The Crookston Planning Commission met on Tuesday night in the City Hall Council Chambers. After the Call to Order, it began the meeting by approving the minutes from their last meeting on August 16, which it did unanimously.
Land Use Determination- CHEDA Parcel #82.03077.00
The Commission opened the meeting discussing a Land Use Determination for the Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority (CHEDA), who had contacted Ron Olafson of Checkered Flag Services LLC, and showed intent on purchasing a 2.8-acre Parcel located in the Heavy Industrial Zone located southwest of the intersection of 5th Avenue SW and Carroll Street, and south of the Kiel Corporation and the New Flyer of America Inc. parking lot on 5th Avenue SW. for their business needs. However, Chairperson Bryan Schipper announced that Olafson had withdrawn his consideration and chose not to sell his property, so no motion was made. “The owner contacted both Mr. Hefta and myself that he wished to withdraw his request for a determination as to whether his desire to obtain the property and make a building construction on that property was consistent with the Comprehensive Plan,” Interim City Administrator “Corky” Reynolds explained. “He is still interested in arriving in Crookston and conducting some type of business activity, but he is considering other properties at this time.”
Lease Agreement for Tenant Space within Valley Tech Park
The Commission then began a discussion of a lease agreement the city intended to provide at the Valley Tech Park building with Farm Bureau Financial Services Agent Andrew Klamm. The agreement would be for Office #102, a 9×19-foot-room for services designed for business purposes and to further economic development from September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023. However, other terms had to be agreed to by the City Council and Andrew Klamm. “In consistence with State Statute in our comprehensive plan, a determination had to be made as to whether that complied with our plan as a lease is actually a convenience of an interest in real property,” Reynolds explained. “Planning Commission considered the memo of our public official Greg Hefta laying out the statute and the reasons why and they did approve recommending to City Council the approval of this lease.” The board approved the motion unanimously to be brought forward to the City Council meeting on September 26.
The next Planning Commission meeting will occur in October unless there aren’t enough agenda items.
