Pine Island public meetings in 2024

Meeting

The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of a minor subdivision, a rezone from AG to R1, a conditional use permit, and a variance for a 10-foot fence for Xcel Energy property (PID# 68-740-0110). All votes were 4-0. Council Liaison Vernon Pahl noted past flooding and suggested raising the grade.

• Approved minutes of October 8, 2024 meeting (4-0)
• Recommended approval of minor subdivision for PID# 68-740-0110 with staff conditions (4-0)
• Recommended approval of rezone from AG to R1 for PID# 68-740-0110 (4-0)
• Recommended approval of conditional use permit for PID# 68-740-0110 with staff conditions (4-0)
• Recommended approval of variance for 10-foot-tall fence on PID# 68-740-0110 (4-0)

Cannabis Zoning

The Pine Island Planning and Zoning Commission will hold public hearings and vote on proposed amendments to Chapters 11 and 6 of the city code, which would establish zoning designations and registration requirements for cannabis businesses. The changes are needed before the city's moratorium on cannabis businesses expires on January 1, 2025. The commission will also consider buffer zone restrictions of up to 1,000 feet from schools and 500 feet from daycares, residential treatment facilities, and parks.

• Public hearing and vote on proposed zoning amendments for 13 types of cannabis business licenses
• Public hearing and vote on cannabis business registration ordinance with time, place, and manner restrictions
• Buffer zone distances proposed: 1,000 ft from schools, 500 ft from daycares, residential treatment facilities, and parks
• City council has elected to retain registration authority for cannabis businesses
• Moratorium on cannabis businesses set to expire January 1, 2025

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 3-0 to recommend approval of proposed changes to Chapter 11 (Land Use Regulation) and Chapter 6 (Business Registration) relating to cannabis businesses. The public hearings were opened and closed with unanimous votes. The recommendations now go to the City Council for final action.

• Approved minutes of November 12, 2024 meeting (3-0)
• Recommended approval of Chapter 11 zoning changes for cannabis businesses (3-0)
• Recommended approval of Chapter 6 cannabis business registration changes (3-0)

Meeting

The Pine Island Planning and Zoning Commission will hold public hearings and vote on recommendations for four Xcel Energy applications related to a new electrical substation and transmission line at 771 511th St NW. The requests include a minor subdivision, a rezone from AG to R-1, a conditional use permit for the substation and 69 kV line, and a variance for a 10-foot-tall security fence. The commission will also approve minutes from the October 8th meeting.

• Minor subdivision of PID 68.740.0110 into approximately 16 and 44 acre lots
• Rezone of 16-acre parcel from AG to R-1 district
• Conditional use permit for 12.47 kV Pine Meadow substation and 69 kV transmission line
• Variance to allow 10-foot-tall chain-link fence (zoning max is 6 feet)
• Public hearings for rezone, CUP, and variance requests

Meeting

The Pine Island Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing and vote on a variance request from Kyle Benjamin to build a detached garage within 5 feet of the rear property line at 315 4th St SW, requiring a 15-foot variance from the 20-foot minimum rear yard setback. The commission will also approve minutes from the August 14, 2024 meeting. Staff is not making a recommendation, leaving the decision to the commission.

• Public hearing and vote on variance request for PID 68.280.0300 at 315 4th St SW
• Proposed detached garage would be 5 feet from rear property line, requiring 15-foot variance from 20-foot minimum rear yard setback
• Property is zoned R-2; variance standards include consistency with comprehensive plan and practical difficulties
• Approval of minutes from August 14, 2024 meeting

The Pine Island Planning and Zoning Commission voted 3-0 to recommend approval of a rear-yard setback variance for property PID 68.280.0300, contingent on a water mitigation plan. The decision followed a public hearing where property owners addressed concerns about water pooling. The recommendation will go to the City Council for final action.

• Approved minutes of August 14, 2024 meeting (3-0)
• Recommended approval of rear-yard setback variance for PID 68.280.0300 with water mitigation plan (3-0)

Meeting

The Pine Island Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing and vote on a recommendation for the final plat of the Pine Bend Subdivision. The commission will also appoint a board chair and approve previous meeting minutes.

• Public hearing and vote on final plat for Pine Bend Subdivision (PID # 68.700.0072)
• Staff recommends approval subject to 11 engineering conditions, including stormwater pond construction and development agreement
• Appointment of board chair
• Approval of minutes from July 9, 2024 meeting

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend approval of a final plat application, with conditions from the staff report, to the City Council. The meeting also included approval of prior minutes and appointment of Grant Friese as board chair.

• Approved minutes of July 9, 2024 meeting (4-0)
• Appointed Grant Friese as Board Chair (4-0)
• Recommended approval of final plat application with staff report conditions (4-0)

Meeting

The Pine Island Planning and Zoning Commission will hold public hearings and vote on recommendations for the preliminary plat of the proposed Pine Bend Subdivision and a rezone of PID # 68.700.0072 from Agricultural (AG) to a residential district. Staff recommends approval of the plat with conditions, and approval of the rezone to Urban Residential (R-3) rather than the requested R-2, to allow for twinhome units. The commission's recommendations will go to the City Council for final action.

• Preliminary plat for Pine Bend Subdivision: 16 lots, 1 outlot, 4.61 acres, off County Road 11
• Rezone request for PID # 68.700.0072 from AG to R-2; staff recommends R-3
• Conditions include geotechnical report, grading plan, stormwater pond, and park dedication of 0.34 acres
• Public hearings for both plat and rezone at the July 9, 2024 meeting
• Applicants: James and Patricia Walter (owners) with Seth Friese

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a preliminary plat for Seth Friese and a rezone from Agriculture to R-3, both to the City Council. The decisions were made after public hearings and with conditions as noted in staff reports.

• Approved preliminary plat for Seth Friese (4-0)
• Approved rezone from Agriculture to R-3 (4-0)

Meeting

The Pine Island Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing and vote on a recommendation for Nathan Tiarks' variance request to convert a rear first-floor commercial space into an apartment at 212 S Main St. The property is zoned C-1, where apartments are normally only allowed above the first floor. City staff analysis suggests the request may not meet the practical-difficulty standard for a variance.

• Public hearing and vote on variance request for PID 68.260.0390 at 212 S Main St
• Request to convert first-floor commercial space to apartment, contrary to C-1 zoning restriction
• Staff memo notes parking requirement of 1.5 spaces per unit per City Code Sec. 11.70 Subd. 23 D
• Commission will act as Board of Zoning Adjustment under Section 11.19

The Pine Island Planning and Zoning Commission voted 3-0 to recommend denial of a variance request by Nathan Tiarks for a residential unit accessed only from an alley behind a Main Street building. The commission cited concerns about setting a precedent and parking. The recommendation will go to the city council for final action.

• Approved minutes of November 14, 2023 meeting (3-0)
• Opened public hearing for variance request (3-0)
• Closed public hearing for variance request (3-0)
• Recommended denial of variance application to city council (3-0)

Special Council

The Pine Island City Council is meeting for a special session to discuss an update on a council vacancy and the finance clerk position. The council will also enter a closed session to discuss offers or counteroffers for the purchase or sale of approximately 80 acres of city-owned land near the Hwy 52 overpass.

• Discussion of City Council vacancy update
• Discussion of Finance Clerk position
• Closed session to discuss offers/counteroffers for sale or purchase of approximately 80 acres near Hwy 52 overpass