Fraught with controversy Council fails to vote
Once again tensions erupted as the Northfield City Council was scheduled to approve the 2nd reading of Councilor Pownell’s amendments to the Planning Commission’s recommendations for 7 changes to the C1 and C2 districts. On March 17th council voted 4 to 3 in favor of the changes with Councilor Pownell’s amendments. Councilor DeLong has stated that the City’s Charter, our guiding document, demands written reasons why Council rejected the Planning Commission’s recommendations. While searching the Charter for that information, Ludescher found, according to section 4.5, this type of ordinance change needs a 5/2 majority. Last night attorney, Robert Scott, was brought in to give his opinion. While he acknowledged that the Charter does require a 5/2 majority and that, 9 times out of 10, that is sufficient, he continued that this is a rare case where Charter is preempted by the Municipal Planning Act. From that point forward Councilor Ludescher continued to struggle with Scott’s answer stating that the Charter is “our constitution”. It’s “more important than comprehensive plan”. Mayor Graham said he talked with other attorneys who have differing opinions. He noted that the Charter voted unanimously and the Council had to vote unanimously to pass the 5/2 majority. In the Motokazie case in Rice County a simple majority vote was appealed by the body. Rice County said they needed a super majority and the court agreed. With a motion was on the floor to approve the 2nd reading, the Mayor declared that the 4/3 vote of the 1st Reading did not pass and that he would refuse to sign the ordinance. Things escalated with Nakasian saying it was “an abortion of public process” to not let a decision happen. Finally it erupted, Peterson White tried to push for a vote. [listen to the podcast for all the voices shouting and whispering]. In short, Peterson White was called out of order, she then called the Mayor out of order and then Pownell called to adjourn, the vote was 5/2 to adjourn. The video is posted on the City’s website at ci.northfield.mn.us. Mayor Graham’s interview is on kymnradio.net. Of note, according to the League of Minnesota Cities handbook, Chapter 4; 107 of the 852 cities in the State are Home Charter Rule, the rest are governed by State Statute. Mayor Graham’s interview is online at kymnradio.net.
The major sticking point to Councilor Pownell’s amendments is her requirement that new buildings be a minimum of 2 story within the adjacent downtown district which includes Hwy 3. Specifically builders are concerned with the stretch between St. Olaf Avenue and 8th street. During the Council meeting last night, Mayor Graham pointed out that The Crossing has a P-U-D that allows them to build 1 story. He then asked Pownell, in light of that information, can we compromise and pass 1 story and give incentives for 2 story. She said she was willing to talk about complete streets, P-U-D’s and overlay but would not change direction at this point. She also pointed out that the Planning Commission wasn’t diverse when they voted for the changes to the ordinance allowing 2 stories. In an earlier interview she said that it’s strategic to expand downtown across Hwy 3 and compared Northfield to Minneapolis. She said, in part, people want a “liveable, walkable community” where they don’t need a car. Some question how liveable certain areas would be with the railroad tracks at your back door and semi traffic on hwy 3 as your front door. Graham wants this all to go back to a work session. In the meantime, there are other city issues unattended.
The 2nd street reclamation project on the west side of Hwy 3 in Northfield will be getting underway soon. City Engineer Dave Bennett said Phase 1 begins next week. That construction will stretch from the RR tracks to Lincoln Street.
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