Newport City Council — Transcript
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Fire Department Operations and Initiatives
Water System Interconnection and Public Works Projects
Tree Removal and Planting Grant Program
Bailey Business Park and Bailey Road Multifamily & Gas Station Developments
Amendment to the City's Bluff Definition Ordinance
Community Announcements and Updates
Votes (13)
Authorization of Partial Payment Number Seven for Water System Interconnection
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Sumar [0:07:44] · Seconded by Council member Schmidt [0:07:54]
Discussion revolved around the timeline for the water system interconnection with Cottage Grove, with a potential July 1st operational date, though it might extend beyond that due to modeling for Cottage Grove. Council member Schmidt also inquired about potential water rate increases for Newport residents due to bulk water purchase, to which the Mayor confirmed no direct increase for Newport residents, as current rates would cover the costs.
Ordinance 2026-04: Planned Unit Development Standards for Bailey Business Park
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Sumar [0:58:50] · Seconded by Council member Ingamman [0:59:16]
City Planner Nathan First detailed the project by United Properties, proposing four lots including a future city lift station, with requests for a PUD, Shoreland Conditional Use Permit, and variances for impervious surface and parking setbacks due to shoreland overlay and industrial use. Building design revisions were presented to align with the Woodbury growth area plan. Connor McCarthy confirmed long-term ownership and partnership.
Resolution 2026-41: Preliminary Plat and Planned Unit Development for Bailey Business Park (United Properties)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Schmidt [0:59:52] · Seconded by Council member Sumar [1:00:07]
This resolution is part of the overall Bailey Business Park approvals, formalizing the preliminary plat and Planned Unit Development specific to United Properties' portion of the project.
Resolution 2026-42: Conditional Use Permit for Commercial and Industrial Uses in Shoreland Overlay (United Properties)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Sumar [1:00:36] · Seconded by Council member Ingamman [1:00:46]
This resolution grants the necessary conditional use permit for United Properties to operate commercial and industrial uses within the Shoreland Overlay district, as part of the larger Bailey Business Park development.
Resolution 2026-43: Variances for Impervious Surface Maximums in Shoreland Overlay District (United Properties)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Sumar [1:01:21] · Seconded by Council member Schmidt [1:01:29]
This resolution approves the requested variances for United Properties to exceed impervious surface maximums within the Shoreland Overlay district, a flexibility deemed necessary due to the nature of the development and regional stormwater management.
Resolution 2026-44: Summary Publication of Ordinance 2026-04
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Schmidt [1:01:57] · Seconded by Council member Sumar [1:02:04]
This is a procedural motion to approve the summary publication of Ordinance 2026-04, which establishes the Planned Unit Development standards for the Bailey Business Park.
Ordinance 2026-05: Re-zoning and Planned Unit Development Standards for Bailey Road Multifamily and Gas Station Development
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Ingamman [1:02:51] · Seconded by Council member Schmidt [1:03:09]
Nathan First presented the Real Estate Equities and Quick Trip proposals, including a 184-unit multifamily building and a gas station. Key discussions centered on the parking ratio of 1.95 stalls per unit for the multifamily building, with Council members expressing concerns about potential parking shortages given the family-oriented unit mix (75% two/three bedrooms). Alex Bzans defended the ratio based on past project experience and the high percentage of two and three-bedroom units. Quick Trip representative Scott highlighted their commitment to the community, employee ownership model, and the design to accommodate local diesel traffic rather than semi-trucks. The mayor also raised concerns about transit planning for the area and the overall impact on residents.
Resolution 2026-45: Preliminary Plat and Planned Unit Development for Bailey Road Multifamily and Gas Station Project (Real Estate Equities)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Schmidt [1:03:40] · Seconded by Council member Sumar [1:03:57]
This resolution grants approval for the preliminary plat and Planned Unit Development specific to the multifamily housing and gas station components proposed by Real Estate Equities, as part of the larger Bailey Road development.
Resolution 2026-46: Conditional Use Permit for Residential PUD and Commercial Use in Shoreland Overlay District (Real Estate Equities)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Sumar [1:04:36] · Seconded by Council member Ingamman [1:04:47]
This resolution approves the necessary conditional use permit for both the residential Planned Unit Development and commercial use (gas station) within the Shoreland Overlay district for the Bailey Road project.
Resolution 2026-47: Variances Requested by Real Estate Equities to Standards of the Shoreland Overlay District
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Sumar [1:05:20] · Seconded by Council member Ingamman [1:05:32]
This resolution approves specific variances requested by Real Estate Equities to standards within the Shoreland Overlay District, necessary for the proposed multifamily and gas station development to proceed.
Resolution 2026-48: Summary Publication of Ordinance 2026-05
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Ingamman [1:05:58] · Seconded by Council member Sumar [1:06:06]
This is a procedural motion to approve the summary publication of Ordinance 2026-05, which establishes the re-zoning and Planned Unit Development standards for the Bailey Road Multifamily and Gas Station development.
Ordinance 2026-06: Amending the Bluff Definition
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Sumar [1:08:24] · Seconded by Council member Ingamman [1:08:35]
Council member Sumar raised questions regarding the impact on homeowners, particularly along the river, and whether it would affect ongoing developments. Nathan First clarified that the stricter definition would apply to all bluffs, potentially shifting the top of bluff line slightly, but impacts would be minimal and would not affect projects already approved or underway, such as those in the Highlands or off Bailey Road.
Resolution 2026-49: Summary Publication of Ordinance 2026-06
Dissent: None
Moved by Council member Sumar [1:10:29] · Seconded by Council member Schmidt [1:10:39]
This is a procedural motion to approve the summary publication of Ordinance 2026-06, which amends the city's bluff definition.
Notable Quotes (15)
The system will be up and running and then uh looking to um train or transfer over to be uh using that water on a full-time basis for for Cottage Grove.
are we expecting any water uh charge increase? I know we're buying bulk, so I don't know if we have any insight into how this affects water rates and all that stuff.
Newport is just for the public. It's just that little notch at the bottom there. All that stuff north or going up and to the right, that's all Woodberry.
the city of Newport does have a requirement for um retail or office uses in commercial districts. That basically requires that they have 40% window coverage on the first floor. In a business park area, that's not typical.
we plan to own these buildings long term and so uh we look to be a good partner of yours and um deliver a product that this not only we are proud of but that the city's proud of.
the 184 unit building and as you increase the number of units this math kind of inflates a little bit the number of stalls.
I don't really want someone coming into Newport and then going well shoot we've got to move because there's you know we can park one car car underground and the other one's got to go outside and they're going to come to us first. They're not going to call you. They're going to come to us to solve the problem.
the 1.9 ratio, which we've designed here, is is higher, frankly, than any project that I can think of that we've designed that Cass Wilson has designed for us, too. and and we found that in other similar suburban locations where we've designed these kinds of projects that we haven't had parking limitations or issues.
we give 40% of the profit that the company makes back to our workers, the people that do all the work and really make the money for us.
The car wash is right here and the entrance the stacking will be over here. They'll come out through here. So, the noise is always on the blower end of the car wash. These residents won't know that there's a car wash there.
as a community, we're very fortunate to have three very unique projects coming into this small portion of land. That's not just housing. It's not just jobs. It's, you know, it's all of these things are coming in combined along with the aspects of a convenience store and a gas station. and we don't have a grocery nearby.
I think one of the things that's been a challenge in getting this project through is that it probably hasn't gone like I envisioned it. You know, we had a plan last time. We talked about a we're going to develop a master plan three communities and this isn't that you know you kind of see we have we've had instead of a master plan is we've had a lot of cooperation and I think the heart you know and it's like the county the road piece which is everybody's concern is there's conversations but it isn't the answers right now
This modification will make the definition of a bluff slightly more strict. In other words, it will include slightly more area.
how much is this going to impact homeowners? Is it going to be along the the river primarily or is it going to be on the east side of
It won't impact anything that's underway.
Ordinances & Resolutions (19)
Payment request for water system interconnection contractor A1
Grant program with DNR for tree removal and planting
Approving Planned Unit Development standards for Bailey Business Park
Approving preliminary plat and Planned Unit Development for Bailey Business Park (United Properties)
Approving conditional use permit for commercial and industrial uses in Shoreland Overlay (United Properties)
Approving variances to impervious surface maximums in Shoreland Overlay district (United Properties)
Approving summary publication of Ordinance 2026-04
Environmental Assessment Worksheet for Bailey Nurseries project
Woodbury's plan establishing requirements for the general area, influencing Newport's development
Approving re-zoning and Planned Unit Development standards for Bailey Road Multifamily and Gas Station development
Approving preliminary plat and Planned Unit Development for Bailey Road Multifamily and Gas Station project (Real Estate Equities)
Approving conditional use permit for a residential PUD and commercial use in the Shoreland Overlay district (Real Estate Equities)
Approving variances to standards of the Shoreland Overlay district (Real Estate Equities)
Approving summary publication of Ordinance 2026-05
Amending the bluff definition in the city's zoning ordinance
Mississippi River Critical Corridor Act definition, combined with Shoreland definition
Approving summary publication of Ordinance 2026-06
Source of coupon for bulky item disposal
Source for volunteering information for Pioneer Day