Nowthen Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, February 23, 2021

Planning & Zoning

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 · 7:00 PM

This meeting on the city's website ↗

Agenda

Not on file

What was on the agenda.

Packet

Open PDF ↗

The supporting materials the board reviewed.

Minutes

Open PDF ↗

The official record of what happened.

One-line summary

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the Cote, Leistico, and Carr's Tree Service applications with conditions, continued Brand Name Storage to March, asked Council to investigate storage-unit moratoriums, and reviewed P&Z policy changes.

What was on the agenda

12 items as recorded in the packet and minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.

CALLCall to order, pledge, and roll call
Meeting called to order, roll call taken, and meeting policy summarized.
Meeting opened and roll call was taken.
- meeting administration
No action
p. 1p. 1
AI-001Approve tonight's meeting agenda
Approve or amend the February 23, 2021 agenda.
Agenda approved.
- meeting administration
Approved
p. 1p. 1
AI-002Approve January 26, 2021 minutes
Approve the January 26, 2021 Planning and Zoning meeting minutes.
Prior minutes approved.
- meeting administration
Approved
p. 3p. 1
AI-003Cote Lot Reconfiguration and Flag Lot Conditional Use Permit
Public hearing for Jim and Kristin Cote's lot reconfiguration and flag lot conditional use permit on 201st Avenue.
The Commission recommended approval of the Cote lot reconfiguration and flag lot CUP for property on 201st Avenue, with the screening condition removed, the ditch/wetland easement condition changed to 20 feet on either side of the wetland, and park/trail dedication and paving/curbing requirements waived.
Recommended approval with condition changes and waivers.
- Cote lot reconfiguration and flag lot CUP
Approved with conditions
PDFp. 3
AI-004Leistico Preliminary/Final Plat and CUP for Deferral of Street Paving Requirements
Public hearing for Leistico preliminary/final plat and CUP to defer street paving requirements.
The Commission recommended approval of the Leistico preliminary and final plat and CUP to defer street paving, adopting the findings and recommendations as written. The plat divides the family property into four buildable parcels and two outlots, with future road and accessory-building conditions left in the written findings.
Recommended approval by adopting findings and recommendations as written.
- Leistico Estates plat and street paving deferral
Approved
PDFp. 4
AI-005Carr's Tree Service
Public hearing for Carr's Tree Service interim use permits and variances for outdoor storage and gravel surfacing.
The Commission recommended approval of Carr's Tree Service's IUPs and variances with added conditions, including a minimum 16-foot driveway, a buffer-yard variance application, a new City Council public hearing, a maximum one-acre gravel area unless stormwater ponding requirements are met, pavement for 130 feet from the property line, a revised site plan showing buffer avoidance, turning radius and pile locations, and removal of logs, brush, woodchips, vehicles, machinery and equipment when the site is vacated.
Recommended approval with added conditions and a new City Council public hearing.
- Carr's Tree Service outdoor storage IUP and variances
Approved with conditions
p. 5p. 5
AI-006Phases Two and Three Brand Name Storage
Public hearing for Phase Two and Three Brand Name Storage CUP, site plan, minor subdivision, and setback variance.
The Brand Name Storage public hearing was opened and continued to the March meeting because revised plans were not submitted in time. During that item, the Commission also passed a 3-1 motion asking the City Council to have staff investigate storage-unit moratoriums.
The hearing was opened and continued to the March meeting because revised plans were not submitted in time.
- Brand Name Storage phases two and three
- storage unit moratorium discussion
Continued
p. 2p. 6
AI-007Planning & Zoning Commission Policy
Discussion of Planning and Zoning Commission policy.
The Commission reviewed proposed changes to its policy and code-of-conduct documents, including quorum language, order of business, agenda packet timing, staggered terms, residency language, staff attendance confirmation, compensation language, and future training and vacancy processes.
The Commission reviewed proposed policy changes; the minutes record discussion but no final P&Z vote.
- Planning and Zoning Commission policy
Discussion only
p. 2p. 6
AI-008Upcoming project: Volunteers of America
Upcoming project: Volunteers of America, 22426 St. Francis Blvd.
The Commission briefly reviewed upcoming projects: Volunteers of America, CST Industrial Subdivision and Development, and the Dryden minor lot split.
Listed under upcoming projects and discussed briefly.
- Volunteers of America
Discussion only
PDFp. 8
AI-009Upcoming project: CST Industrial Subdivision & Development
Upcoming project: CST Industrial Subdivision & Development, St. Francis Blvd.
The Commission briefly reviewed upcoming projects: Volunteers of America, CST Industrial Subdivision and Development, and the Dryden minor lot split.
Listed under upcoming projects and discussed briefly.
- CST Industrial Subdivision and Development
Discussion only
p. 2p. 8
AI-010Upcoming project: Dryden Minor Subdivision
Upcoming project: Dryden Minor Subdivision, 6700 Viking Blvd.
The Commission briefly reviewed upcoming projects: Volunteers of America, CST Industrial Subdivision and Development, and the Dryden minor lot split.
Listed under upcoming projects and discussed briefly.
- Dryden minor subdivision
Discussion only
p. 2p. 8
AI-011Motion to adjourn
Adjournment.
Adjournment motion made and seconded; meeting adjourned at 9:45 PM.
- meeting administration
Approved
PDFp. 8

Motions and votes

8 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

MOT-001Motion by Pearo; 2nd by Schiller to approve tonight's meeting agenda of February 23, 2021.
moved by Pearo, seconded by Schiller
Passed
- YDale Ames
- YKelly Pearo
- YHarold Jorgensen
- YRobert Schiller
p. 1p. 1
MOT-002Motion by Ames; 2nd by Jorgensen to approve the Planning & Zoning Meeting Minutes of January 26, 2021.
Exact transcript text
Motion by Ames; 2nd by Jorgensen to approve the Planning & Zoning Meeting Minutes of January 26, 2021.
moved by Ames, seconded by Jorgensen
Passed
- YDale Ames
- YKelly Pearo
- YHarold Jorgensen
- YRobert Schiller
p. 1p. 1
MOT-003Ames made the motion to approve the Cote Lot Reconfiguration and Flag Lot Conditional Use Permit, eliminating CUP Condition 1 and changing CUP Condition 5 to be 20 feet on either side of the wetland, and waive the Lot Split/Reconfiguration Park & Trail dedication and paving/curbing requirements.
Exact transcript text
Ames made the motion to approve the Cote Lot Reconfiguration and Flag Lot Conditional Use Permit, eliminating CUP Condition 1 and changing CUP Condition 5 to be 20 feet on either side of the wetland, and waive the Lot Split/Reconfiguration Park & Trail dedication and paving/curbing requirements.
moved by Ames, seconded by Schiller
Passed
- YDale Ames
- YKelly Pearo
- YHarold Jorgensen
- YRobert Schiller
p. 3p. 1
MOT-004Pearo made the motion to adopt the Findings of Fact and Recommendations as written.
Exact transcript text
Pearo made the motion to adopt the Findings of Fact and Recommendations as written
moved by Pearo, seconded by Jorgensen
Passed
- YDale Ames
- YKelly Pearo
- YHarold Jorgensen
- YRobert Schiller
p. 4p. 1
MOT-005Pearo made a motion to approve all the above recommended changes with the Findings and Recommendations as they are written, provided those changes are added, and it should be brought to the City Council at a new Public Hearing for final approval.
Exact transcript text
Pearo made a motion to approve all the above recommended changes with the Findings and Recommendations as they are written, provided those changes are added, and it should be brought to the City Council at a new Public Hearing for final approval.
moved by Pearo, seconded by Schiller
Passed
- YDale Ames
- YKelly Pearo
- YHarold Jorgensen
- YRobert Schiller
p. 5p. 1
MOT-006Motion by Jorgensen to continue this meeting to the March meeting.
Exact transcript text
Motion by Jorgensen to continue this meeting to the March meeting
moved by Jorgensen, seconded by Schiller
Passed
p. 6
MOT-007Jorgensen made a motion to have City Council have staff investigate storage units moratoriums.
Exact transcript text
Jorgensen made a motion to have City Council have staff investigate storage units moratoriums
moved by Jorgensen, seconded by Ames
PassedSplit vote
- YJorgensen
- YAmes
- YSchiller
- NPearo
p. 6
MOT-008Motion to adjourn by Pearo.
Exact transcript text
Motion to adjourn by Pearo
moved by Pearo, seconded by Schiller
Passed
Meeting adjourned at 9:45 PM.
p. 8

Prior history on this business

When someone referred back to earlier business, we found the matching prior discussion and tied it in here.

*Part of this was continued from the January meeting. Revised plans were not submitted in time for review prior to the February meeting.
What this is about
Brand Name Storage had been continued from the January meeting and lacked revised plans for February review.
p. 6
Related history
The records I searched do not contain a prior discussion or decision matching this recollection about Brand Name Storage being continued from a January meeting or lacking revised plans for February review. The only January 2026 result found was for setting 2026 City Council and Planning and Zoning meeting dates at the January 13, 2026 meeting. The other results relate to unrelated applications or packet materials, including cannabis licensing materials and other property requests.
- Apr 14, 2026Describe specific procedures for how your business will ensure proper designation of authorized personnel for protocols
- Mar 24, 2026Describe specific procedures for how your business will ensure proper designation of authorized personnel for protocols
- Apr 14, 2026# Minnesota Adult-Use Cannabis: Inventory Control, Storage, and Diversion Prevention Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- Mar 24, 2026### Minnesota Adult-Use Cannabis: Inventory Control, Storage, and Diversion Prevention Standard Operating Procedure (SOP
- Apr 28, 20265\. The use of the Property has now been changed to programs for the residential treatment and support for children and
Jorgensen disagreed, as Coon Rapids has a moratorium on storage units. It's all in the legal notices.
— Jorgensen
What this is about
Jorgensen referred to Coon Rapids having a storage-unit moratorium while urging Nowthen to look into the same issue.
p. 6
Related history
The records I searched do not contain a prior Nowthen discussion or decision confirming Jorgensen’s recollection that Coon Rapids had adopted a moratorium on storage units, nor do they include the referenced Coon Rapids legal notice. The search results returned unrelated Nowthen packet materials from March–May 2026, such as public safety reports and resolutions on prosecution services, hazard mitigation, personnel policy, and the farmers market, but nothing about storage-unit moratoriums.
- Mar 10, 2026<table> <tr> <th colspan="9">BURGLARIES</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Number</th> <th>Case Number</th> <th>Created On</th> <th>Off
- Apr 14, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowth
- May 12, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowth
- May 12, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowthen MN, 55330 ## RESOLUT
- Mar 10, 2026## BACKGROUND AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Dear Nowthen City Council, On behalf of the Nowthen Heritage Festival Commit
Ames pointed out that the Council voted in December, 2020, to change the Commission from a seven (7) member body to a five (5) member body. In January, 2021, the Council voted to go back to what it was previously, a seven (7) member body.
— Ames
What this is about
Ames recalled recent City Council votes changing the size of the Planning Commission and then changing it back.
p. 7
Related history
The records I searched do not contain the December 2020 or January 2021 City Council votes Ames recalled changing the Planning Commission from seven members to five and then back to seven. The available search results do not include minutes or an ordinance from those dates confirming either action or the vote outcomes. The closest related record is later: at the March 10, 2026 meeting, the Council packet included an ordinance amendment related to the Planning Commission’s composition, eligibility, terms, and interview process. The packet language states the Planning Commission “shall consist of seven members,” and the ordinance summary says the Council adopted the amendment on March 10, 2026, but the search result does not show a roll-call vote.
- Mar 10, 2026<figure> CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> # REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <table> <tr> <th>Agenda Item:</th> <th>Department:</th>
- Feb 24, 2026#### RECOMMENDATION ON PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER SELECTION PROCESS. The commission discussed establishing a
- Mar 10, 2026##### Viking Estates - Grant Rademacher · An application for a comprehensive plan amendment, rezoning, preliminary plat,
- Mar 10, 2026# CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA # AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF NOWTHEN CITY CODE RELATED TO THE P
- Apr 14, 2026### Development Applications in Review Palomino Estates -- Kyle Roessler - 20930 St. Francis Blvd. · An application for
DHS (Heather & Paula), said they won't have anything public until mid to late March. The CUP is on hold until possibly April.
What this is about
Volunteers of America was described as on hold for a possible April CUP after recent meetings and pending DHS information.
p. 8
Related history
The records show a partial match to this recollection. Volunteers of America’s Bar None campus CUP matter appears in the April 28, 2026 Planning and Zoning Commission packet. The packet included proposed findings for an Amended Conditional Use Permit for a state-licensed residential treatment facility and on-site education services, noting that VOA said it had operated on the property for more than 70 years, but that no original CUP or land-use approval had been located in City or Anoka County records. The April 28, 2026 materials also state that the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Amended CUP and included draft approval conditions for a 9-building campus serving up to 40 children/adolescents. The searched records do not show the earlier “Heather & Paula” DHS update, the mid-to-late March timing, or a recorded decision to place the CUP “on hold,” but they do support that the VOA CUP matter came forward in late April.
- Apr 28, 2026CASWELL ENGINEERING CO. ENGINEERS & LAND SURVEYORS ## BIRCHWOOD ANOKA COUNTY, MINNESOTA KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
- Apr 28, 2026PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING: April 28, 2026 FINDINGS: Based upon review of the Application and evidence recei
- May 12, 2026<figure> ® berganKDV ® </figure> # Minnesota Legal Compliance Independent Auditor's Report Honorable Mayor and Members o
- Apr 28, 2026## EXHIBIT B TO CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION ### Narrative for Conditional Use Permit Application Volunteers of Am
- Apr 14, 2026<figure> CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> # REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <table> <tr> <th>Agenda Item:</th> <th>Department:</th>

Where this came up before

Sources

Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.

Show a sample of the transcript (1047 segments, 2:42:00 total)

0:22 make sure your mics are on first of all we'll have the clerk uh
0:36 read the roll call commissioner jorgensen here here
0:59 usually at this time we also have what they call a meeting policy for the floor item but we don't have anything in the back because of the uh
1:07 coverage is going around it we don't want having more stuff than we have to so uh there is
1:14 a policy on that turkey you have that or no yeah usually we'll give you a couple minutes to speak to whatever
1:22 it is on the floor enemies like bring up so if anybody has it we'll that that's not having anything to do
1:30 with the public hearings it's just a on any kind of floor writing usually we don't have any comments cnn will go on
1:39 the next thing we're going to do is approve or amend tonight's meeting ginger february 23rd 2021. would somebody like to make this motion
1:48 i'll make a motion to approve tonight's agenda commissioner apparel made the motion somebody second it i'll second that commissioner shelter seconds it uh any
1:58 discussion see no discussion call for the whole paper say aye
2:05 aye opposed motion carried next thing on the agenda is approved the planning and zoning meetings
2:13 of january 26 2021. somebody like make this motion i'll make the motion somebody like
Showing first 12 segments. Open the YouTube video for the full transcript.

The summary on this page is AI-extracted and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording are the official record. What do the trust labels mean?

What was on the agenda

Motions and votes

Prior history on this business

Related history

Related history

Related history

Related history

Where this came up before

Sources