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City council proposes zoning changes to accommodate CJC |
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
In an effort to move forward with Houston County’s proposed criminal justice center (CJC), the Caledonia City Council has made revisions in it current zoning ordinances. Those revisions were reviewed at the Feb. 25 council meeting and will be subject to public inspection during a public hearing scheduled for March 24 at 7 p.m.
“These revisions came after meeting with County Commissioners Ann Thompson and Larry Graf,” Councilman Paul Fisch explained. “These changes aren’t just for the CJC, but for everyone.”
According to a letter sent to the Houston County Board, the city’s planned zoning ordinance amendments will make the proposed CJC, and the proposed highway department facility, permitted uses in both agricultural and industrial districts within the city.
The proposed amendments do not include any change in the city’s parking stall requirements. However, the city will utilize the calculating method the city of Olivia did when determining parking stalls per beds at the Renville County Jail, as the county had suggested. That method determines there should be one parking space for each two beds and one parking space for each three employees.
“Making the assumption that about one-half of the 82,000 square-foot facility is to be devoted to professional office space and the other half to the jail, the office space would require 205 parking spaces,” the letter stated. “One space for each two beds would require an additional 41 parking spaces. Assuming again there would be three employees on duty, that would add one more parking stall for a total of 247 parking stalls.”
Last summer the city utilized the method of one stall for every 200 square feet for the entire CJC when determining how many stalls would be required, which would have been 410 stalls.
The proposed changes include:
•The existing height regulation of a building from a maximum of 35 feet to 40 feet.
•Government buildings, including a Houston County Criminal Justice Center and the Houston County Highway Department Facility would be included in the list of permitted uses in both agricultural and industrial districts.
•Side yard and rear setbacks would remain the same (30 and 50 feet respectively) in ag and industrial districts, except no structure, other than a residence, shall be located closer than 150 feet from a residential district or school property.
•The city may require fencing or screening along lot lines adjacent to residential districts.
•Roadway right-of-way setbacks changed from 110 feet to 70 feet on state highways, changed from 90 to 50 feet on county roads and changed from 75 to 30 feet on city streets.
After reviewing the proposed changes, the council unanimously approved a motion made by Councilman Bob Standish and seconded by Councilman Gary Klug to schedule a public hearing for Monday, March 24.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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