Posted: 7/17/07
Council approves variance, CUP requests for new office building
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The highway commercial district on the north end of Caledonia continues to expand. At the July 9 meeting, the Caledonia City Council approved four variance requests and a conditional use permit (CUP) for the construction of a 6,600-square foot office building just east of Dollar General on Highways 44 and 76.
Ron Carlsen, of Ronald Carlsen Enterprises, Inc., Rochester, plans to construct a 72 by 92-foot office building with a 30 by 40 foot detached garage at 805 North Highway 44/76. The building will be wood-framed construction on a concrete slab with geothermal heat. It will be steel-sided with half brick on the front, and a shingled roof. The garage will be of similar construction.
Because an office building is not a permitted use in a highway business district (B-2), Carlsen needed a CUP.
Carlsen also needed the following variances:
ïA 52-foot setback variance on the east (front) property line (building);
ïA 59-foot setback variance on the east (front) property line (sign installation);
ïA 10-foot setback variance on the northeast (side) property line;
ïRequired parking stall dimensions are 10 feet wide and 25 feet long. Proposed parking stall dimensions are 9 feet wide and 18 feet long, requiring a 1-foot variance on the width and 7-foot on the length.
Carlsen explained there will be 35 parking stalls and plans to line the front of the building up in line with Dollar General. He has an existing easement to share the driveway with Dollar General, and has contracted Mn/DOT about the location of the building. Mn/DOT did not register any objections.
"Because we are planning to lease the building to a number of government entities, the entire building has to be built to government specs, as far as number of square feet per person working in the building, ADA handicapped accessibility, and other issues" Carlsen noted.
Construction is slated get underway later this summer.
Fencing bid approved
The council approved a bid of $1,522 to put security fences around the three open tanks at the wastewater treatment plant. Each tank will also have a locked gate. The gates will cost $75 each.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com