Richfield City Council — Transcript
Monday, December 8, 2025
Minnesota Independence College and Community (MICC) Development Project
Votes (1)
Public Hearing: Minnesota Independence College and Community (MICC) Rezoning, Conditional Use Permit, Preliminary Plat, and Variances
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown Commissioner [29:34] · Seconded by Commissioner Sherman [29:43]
The Planning Commission received a detailed staff report on MICC's proposal to build a new two-story school. Staff outlined the four key requests—rezoning, preliminary plat, conditional use permit, and variances—and concluded with a recommendation for approval, emphasizing project alignment with the comprehensive plan and the reasonableness of variances. Public comments featured powerful testimonials from MICC's CEO, a board member, and a long-term partner, highlighting the school's success in fostering independence for neurodivergent individuals and the operational need for a consolidated facility. Conversely, a nearby homeowner voiced concerns about neighborhood character, traffic impact, tree removal, and proposed alternative uses of existing properties or collaboration with Best Buy's campus. Following a clarifying discussion on traffic impacts, the Commission moved to approve the staff's recommendation.
Notable Quotes (5)
Minnesota Independence Community College, uh, referred to as MICC is a nonprofit that provides vocational and life skills training for autistic and neuro-divergent individuals. And they're looking to construct a two-story school on the north side of 76th Street between Morgan and Newton Avenues.
In conclusion, staff finds that the proposed project aligns with the intent and policies of the comprehensive plan and complies with all of the zoning code requirements except as noted by the variances which are reasonable given both the context and the desire to reserve space for future development. Consequently, staff supports all aspects of the request and recommends approval subject to the conditions listed in the draft resolutions.
Reason I'm here tonight and reason I'm here with passion in my heart is because I feel mic is missing out on a golden golden opportunity. That golden opportunity is in those four houses that they own. Rather than pave paradise and put up a parking lot, they have four properties that they have the potential to teach these students skills that they can move on with life.
It is tremendously inefficient to operate out of three separate locations. Causes us to have tremendous overlap in both resources of people and res just classroom resources, room space. And so in order to to become a more efficient entity, we're looking at this building to provide an opportunity for us to operate out of one location.
I empathize with the school's desire to have their own space and um an independence for how how you want to to use that space. Um I also think it's great for the community at large to free up housing and planning apartments.
Ordinances & Resolutions (9)
The requested rezoning from low-density residential to MR2 (multi-family residential) to align with the city's comprehensive plan.
The city's guiding document for land use; the proposed rezoning is required to bring properties into compliance with it.
Required for a learning institution, with conditions related to arterial access, outdoor recreation setbacks, and buffering.
A request to reconfigure four existing lots into two, one for the school and one for future housing development.
Requested for the west and south sides of the property to allow the building to be pushed into the southwest corner, activating the streetscape and maximizing the buffer.
Requested to increase lot coverage from 30% to 37% due to the unique building design and the desire to reserve space for future housing.
Requested for a 15-stall reduction, justified by the low percentage of MICC participants with driver's licenses or who use vehicles for class.
Staff recommended approval subject to conditions listed in these resolutions.
A study requested by the city that estimated a minimal increase in peak hour and daily trips, deemed extremely low given MICC's existing presence in the area.