Posted: 5/8/07
Retail meat store gets nod from city council
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
A new retail business, which will be locating at 503 Old Highway Drive, received a conditional use permit from the Caledonia City Council during a special meeting held April 30.
Don Robley, 4036 Cork Hollow Drive, Brownsville, plans to open a retail meat store in the former Caledonia Creamery building on Old Highway Drive, in an area zoned highway business district. Because the business Robley plans to open is more of a retail business, the city council first had to determine if the new business fit the parameters of highway business district zoning.
After discussing the matter, the council decided it did not. But the city is still interested in having another business locating within the city limits, so a conditional use permit was required and approved.
Robley explained to the council he plans to open a business where he would process various types of meats, but it would not be a slaughtering/processing business. He plans to cut and retail various meats, will make and retail sausages, and will also process venison.
Robley purchased the building from Jeff Sheehan for $75,000, according to the Houston County Assessors office. Robley hopes to have the extensive renovation project to convert the building, which most recently was used as an auto repair business, into a meat processing facility completed by next spring.
According to City Administrator/Clerk Bob Nelson, one person living adjacent to the property in question, asked if Robleyís business would require large trucks unloading livestock for slaughter. When it was determined that would not be the case, the neighbor didnít register any objections.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com