Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.b - Minutes - 10-7-24 - Joint Planning Commission Council WorkshopHastings, Minnesota City Council Workshop October 7, 2024 The City Council of the City of Hastings, Minnesota met in a workshop on Monday, October 7, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Hastings City Hall, 101 East 4th Street, Hastings, Minnesota. Members Present: Mayor Fasbender, Councilmembers Fox, Haus, Lawrence, Leifeld, Pemble, and Vihrachoff; Planning Commissioners Messina (Chair), Peters, Teiken, LeBrun, McGrath, and Swedin Members Absent: Commissioner Halberg Staff Present: City Administrator Dan Wietecha Assistant City Administrator Kelly Murtaugh Community Development Director John Hinzman Economic Development Coordinator Alex Menke Deputy City Clerk Emily King Mayor Fasbender called the workshop to order at 5:30 pm and welcomed councilmembers and Planning Commission members for a discussion on Highway 55 and updating the Cannabis ordinance. Highway 55 Study Hinzman introduced HKGi representative, Bryan Harjes, to present the Highway 55/Jacob Avenue Growth Area plan. Harjes provided an overview of the components of the study, partners, and the project schedule. There are stakeholder engagement opportunities throughout the project. The area currently being studied lies outside the current city limits and would require annexation in the future. Harjes reviewed key findings of the area market scan. Recommendations include residential off the highway, reserving along the highway for commercial/retail spaces, including a trail system. There are several families that own the property and most of the current land use is agricultural. Future land use from the Comprehensive Plan mirrors some of the key findings of the market scan and recommendations. Harjes then reviewed at a high level, the stormwater management, water main, and sanitary sewer potential plans. Key considerations include sanitary sewer capacity, need for water tower, timing of roadway improvements, park/trail development, visions for the community gateway, timeline of property owner interest in development, and economic development interests. Posing a variety of questions, Harjes invited Council and Commissioners to engage in a visioning discussion. Menke clarified the role of the City in this process and that the city is not developing the property, but rather preparing to advise property owners as development interests as property becomes available. Council discussion on appreciation for the clarity of the city role and reminders about needs for a water treatment plant and reflecting on earlier discussions about sports/athletics complex needs in partnership with the school district. Council discussion on past discussions about a bypass around the city. Possible substation growth may be needed as well as any historic easements that may need to be attended to. Commissioner discussion on other good examples of gateway. Discussion about access as an important element to consider regardless of the type of development. General discussion about mix of commercial and residential opportunities. This mix could be traditional big box along highway, putting residential away from the highway or an urban format where the commercial is directly along the highway with parking behind or commercial on the first floor with residential above. Discussion on the developer often being more in control of what is developed based on what they are willing to pay the property owner, also relying on the zoning of the area. Discussion on possible amendments to zoning that would influence the interests in types of development, or influence through design guidelines. This planning is part of the sequencing process so the city can be intentional about where the infrastructure will be needed and how the city can plan for that. Discussion on the types of residential properties that they would like to see offered and what home ownership will look like in the future. Questions were raised about additional residential impact on travel into/out of the city and what HWY 55 future plans might be. Discussion on possible hotel accommodations on the west side of the city as well as county CDA opportunities. Additional discussion on the mix of retail, nonprofit and opportunities to create employment in the city. Menke invited additional feedback from Councilmembers or Planning Commissioners following the workshop. Cannabis Ordinance Amendments City Attorney Land reviewed the cannabis laws and changes that have been enacted at the State level in recent years. Initially, low-potency edibles were legalized, and the city enacted an ordinance to issue business licenses. Effective January 2025, the State will license cannabis businesses and licensed business will need to register with municipalities. Future approvals will obtain conditional use permits, rather than special use permits. Land review the 13 types of cannabis business that can be licensed by the State, grouped into 4 categories: Low potency, adult use retail, manufacture/industrial, and cultivation. Current ordinance allows licenses for low-potency products in areas zoned C3 and C4. Land offered options for consideration related to future registration of low-potency products, which include a distance between establishments, conditional use permit requirement, and expanding zones for retails sales.