[Music] Planning Commission is now in session here. Call to order at 6:00 p.m. First, we're going to do the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Next item on the agenda is consent agenda to approve the uh tonight's meeting agenda and the planning commission minutes for last week. Mrs. Kim make a motion to approve the commission June 18th, 2025 planning commission minutes minutes >> and a second by Mike. All right, we have a second. We'll call for a vote. Mike I. >> Kim I. >> Robin I. All right. Tonight, uh, it's going to be a busy night. First, we're going to have just a general public open forum. Um, have anybody have anything to that they would like to bring up that has nothing to do with tonight's meeting? Is there anybody online that would like to bring anything up? [Music] All right, then we're going to move on to the public hearings. Okay. Eleanor, could you please read the uh notices published in the Forest Lake Times? >> Of course. Um, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the City of Columbus Planning Commission on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025 at 6 p.m. or soon thereafter as parties may be heard to consider a request for a text amendment and an interim use permit, an IUP, to allow a small wedding venue hosting no more than 50 guests in the rural residential zoning district. The hearing will be conducted in person and by interactive technology at the Columbus City Hall located at 16319 Kettle River Boulevard, Columbus, Minnesota. Members of the public interested in attending in person, monitoring the meeting, or wanting more information should contact the city offices at 651-464-3120 or visit the city website at columbusmn. us. The hearing shall continue until all evidence and testimony has been received. Thank you, Elanor. >> Uh, Mr. and Mrs. Harper, could you please step up to the table, please? [Music] >> If you could state your name and address, and please make sure you speak into the microphone so that people online can hear as well. >> Julie Harper, 7553, 180th Avenue Northeast, Columbus, Minnesota, 55025. Chris Harper. >> Thank you. Um, as normal, we reviewed your application and we would just like you to give us again a brief uh a little brief about your history of the of your proposal, what you would like to do. If you could give us a little question. First, we'd like to say thank you to the commission uh the planning commission tonight um for hearing this and we appreciate your time. Um so what we are respectfully requesting is the approval of an uh IUP or an interim use permit to host small private wedding ceremonies at our rural resident property at Columbus, Minnesota. These events will be low impact springtime May through June because of the deer flies and then September through October because of the cold. So these will all be outdoor events and um ceremonial wedding um is what we are are uh striving for and um these will be professionally managed and supervised by Chris and I each of these events and um we will be present we will um be always engaged in the um event itself making sure that everything is running smoothly as well. And um we have a maximum guest amount of 50 or less people. And the event duration wouldn't be more than 4 hours. And the event hours, all events will end no later than 1000 p.m. if they happen to have a wedding in the evening. And then um no and it would be not begin any earlier than 11 a.m. So they could have a morning wedding if they had something in the morning. And there is a noise for noise control. There's no loud music or amplification. Only background music would be allowed like during the ceremony itself like if someone was singing or something on that order. Um, alcohol policy, no alcohol on the premises. And then parking, um, all guests and vendor parking is on site. Um, I gave you each a packet and you can see how long our driveway is and how the side of it has got um, all green grass where people would be parking. This allows um, an easy entrance as well as an easy exit if somebody had to leave. um they would not be interfering with the party itself. Um it's in the back and they would be able to manage to get out of the drive as well because of the width of the driveway. Also, um restrooms. We're going to do um two or we're hoping to do two like luxury um restrooms that we would be either um renting um per event so that um they have ample um bathroom facilities available at all times. And then um like I said before, this is owner supervised. So Chris and I are always going to be there. We're not leaving our property unattended. and we would be monitoring what is coming in and what is going out. Um and then um as far as security monitoring, we're going to install if this is approved, we're going to install a um pretty extensive camera system um both in the front of going pointing down the driveway so we can see what's coming in and going out and then also um on the back of the um yard so that we can see what the wedding party is actually doing. So if there was an issue, we would be able to handle it accordingly and at least have it documented. Um from that, um I'm going to um thank you again for um hearing us out tonight and I don't have anything else, Elanar. >> All right. Now, at this time, I would like to open it up to my commissioners here if you have some questions for them. Looking at the photographs in the first page, there isn't parking on the left side of the driveway, just the right. >> There there is parking on the but we couldn't do all the traffic has can't go on one side. It has to be split. >> Primarily on the right. >> Primarily on the right is the majority of the traffic. >> The west side. >> Yeah, we get our rights and lefts. Correct. >> The big green spots. Having having been out there, I would uh I would say no that you really don't have ample room for parking on the one side. Okay. >> Uh you need four or 10 by 20 spaces and >> that's the grass. >> Really there really isn't the space there because you also need enough width for emergency vehicles to go through. >> Okay. >> So if there really isn't room down the one side, but there is ample parking on the west side. Is that right? The west side. >> Yep. Yes, there there is ample parking there on the west side. >> Does that answer your question? >> Yes. Yes, it does. [Music] >> Okay. Uh for the record, did you receive a copy of the staff report developed by Eleanor Han? Uh where did my note go? uh dated July 16th, 2025 regarding this application. Report notes certain finding and numberings 1 through 16 on page 1 through three. >> It's the same one. >> And it also notes recommendations numbering 1 through 15. Uh do you understand the recommendations and conditions? Do you have any questions or comments about them at this time? >> We understand. >> Thank you. All right. Do you have any questions for them today? Um, I'm sure some people have had concerns about like if there's alcohol. I know you folks say that there won't be any, but there could be. How would you address that? >> Um, if there was um someone that actually supported a a bottle like in their car, they would be asked to immediately leave. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry, but that we're a non-alcohol venue. And when a bride and groom comes to us and understands that um they are supporting this whole um with a security deposit as well. So if there was any kind of issue that said um this is costing harm then of course that security deposit would be um rendered. >> Sure. Yeah. We declare that as leverage. >> Yep. And that is why we would be saying this is a non-alcoholic. But if they want alcohol, let's say that they um want to just be married. We would be honoring the marriage ceremony and then telling them you need to take your venue off the premises because we're non-alcoholics. So they need to entertain like a BFW or something. and that's what we would encourage them to do. If they don't want to um stay at our property because we're a non-alcoholic venue, then they have to make the choice, we're either not their venue um that we don't meet their their requirements or they're going to have to find a different spot. And a lot of times that happens in these small weddings. So it's just a ceremony that happens in the backyard and then from there they take their party elsewhere to you know cut loose and we don't have we don't want to be part of that. >> I do have a concern of as Mike was saying the idea that all the groomsmen decide to pop the trunks after the wedding and start popping alcohol. >> Yep. uh start popping beers and having some fun and getting loud and rowdy. What are you going to do when that happens? >> Like we just said, we're going to be asking them to either leave and um probably um surrender their deposit and that would be the bride and groom that would have to go and handle that and tell them to knock it off. >> If they're not orally, we would have to call the police. >> Yep. >> Thank you. That's what I wanted to hear you say. I wanted to hear you say that you would call the police >> as that is exactly what you would need to do. >> Anything? Yes. >> You want to open the public hearing to receive some further comment from the community and then we can >> Yes. >> ask some more questions afterwards. >> Okay. Mr. and Mrs. Harper, you can be seated. [Music] At this time, we're going to open the public hearing to anyone who has an interest in this application or discussion and wants to present testimony as evidence on this issue. Please acknowledge themselves. Uh, if you come up one by one, have a seat at the table, please give me your name and full address and please be sure to speak into the microphone. >> Do you mind if I stand? I got >> No, that's okay. >> Got a leg cramp. So, >> I'm Jeff Larson. and I live at 7625 180th Avenue Northeast, Columbus, Minnesota 55025. We are the direct neighbors for the Harpers. If you look at the plot plan, when you see that property line that runs right up their driveway and around their barn, that's my property. >> Okay. So, I speak in opposition of their plan. I found out about the plan from your notice. Thanks, Jack. It's helpful to know that this was planned in our backyard. So, I oppose this for several different reasons. One of it, uh, they mentioned deer flies. We're all stuck in our houses all summer long, and now I got to give up my springs and my falls to support some wedding event. I mean, I I built in the back of a quiet residential neighborhood to not have to deal with this kind of stuff. I don't want to follow a schedule mowing my yard, splitting wood, doing whatever I want to do in my yard. As you can see, when they split the property line from the previous owner, it's not a good split. When I went to move my garden shed from the backyard to the front yard to make room for the new barn, first thing I was told is, "You don't have five acres. You ain't moving your deal forward." I don't have 5 acres. They don't have 5 acres. My line goes right up the side of their driveway. Um, my property is under video surveillance. I am blind to whatever goes on behind their garage, next to their driveway. That area is all blind to me. And if we're going to open this up for public events, I got to put in surveillance. you know, for somebody to wander into my woods and get hurt or heaven forbid get stuck in that front pond and somebody drowns, that's my property. When somebody flicks a butt, you know, into my woods, that's Carlos Avery right behind me. I mean, who who wants to deal with that? I can't see what's going on behind my barn. I don't know what's going on at their event. You know, we we put that barn up to create privacy between us. I can't see what's going on, but the property line's not more than 20 ft behind my barn. So, for somebody to slip off into the woods, be behind my barn, be back behind my property, I don't want to run into trespassers. We're in a quiet neighborhood. The sheriff doesn't come back unless you call him. Our area is not patrolled and the only time I ever see them back there is when they're there on a call. We're in a quiet neighborhood. We don't like traffic. We don't like strangers. The road we have out front really brittle. It's the millings. It's not gravel, but it's still millings and it's very brittle. Okay. >> And as you can see, >> nobody's parking along the one side of the driveway because that's almost my yard. >> Yep. Okay. >> Out on the road, the shoulders are very brittle, very steep, and it's the way they split that lot. What they want to do, their lot doesn't support it. If they wanted to run a business venture, they should have bought the other four and a half acres before we ever came in and built. >> Okay, I'm going to have to stop you at this time. Your time is up. If there is somebody else, thank you for your time. >> Please state your name and address for the record. Jim Freilley, 7507 180th Avenue Northeast, Columbus, Minnesota. Um, I just want to say, uh, Chris and Julie Harper, they, you know, they're they've been good neighbors to me. I live just to the east, pardon me, I live just to the west of them. Next house west. My house is probably 400 ft from their house. Okay. Uh, like I said, they've been good neighbors. They keep to themselves. Never had any issues. But, and I don't have a problem with them having a family wedding, you know, once, maybe twice a year, you know, no big deal there. Uh, cuz a lot of people here, I think, probably wouldn't mind that either. But to uh to have up to 10 w our concern is you know 10 wedding venues a year and it ain't really a year. It's only what is it 4 months I think it is. Um my wife and I we enjoy the you know the peace and quiet of the yard and our neighborhood. And uh I don't know, you know, there's not going to be any bands, but how about DJs or other, you know, types of music like that microphone? You know how voices carry? I mean, granted, there's a row of pine trees, but you know, I can still hear things through the woods or trees on a quiet night when I'm sitting on the deck maybe and enjoying things. And uh well the traffic on the road of course is another issue. And uh like he said the road isn't in the best of shape. And let's just say I'm I got my house for sale next year or two and I got a buyer, right? The realtor comes. Yeah, we got a buyer. So I'm fine. Okay. Well, then he finds out, you know, he comes and the guy's interested and then he comes back a couple days later and says, "Well, he heard you have uh is it true you have 10 weddings, you know, in the summertime, your neighbors?" Yeah. Well, you know, what's that going to do to a sale? I don't know. Um they say uh the maximum people is well I thought it was 40 but now it's 50 you say right >> 50 people okay 50 people >> per event >> per event correct and does that include say musicians the caterers photographers if there's a photographer you know combined I don't know or is it just guest And uh I just want to say, you know, what if what if you guys's neighbor in your neighborhood had this, you know, wanted to do this? How would you feel if the houses were this close together in your neighborhood? Now years ago when this Columbus was a lot of farms, you know, they could get by with this because a lot of people had at least a 40 acre piece, but them days are over. Now there's developments and that's what this is, a development. Um, so we're definitely we're against it. Um the events, you know, they're going to take place during the best four months of the year. Uh so July and first part of August, the deer flies are bad. So you know, you go outside, but you got to put netting on. So now we're going to have four best, you know, months of the year. We're going to have, you know, weddings next door. And, you know, there's a lot of other places that pay big money to have, you know, weddings. They pay big money for their insurance, their, you know, all this stuff. Wedding venues. I think there's three of them alone just out in Scanya area. And, you know, it's a commercial deal. and they got, you know, they're set up for it. They don't have the neighbors right next door. So, uh I don't know. Me and the wife are uh like I said, we have nothing against Chris and Julie, but we don't want to uh we don't want no wedding venues out there. >> All right. Thank you for your time. >> All right. Thank you. Is there anyone else in the audience who would like to come forward at this time? [Music] I'm David Anderson. I live at 17921 McKenzie Street uh where we moved in 1997. Uh, so we've been there um for some time. Uh, my house is located along the paved road that's about halfway between Broadway and where the proposed venue would be. Um, it's the only paved road between Broadway and the venue. So, the traffic would be going by our house. Um, we use that road for lots of things besides driving. um taking our granddaughters for walks, riding our bikes. My wife runs on that road. Um I think this will increase traffic on that road on weekends by a factor of three or four or five. It's not a busy road. Um and we're concerned about that. So, I'm I'm opposed to allowing an interim use permit for this uh venue on this property or any property in our neighbors. It just isn't this particular in our neighborhood. Um we're concerned about parking like it's been expressed here. a group of 50 people plus caterers and and more. That I think is a minimum of 30 or 35 vehicles. That's a lot of vehicles to find a place to park for. And if they are parked along the road, um there are issues with emergency vehicles and just the use of that road on a weekend by the people who live there. Um we haven't seen the plans until tonight. So, we're glad that we got a chance to see those and we're glad that we I'm glad that I got a chance to convey our concerns. Um, and I just will uh end by re reiterating that as long-term residents, this is not something that we think is uh compatible with a neighborhood that is zoned for rural residential. Thanks. Thank you. Hello, my name is Ashley Venberg and I live at uh 7646 179th Avenue Northeast in Columbus on the opposite side of uh the Harpers on where they're building their venue. And my concern is because my house is on a dirt road and we have we're going to have an influx of traffic since our neighborhood has two entrances. So I'm concerned that not everybody's going to be taking the one route but we have another route on Zingu where it's going to be completely washboarded. So I guess what is the city planning on doing to then maintain that dirt road is my concern. So, >> okay. >> How much time do I have? >> Pardon? >> How much time do I have? >> You got five minutes. I'll >> do my I'll do my best. >> Thanks for letting me speak. Uh my name is Tom Benturi. >> Uh my address is 17737 PTOAC Street. Uh me and my wife Beth were she's not here tonight unfortunately. We're 3 37y year property owners there. We've raised four children on 17 grandkids. My property is about 400 ft away from the Harper's property. uh from the subject property. And uh I I want to just uh also mention I'm representing or I've talked to my neighbors Ruth uh uh Dolphin Bakurba. She lives at 178, excuse me, 17919 next to us. She's got the 10 acres next to us. She is uh uh unccapable of travel. She voices against this as well. same as myself and my wife and also Russ and Laura Peterson. They're at uh 17768 Mackenzie Street and they live out in front of us and they are against this for primarily again both of them the purpose of the the additional traffic at prime time in the summertime. I'm going to tell a 30 secondond story hopefully uh close to close to 3 years ago. It took it took about 3 years to clear up the malecent behavior across the the street from our place on Mackenzie Street there and uh that upset the neighborhood rather uh people stopped walking and because of the traffic of the people that came and went from that house and it really upset you no longer seen people and I think everybody will tell you that that weren't riding their bicycles weren't walking their kids and and everything it it it shut down because of the dogs the guard dogs they had and everything else there. It took close to 3 years, a dozen calls from myself to the deputies, allowing them to park on my my property, keep an eye on the place, several calls to the town board, but it took forever to get that situation cleared up. And finally, our neighborhood now in the last year has been back to normal. People enjoy it. They walk it. You heard it all tonight. And that's true. It's very quiet. It doesn't go anywhere. It's just one loop that goes around and we want to maintain that. So hence that's my biggest objection is against the traffic. I don't know these people. I've never met them until tonight. I haven't even met them and I I know who they are now. I have nothing against them either. But it's a business that doesn't seem uh and again I my biggest concern is basically the uh the traffic is an issue. Also they talk about 50 and I think people brought it up enough 50 people that could be there for that those venues. Some these people are right. There's going to be more people than that. And you got to can't forget the point that they could have up to two. Our hours are long. On weekends, they could easily have two venues per day. You're talking 100. How many cars is that? Uh you can have they say the session is normally 4 hours I believe in their application. I I pro uh preview it rather quickly. Uh so I think you know this is not just 25 30 cars a day. I think it's getting closer on up there especially. That brings me to another point about taxes then. You know this is a business. That's uh that's what they're asking to do is operate a business in their place. I wonder at what point is it sort of like A&B and B houses up in C County for an example. They're now taxing them uh for people to rent out their cabins up there cuz they run a business. They should have uh a different tax bracket or they have to pay more for commercial type of activity. At what point does something like this it's just it's not an answer that I can I won't get an answer tonight. You don't have an answer for it. But it does make me wonder and the reason because that is what Jim Freley brought up and I had that also as a note. He's the one that was basically the as the public works director of this wonderful township we had uh for years him and George Johnson that they use the millions out in front there and it was a trial basis. He brought millions in and they compacted it. Did a very nice job and that road has lasted very well but again you got to remember it's low traffic. uh the Venberg Gal, they go out the other way. Lot a lot lot of people do. A lot of people up in that corner still come around on the blacktop where the new development went in out in front of us. And that's the way it is. But it's very very quiet now. It's back to again back to where it was. But he did that 15 20 years ago. And you know how long is that road going to last? All a sudden now you're seeing maybe 50 to 100 cars a day. I don't know. Maybe it's only 20. But again, uh I don't know if the city, you know, they're going to want to take up that build road. It's hard to patch. Are they going to go back to a gravel road? I don't think the residents are going to like that either. So, thank you for the opportunity. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Hi there. I'm Michelle Hogan and I live at 7221 180th Avenue Northeast. We are the house that is right on the corner where McKenzie turns into 180th Avenue. Um I don't want to repeat what everybody said. They were all exactly what my family came here to talk about and um we align with their thoughts and their concerns and worries about everything. A couple things just to add on that um a huge concern um is that yes, we did just get our neighborhood back and feeling safe again. Um after we got we we had a lot of things going on with one particular home and we didn't go outside with our son. We had cars that were coming around that corner where our driveways are at high rates of speed and in fact had multiple cars almost come into our ditch and one almost rolled over where my son was playing. We started staying up closer to our home. We had to start locking up our items because we were having things stolen. We moved up from the cities and we looked for many, many years for a house where we could be away from the worry and the strain of things being stolen, strangers in our neighborhood and to have just some sort of peace to raise our family. I know all the neighbors or the majority of them and they're wonderful people and I'm sure you guys are as well. But the thought of having that many strangers coming into my neighborhood disrupting the flow of our peace and sanctuary area terrifies me. Regardless of whether it's a non-alcoholic wedding venue, there are many of those. I've been to weddings where that is a rule where you are not allowed to drink on the premises. And there are plenty of people that came completely wasted out of their minds. They'll be driving right on my corner where we ride our bikes, where we play, where we have friends over. And I'll never forgive myself if something like that happened because I moved up here to have a little bit more protection around us. So, I hope you will take that into account because even just having that one house, having strangers coming around was really hard. I can't imagine having 50 plus people coming down that road and parking four doors down from me and not knowing what's happening. We just wouldn't be outside. It would close down our entire bike riding enjoyment. We just would not do it. Okay, thank you. Uh my name is Patrick Torrance. I live at uh 7135 178th Avenue Northeast. uh which the pavement runs by my house around the corner to where they want to to their house where they want the venue. Um my issues are I have two young daughters that like to ride their bike down the road to the gravel to a friend's house over there. I like to let my kids be kids. We moved up there to the quiet neighborhood um for the reason that they can do that stuff. My concern is now I'm going to have to limit my kids not to go out on that road on the weekends whenever the venue is going on. Um, which the whole purpose we all moved up to that neighborhood. It's a quiet residential neighborhood. Um, I do know a lot of the neighbors. Uh, a lot of them like to walk around too, which that's not going to happen. Also, everybody's going to be limited to their properties on the weekends because of that. Um, so that is why I oppose of this venue going in. Um, 50 people, we all know what happens. You can say it's going to be 50. I disagree. Yeah, it's going to be more. Um, the traffic is the concern. Um, but the other big thing is is when's the next business going to get someone want to put something in the residential neighborhood? We're residential. We're not commercial. Uh, we want to keep it residential for that reason. Otherwise, you're going to lose all these people in this neighborhood because when who's going to start the next business? Who's going to start the next business? How many times are we going to go down this road to where all of us have to suffer of having a nice property, which those are hard to come by this day and age, unless you're moving an hour plus north of here, which I don't want that, and I don't think anybody else wants that. Um, I think the traffic's going to get overwhelming on that road. Um, and the speed the speed of the traffic that's going to be coming by. Again, a lot of my neighbors like to walk. Uh, they like to ride bikes. They like to walk their dogs. Again, I let my kids take the dog for a walk. Am I going to be able to do that anymore? Probably not on the weekends of a safety concern. And I get it. It's not going to They say it's going to not going to be any alcohol. Who's to say people again like the lady just stated that they're not going to show up after they've been at the bar because they know that it's a non-alcoholic so wedding so they're going to get it in before they get there. Um so for those reasons I I oppose of the venue going in and it's just going to be a chain reaction where next year we're going to be doing this again for the next person that wants to start a a wedding venue or another business in a residential neighborhood. So, I I I oppose of it 100% and we need to keep it residential, not business. There's properties for sale all over that say commercial properties. One just went up on Lake Drive. That's where the these things need to go, not in residential neighborhoods. >> Thank you. >> Hi, good evening. My name is Anna Larson. I live at 18757 Jennings Street in Columbus, Minnesota, 55025. Uh may sound like a broken record, but while I am not uh living in this exact neighborhood, I was uh born and raised there. My dad, Tom, you had just heard from and just wanted to share some of the same concerns that the other individuals here tonight have. When the notice came out, the text messages started flying. Um, like I said, I'm not even in the neighborhood and I had several of the moms and the dads uh that still live there reach out to me um and ask for my support tonight to come. Um, as stated, it's a residential neighborhood and I still bring my three kids there because grandma and grandpa are there and we frequent from Brina's house to Michelle's house um down to Sue and Jim Freillley's house. I see David Anderson with his grandkids out on the street as well. Um, and I can attest to the house across the street from where I grew up and how it took many years to get that cleaned up and the dangers that that brought. Uh, so I voice the same concerns of just the traffic in the neighborhood and it being a quiet neighborhood and wanting to keep it that way. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hello, my name is Bertina Capcho. I live at 17709 PTOAC Street in Columbus. Um, our house is right where uh PTOAC turns to McKenzie and we see all of the traffic that goes by. Uh, my mailbox was hit this last year by somebody driving too fast around that corner. Um, in the four or five years we've lived there, we've seen are up to five or six accidents at the corner of where where PTOAC meets Broadway. The house on the corner just got his fence fixed from that last big accident. I think that this is going to bring in so many more cars and so much traffic. Um, it's really scary and it's really dangerous. I know a lot of people think they feel like we don't have a lot of traffic, but I I see all of it. It goes zooming right past my driveway every day. The weekends are busy. Everything's very busy. So, uh I have two small boys that also like to ride bike. Um there's a large family that lives down the street. I don't see them here. Um they have six children that walk down that street. They bring wagons down the street. Um there's no way this is going to be safe. This is so much traffic. We uh we strongly oppose. Thank you. >> Thank you. My name is Joy Kovash. I live at 7222 167th Avenue Northeast in Columbus. I am a former event coordinator and manager of a large food and beverage establishment in Washington County. I can guarantee you that even if you think you have everything planned out perfectly, things will happen. There will be alcohol, there will be drugs, there will be reasons to call the police, and there will be liability. So, I would encourage you to consult with the NOA County Sheriff Office. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else in the audience who would like to speak? [Music] Is Oh. Good evening. Um, Bill and my wife Lisa Abler at 17910 USI Street Northeast. So, we're just on the curve on that dirt road there. First of all, I just want to we just moved to the area in December and we just want to say we love the we love Columbus. I know there's been a lot of hard work and planning and whatever. I've been reading through the planning report, you know, that you put on and hope to get to meet the neighbors, maybe under different terms than this. Nothing personal against you. We've not met I've not met hardly any of you. Um, but I guess my questions really are, does this uh request fit the goals and policies as stated in the comprehensive plan that is so thorough and and well laid out. Just a couple comments here. Goal number one says to encourage and manage future growth in this city consistent with community values, small town character and long-term financial sustainability. And there's a point couple suboints. One is provide for the orderly development of safe and efficient housing opportunities. Maintain housing opportunities that would be consistent with the rural nature of the city and protection of environmental systems. Goal number five is has to do with community facilities and services. provide a range of public services to enhance community safety, livability and quality of life. The first point there is to promote safe neighborhoods and crime prevention in the city. The second one is to retain the quality of life in the city. Um, goal number two talks about managing development of the rural diversified areas in a way that protects community character, preserves environmental resources, and allows for flexibility. And there's a note there. It says, "Prohibit unplanned commercial or industrial uses from developing near residential areas." So, these are from your documents. And I I'm sure there's a lot of thought and that I don't understand all this stuff. And so my question as someone new really uh looking forward to living in a nice quiet rural setting is how does this application match up with the stated goals in the development plan? But again, thank you for serving and we love it here. Thank you. Is there anybody else? Is there anybody online who would like to be heard >> at this point? If there is nobody online or in person, we did have a written comment come in. And for the record, I would go ahead and read that. Okay. >> Um, and this comes from Chuck and Nancy Roberts at 18019i. >> Useri. Thank you so much. >> Useri. I looked up so different many ways to read it. Um, and Chuck and Nancy Roberts stated that they are very much opposed to Julie and Chris Harper having a wedding venue business on in our neighborhood. There is nowhere for people to park except on our streets. There will absolutely be alcohol at wedding events and this is dangerous in many ways. Um, they stated that this couple needs to rent a separate building if they want to run a business like this and it affects the entire neighborhood and just cannot be allowed. Um, the way the letter about the hearing is worded makes it sound like the Harpers want to have uh their wedding there, a single event that is very different from having it be a business and that there aren't enough police in Columbus to handle these crowds. Um, they stated that they were not able to make the meeting tonight, but they wanted to express their opposition to this. All right, being no other testimony, we're going to close the meeting uh to the public and we're going to uh discuss between the planning commissioner about this application. Any uh any concerns or questions? >> No, I do not at this time. >> No questions for me. I thought everybody did a great job expressing their opinions and their views. >> Okay. Rob. >> Yes, sir. >> Louder. >> Oh, yeah. Yes, sir. I'm sorry. >> I apologize. Okay. Um, a lot of information has come in tonight. Um, quite a bit of opposition uh to this and I note that uh very seriously. I listened to every one of you and what you had to say. Um uh it it it is concerning. Some of the concerns are I think are very valid and um [Music] one moment please. I guess at this point I am looking for a motion to approve or disapprove. >> Um at this point so we have a couple options here. Um at this meeting we can um continue any discussion if you have any more questions about this. Um we have discussed this on a concept base with uh the Harpers prior to this. Um and this was our opportunity to see uh neighborhood feedback since this is in a rural um residential area. That's very important as a part of this process. Um so thank you all so much for coming out here. But we do have a couple of options as a planning commission here. um we can continue it to a secondary meeting if we want to continue discuss other options in this proposal. Um otherwise if we have discussed it enough we have enough questions and we've received uh public comments that you have your decisions made up uh you can either recommend approval or denial to the city council. At that point, the proposal will go to the city council next week um with your recommendation with all of the public testimony that received tonight and they will make their final decision next week. So, those are our options here. >> All right. We have a motion question. >> What was your prior conversation? What was your >> um so the this type of business and operation in a residential area is not currently a part of our code. Anytime somebody comes up with a proposal, a resident that wants to do something on their property that isn't currently considered, we have at least a preliminary discussion on how that would work um from a legal standpoint and how we would go about processing that if we choose to do so. That was primarily the conversation of how we even want to permit this if we're going to consider it as an option, whether we want to do it on individual events, whether we want to give them an annual license, those types of conversations. Um, and that was the extent of the the conversation there. And then this was the formal pro process once we have our ducks in the row of how we would even consider this proposal. Um, so >> can I ask a question? >> Yes. >> So, some of us were notified by mail, many of us were not. So, the neighbors that are sitting here, it's by word of mouth and there's probably a third of the neighborhood that's not aware of this. >> Okay, >> we haven't talked to them. That's why they are not here. Nobody in the neighborhood thinks this is a good idea. Okay. >> So, the thought is is when you notify an event like this in a neighborhood, got to tell the whole neighborhood because so few of us actually were formally notified. >> Okay. >> Thank you so much. >> Noted. >> Uh thank you for that comment. Uh it is state statute. Whenever we have a public hearing as this, it needs to be 500 ft from the property. However, we can go further than that and we appreciate understanding what that neighborhood >> that doesn't govern the neighborhood. >> Right. >> Exactly. >> Exactly. Um >> and that can be a conversation on how we want to distribute these notices in the future to make sure that entire neighborhoods understand what's going on in their neighborhood and has the opportunity to speak. And that can definitely be something that we look into how to properly notify people who are impacted. >> There's a third of the neighborhood that you're not able. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Did you have >> I'll I'll bring that concern back to the council next week that uh that that area needs to spread out. That's been a concern of mine in the past, too, that maybe we notify more people on the street than regular. you know, just what's by law has to happen, right? >> So, >> thank you, Rob. >> Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> So, I want to tell the neighborhood here that um this is a concept that we came up with and I appreciate everyone coming here and giving your opinion. Um there was things that well we thought we can control everything but we appreciate that you bring this forward in your opinion and maybe there's some things that um we didn't consider. So we um glad to come out and voice your opinion. Appreciate that. Okay. Oh, you were going to say, do you want to make a recommendation? >> Yes. My recommendation is to deny it and turn it over to the city council. I'd like to make a motion. >> Deny the application. >> Yes. >> A second by Mike. >> We'll take a vote on that. >> Kim I. >> Mike. I. >> Robin I. >> All right. At this point, I'm sorry, we're denying the application uh from us. We're recommending that to the city council at this time. Um I think there's ample concern about traffic in the neighborhood that >> makes this a very uh I think it's a tenable situation that I'm sorry to say that I just uh I cannot I cannot recommend this. Um, >> thank you very much >> for everybody's uh understanding. On Friday, there will be another packet for next week's city council meeting, which is the final decision on this matter, whether to approve or deny the application. They could also forward it to more meetings. However, it usually goes through a single city council meeting. um on that Friday, it will have um a summary of the public comment received and hopefully also a verbatim transcript of what was stated here tonight for the city council to review uh at their meeting next week. So, thank you all for coming out. Okay, we are going to move on to the uh public hearing item 5B. >> Hidden Park Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Reszoning. >> We'll delay for a moment. >> Yeah, we're going to let everyone clear out for a second. >> That was super interesting. >> Good fun, huh? Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Go ahead. >> Um this Sure. I'm so sorry. [Music] >> Okay, we'll keep that. Well, thank you. Thank you. We appreciate the really do. I think I said something last minute. >> Yeah. >> We call back to order, please. >> Yeah. So, I can remember going >> Okay. Okay. [Music] Okay, let's try this again. Um, we are we're going to work on agenda item 5B today. Eleanor, would you please read the notices published in the Forest Lake Times? >> Absolutely. Uh, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the City of Columbus Planning Commission on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025 at 6 p.m. or soon thereafter, as parties may be heard to consider the request for a comprehensive plan amendment and reor zoning ordinance amendment to change the designated land use of a 1.93 acre parcel, Hidden Park, from park to rural residential. The hearing will be conducted in person and by interactive technology at the Columbus City Hall located at 16319 Kettle River Boulevard, Columbus, Minnesota. Members of the public interested in attending in person, monitoring the meeting, or wanting more information should contact city offices at 651-4643120 or visit the city website at columbusmn. us. The hearing shall continue until all evidence and testimony has been received. Well, thank you, Eleanor. And I'm going to give you another chance to speak. Could you please brief us on this matter? >> Absolutely. Um, this matter has been a um point of discussion throughout the planning commission, city council, and park board for a number of years now. Um, however, no formal action has been taken uh as of yet. So, we are we are starting to open that conversation up to real action on this point. Um it is the proposal on the table currently is to have Hidden Park, which is a small neighborhood park, um redesated as residential so that the city may be able to liquidate the assets of that park and um redistribute it to the city park, which we um have determined to be a primary um goal. moving forward um in that area. >> Do you want to speak a little bit on this? >> Again, as Eleanor mentioned, uh the hidden park is not used exclusively. Uh maintenance on it's very limited. Um we did look into this. The property was acquired by tax forfeit back in the 80s. If the city owns it more than 30 years, they can then sell it. Uh that's a consideration here. So in order to sell it though, it has to be reszoned. That's why we're having the public hearing tonight and inviting comments from anyone interested to speak on that. We have sent preliminary notices out to the adjoining property owners to see if they have any interested in purchasing it. Uh if they don't, then we'll determine what we'll do to do probably just a market sale if that's the desire of the council to go forward with this. So, if you have any questions, I'll be glad to stand for answers. As this is a public hearing, you're entitled to speak first, then I can answer your questions later. >> How do you determine the price? >> We haven't determined the price yet. We we have we have a value system. >> Yeah, we should have them come to the mic. This is a public hearing. >> Give your name and address for the record, please. It's a little easier for me to do minutes when people are talking into microphones. Thank you so much. >> Mark Bradshaw. I live at 7612 162nd Avenue Columbus, right next door. >> Thank you. >> What our determination just looking at the prices? We have not have it appraised. We did look at the county estimated market values for all the properties along 167 162nd Avenue and found that they are valued in approximately the 60 to $65,000 per acre range. This is a 1.93 acre site. So based on that uh a potential high asking price for the property be around $130,000. We do recognize there's a few low spots in the back of this one that may affect and bring the price of that down. So, we haven't come up to a final adjustment on that yet, but it would be somewhere probably in 130,000 tops to a lesser price than that. And it would be probably open to some negotiations if it adjoining property owners looking to buy it and there's only one that's interested. >> What if more than one neighbor wants it? Will you divide it? the property could be split among those two neighbors in order to add to their lot. So to give it more privacy and ensure that nobody builds in there next to those >> there's actually three there's one behind. So there's >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. There there's one on the east, one on the west, one on the south, and one on the kind of the southeast corner. Oh, >> okay. >> I'm going to enlarge it just a little bit, Ellie, and we can show them where this is. [Music] Oh, all right. Got it. Okay. >> So, >> I'm with it. I got it now. I understand it. >> Okay. Will they perk it first? >> Um, probably to determine if it's buildable. There's areas in front that are not listed in that flood plane. That's something we may do. We It's >> pretty wet. >> Yeah. It We know it is in the back. Yeah. So, >> well, even in the front when it rains. >> Yep. Yeah, >> but but determining if it was a build buildable lot be affecting the price. We probably have to do that to set a value on it. >> Okay. All right. >> When is that going to take place? >> Uh probably in the next month, I'm guessing. >> Okay. We will be notified before it goes to >> Oh, absolutely. We would rather work with the surrounding property owners. That That's why you The only people that have received any notice on this are those property owners that abut this property. >> Oh, the Okay. All right. Okay. All right. I don't have any more questions. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Can Robin, could I address that? >> Yes. >> So, uh, just to answer your question a little bit there, in the past, we had sold some other park property that was it was it was landlocked and it was part uh given to, uh, Columbus as a Parkland Park Parkland dedication, I believe, is what it was. So, that they didn't have to pay that Parkland dedication fee and what the council did at that time. Not saying that's exactly what's going to happen this time, but um we all agreed to open it up to the uh adjoining people first before we put it out to public market. So that that would be my opinion on what we did. So >> Okay. I I hope you would. I mean, >> yeah. >> Okay. So, >> and again, that's why I stated the only people who received any official notice of this are those four properties that join this one. >> And with that property, one of the property owners ended up purchasing it. It was it was a sealed bid. Sealed bid deal is what we did on that. >> Okay, that's I was going to ask you that. I did think about that if it was gonna be a bid thing. A sealed bid. Yeah. Okay. All right. >> That was how it went, right? >> That's correct. >> I just want to make sure I wasn't misspeaking. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Should I make a motion? >> Yeah. >> Hi, this is Kim. I'd like to make a motion to continue discussion of the hidden park comprehensive plan amendment and resoning at the next planning commission meeting on August 6, 2025. >> A second by Mike. >> We'll take a vote. >> Kim I >> Mike I. >> Robin Ir [Music] agenda. >> Will I get a letter on the next meeting as well? It >> it will be on the next planning commission meeting. I will get a letter or do I need to write that down? What did you just said? >> Well, since it won't be a public hearing, it'll be discussion. >> Oh, it's just between you. I got it. >> Well, no, but you're you're invited to come come back so you can hear the discussion on it. >> Okay. Noral. >> All right. >> That would be August 6th. >> Okay. >> Same time. >> Same time, same place. >> Same time, same place. We're not having a secret one somewhere else. >> You guys are really hardcore. Thank you. I use my hand to >> Okay, >> moving on. >> This is a jolly time tonight. Okay, the next uh item that we have is um item number 5C, Northwest Quadrant, lot one, block two, comprehensive plan amendment and reszoning. Eleanor, would you care to read us the >> I'm getting pretty good at this. Um, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the City of Columbus Planning Commission on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025 at 6 p.m. or soon thereafter as parties may be heard to consider a request to consider a comprehensive plan amendment and reasonzoning ordinance amendment to change the designated land use of a 5.3 acre parcel from commercial to mixed use high. Uh, the hearing will be conducted in person and by interactive technology at the Columbus City Hall located at 16319 Kettle River Boulevard, Columbus, Minnesota. Members of the public interested in attending the in person, monitoring the meeting, or wanting more information should contact the city offices at 651-464-3120 or visit the city website at columbusmn. us. The hearing shall continue until all evidence and testimony has been received. Thank you, LR. >> Thank you. >> And again, your opportunity to speak >> and it is back to me. Um, this is the second city of Columbus application on the docket today. Um, similar to the Hidden Park comprehensive plan and rezoning designation. This is a piece of city-owned property that we are hoping to reszone from a purely commercial use to a mixeduse high which would allow the potential development of apartment buildings, condos or senior living facility is what we are we are currently hoping for in that area. Um we've discussed this at previous planning commission meetings. Um it's been in the works for a very long time. and things have to happen slowly and in order, but this is the first official step to getting that reszoning done. Um, the property itself is a little bit tucked away from the rest of the commercial district um due to this wetland right here along the western side. Um, the um area is adjacent to other mixeduse high designations across the the freeway here. Um, and the city considers that this would be a good location for that potential development. Um, mixeduse High does not only re relegate that area to being a potential um, apartment complex or condo or town homes. That's not the only use. It could still be developed for commercial um, purposes, but this would allow that those proposals to be considered. if a developer came in and said, "We would like to build a senior living facility here," we can't we don't have to tell them no. Um, so that's the the general overview of what we're hoping to do with this piece of property um going forward. Both of these require comprehensive plan amendments uh to redesate the land use, not just the zoning uh which will need to be approved by the Metropolitan Council. We've talked to our sector rep and we don't see any future issues getting these to approvals from the Metropolitan Council. Um, and should both be handled through administrative review rather than having to go through a whole public hearing process with them as well. >> Thank you, Eleanor. You have questions for Elanor? >> No, I do not. >> No questions for me. >> Okay. I I'll add a couple more things regarding this property. We have been approached by four different developers on this over the past six months. Um the last one was about two weeks ago. Uh the property has been appraised. Uh I think the county market value on it is close to $800,000 and it's approximately 6 acres. Uh, as she stated, the reason we want to have it reszone, it's currently general commercial, but because of its distance from Lake Drive, it's probably not as valuable a commercial property as those that front on those major streets. So, we were looking to expand and get a little bit more flexibility for a developer to use it. And uh there's been some pretty good interest and we're waiting on a reply from one right now to see if they want to pursue further discussions on negotiating on the sale. >> Okay. >> At this point, >> open a public hearing. >> Okay. This is Kim. I'd like to make a motion. >> Um sorry to interrupt, but you do have to open a public hearing for this one. >> All right. You're right. >> Okay. >> Okay. At this point, uh, anyone who has an interest in this application and wants to present testimony as evidence on this issue, please acknowledge themselves by stating their full name and address. Is there anyone interested in speaking to us today? Hearing no one, we'll close the public hearing at this point. >> Okay. This is Kim. I'd like to make a motion to continue discussion of the Northwest Quad Lot One block two comprehensive plan amendment and resoning at the next planning commission meeting on August 6, 2025. >> Second by Mike. >> We'll take a vote. >> Kim I. >> Mike. I Robin I. >> Okay. >> Lost my agenda. >> Okay. The next on the agenda here is the planning commissioner's report. I have nothing at this time. Eleanor, have you anything? >> Well, I'm the next item, but I can go on then. Um, I do not have anything at this time. Our next meeting um will be on August 6th as there are five five weeks in July. Our our fifth week will be uh our little break. Get a week off. Okay, I guess I'm looking for a motion to adjurnn at this point. >> Hi, this is Kim. I'd like to make a motion to adjourn tonight's planning commission. >> Second by Mike. >> Make a vote. >> Kim I. >> Mike I. >> Robin I. We are meeting is adjourned at 7:12. [Music]