Posted: 11/1/05
City gives plat conditional approval
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
The Caledonia City Council has given its preliminary approval to a plat presented on behalf of Joe Rud and Nick and Pete Gengler (R G&G) for development of an area adjacent to Caledoniaís Industrial Park.
The approval is contingent on the plans being redrawn to represent a 40 ft. easement on the east side of the property from the Enterprise Drive right of way to the south boundary of the Green Acres development and approval of the hydrology report.
Originally, the developers had platted the entire 20-acre area, but returned to the council with a another plat in which just a portion of the area, about 6.5 acres, was platted. An additional five acres is being platted on an adjacent 14-acre site which was previously purchased from the city.
The subject generated a lengthy discussion October 24 on whether the city should require the developers to specify a buffer zone between their land and the adjacent residential area (Green Acres), which is located in the township.
Kermit McRae and Norman Oseth, representing Caledonia Township, told the council that they would like the city to specifically address the issue of a buffer zone between the commercial property and the residential area. Also, they wanted to emphasize that the township would not be in favor of commercial access to Green Acres Road, although it would be in favor of a street that provides residential access.
McRae told the council that there ìseems to be a process of accommodationî with the application by RG&G, and the the council did not appear to be following its own processes with regard to the application. He urged city officials to establish a future zoning use so that the residents of the subdivision will be assured that there will be appropriate development of the land, which is currently zoned agricultural.
ìYou can solve that right now by designating that as residential,î McRae told the council.
One of the landowners, Peter Gengler, said that he does not agree that the use of the land needs to be determined at this time.
ìWe agreed with everything already,î said Gengler. ìYouíd be a fool to put a industrial area next to a residential area. Youíd be stupid to think of taking truck traffic through Katrina Drive.î
Currently, there is a strip of undeveloped agricultural land 324 ft. wide between the area RG&G is developing and the homes on Katrina Drive in Green Acres.
ìWe would be happy to put in a green space, but weíre not there yet,î said Nick Gengler. ìWeíre not doing anything now.î He said a requirement to designate what the buffer area would be may limit their options in the future.
Councilman Robert Standish commented, ìThey agreed to put in a buffer zone. Thereís no need to make it difficult.î
Kyle Skov, an engineer with Massey Land Surveying, suggested that the council leave the area agricultural until there is a request to rezone it. It would have to be rezoned before it can be developed, and the public would have input at that time.
Two approved as part-time officers
In other news, the council approved the names of two officers who will be placed on the roster for the police department. Jessica Lewis is licensed as a part-time officer, and Chad Heuser is licensed as a full-time officer. An officer with a full-time license may work unsupervised. A supervisor must be available while a part-time officer is on duty. Caledonia Chief of Police Randy Shefelbine said that he will be the one available.
Shefelbine said that he expects the officers to be used on a very limited basis.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com