizabeth provided background on Ordinance 169, explaining that the DNR mandated Pine Island to adopt a Shoreland overlay zoning district due to the Zumbro River and a recent annexation. The ordinance is based on a DNR model, adapted for river-specific properties. During the public hearing, several residents (Andrew and Aaron Bus via letter, Lori Ewald, Rory Larson, Rob Bart) raised concerns about ongoing erosion along Rodeo Drive, perceived city inaction on mitigation, and the potential burdens of new permitting. City staff, including Craig and Elizabeth, clarified that the ordinance sets future development standards, not an erosion control plan, and noted past DNR advice favoring natural grasses over rip-rap. A future work session to discuss erosion control and funding was suggested.
Resolution 24-27: Approving Parcel Splits for Prairie Island Indian Community Property Sale
Dissent: None
Moved by David [00:42:00] · Seconded by Jason [00:42:05]
The resolution was presented to approve parcel splits necessary to complete the sale of excess Right-of-Way land to the Prairie Island Indian Community. This process also allows the city to retain approximately 11 acres of land. Craig explained that the resolution grants authority to split larger parcels into smaller chunks for conveyance.
Resolution 24-28: Approving Appointments and Committees to 2024
Dissent: None
Moved by Randy [00:42:55] · Seconded by Jason [00:43:00]
This resolution updates the annual appointments to city boards and commissions. The update was necessary to include newly added council member Paul and to reflect turnover among resident appointees throughout the year, ensuring all positions are current and filled.
Request to Approve Updated Vacation Leave Policy
Dissent: None
Moved by Brandy [00:46:15] · Seconded by Jason [00:46:20]
Elizabeth presented the updated vacation leave policy, which shifts from front-loaded vacation to an accrual process, effective January 1, 2025. The policy was designed based on staff feedback to improve retention, particularly for employees with 8-12+ years of service who will see the most significant increase in vacation time. A special exemption allows employees to go negative up to 40 hours in 2025 to ease the transition. Elizabeth reported 100% support from city staff.
Relief Association Presentation for SC24
Dissent: None
Moved by Jason [00:48:40] · Seconded by Randy [00:48:45]
A representative from the Relief Association requested approval for their SC24 document, required to be submitted to the state by August 1st. The document maintains the benefit level at $7,300 with zero required contribution from the city. The representative also expressed intent to discuss an annual benefit increase at a future August 7th work session, noting that current market gains could support such an increase within the budget.
Resolution 24-29: Approving the Land Use Plan Amendment (Pine Bend Subdivision)
Dissent: None
Moved by Randy [00:51:25] · Seconded by Jason [00:51:30]
Elizabeth presented Resolution 24-29, which amends the city's 2010 future land use map. The amendment changes a parcel owned by Jim and Pat Walter, intended for the Pine Bend subdivision, from commercial to medium to high-density residential (R3 zoning). This change aligns with the ongoing 2024 comprehensive plan update and ensures the proposed development is contiguous with future land use plans in the area. The parcel to the east, owned by the city, will remain commercial.
Ordinance 170: Zoning Map Amendment for Pine Bend Subdivision
Dissent: None
Moved by Randy [00:53:50] · Seconded by Jason [00:53:55]
Following the land use plan amendment, Ordinance 170 was presented to amend the city's zoning map for the Pine Bend subdivision parcel. The parcel, currently zoned Agricultural (A), will be rezoned to Urban Residential (R3), which permits Twin Homes or dual-family homes and has appropriate lot size regulations. Elizabeth stated that the rezoning meets all five major factors of consideration outlined in City Code 11.16 subdivision 3E. The Planning Commission had previously held a public hearing and received positive feedback on this proposal.
Resolution 24-31: Approving the Pine Bend Preliminary Plat
Dissent: None
Moved by Randy [00:56:00] · Seconded by Jason [00:56:05]
This resolution represents the final step in approving the Pine Bend subdivision, specifically the preliminary plat submitted by Seth Free. With the land use and zoning changes approved, the development of Twin Homes is now possible. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the preliminary plat, contingent upon the applicant filing required documents, including utility plans, grading plans, and geotechnical reports, prior to the final plat approval. Craig confirmed ongoing work with the applicant's engineer to secure these documents.
Pay Estimate Number 8 for 2023 Southwest Street Improvement Project
Dissent: None
Moved by David [00:57:45] · Seconded by Jason [00:57:50]
The Council reviewed and approved Pay Estimate Number 8, amounting to $17,395.94, to Wentz Construction for work completed on the 2023 Southwest Street Improvement project. Craig confirmed that this payment covers work completed through the spring, including punch list items and the final lift of pavement. It was noted that this is one of the final pay estimates, but the final retainer will not be released until all project aspects are fully approved.
Notable Quotes (17)
with great success and growth comes growing pains while we have significantly more square footage by having the festival at Trailhead Park that the city had invested in uh for us we are growing out of that space
I'm coming before you today with also the ask that um city council and the festival planning committee can start working together to ideate and plan how we may be able to expand our Festival space um as as well as potentially Reviving the discussion of a foot Bridge which could help kind of bridge some of that traffic to our Main Street businesses
I don't think I was asking for a variance request more than I was asking for an exemption from the city Cod or trying to understand the city code of not allowing a main street or a main a street level apartment on in the city or business or business district
my understanding is we're we're past the variance request right I mean we're now at um do we want to allow this as a city or not and I think that's a fundamental policy thing that the Planning Commission have would have to consider
This was mine I I was just approached by a bunch of citizens about starting it earlier so I brought it up and I have no problem starting at 6 so do anybody else thinks
super irrelevant what your lawyer thinks um but I'll say it anyway um that would be great from my perspective um right so you know if I get down there an hour earlier and get home you know before 10 o'clock that would be fantastic
the main point of this is to set certain standards um for development and use within uh the Shoreland area um to try to maintain that shorel area cut down an erosion things like that
I'm a little discouraged by the comments that the city's not taking any AC concerns that have been brought forth because I've not heard from them before so I don't like the idea that the city is being attacked for inaction
I guess my question would be as those of us who live with the with the river in our backyard what is different with this in place I mean what what's the operational what's different for us
we're taking the larger Parcels splitting up them splitting them up into um smaller chunks and then that is what the the lot sales would would in
I believe every employee has been able to bring their concerns to me and we were able to address that in this policy and I would say that I have a 100% support from City staff on this
we have left the benefit level at 7,300 and on the last page it will show you that there is zero U required contribution coming from the city
I'm hoping that with approving this one and having our work session come August 7th we could possibly come to next month's council meeting and look for a um annual benefit increase
all of the area to the West in the updated future land use plan for 2024 will match that medium high residential so it will fit in and it will be contiguous to um that land juice going forward
a possibility for the Housing Development up there would be Twin Homes so this R3 zoning deamination allows for Twin Homes or dual family homes
The Planning Commission um did move to recommend the approval of the preliminary plat pending um the required documents to be filed prior to the final plat
this is for work that has been completed this um this spring and um includes some punch list items some the two minutes pavement that was uh the final lift had gone down
Ordinances & Resolutions (20)
Accepting monthly donations.
Changing the regular council meeting time from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Updating the Shoreland management overlay District.
Approving summary publication for Ordinance 169.
Approving parcel splits to complete the Prairie Island Indian Community property sale.
Approving the appointments and committees to 2024.
Updated policy changing from front-loaded to accrual-based vacation leave.
Relief Association's state filing document for annual benefit levels.
Approving the land use plan amendment for the Pine Bend subdivision.
The city's existing comprehensive plan which includes the official future land use map.
The city's updated comprehensive plan, currently in process, which will include a new future land use map.
Zoning map amendment to rezone property from agricultural (A) to Urban Residential (R3) for the Pine Bend subdivision.
City code section listing five major factors for consideration for rezoning.
Approving summary publication for Ordinance 170.
Approving the Pine Bend preliminary plat.
Payment request for work completed on the 2023 Southwest Street Improvement project.
Public works project for which Pay Estimate 8 was approved.
Forthcoming state-proposed ordinance to be considered by the council.
General term for building and other permits required for development.
Specific type of request made by Nathan regarding his property zoning.