The Crookston Planning Commission met Tuesday night to consider cash farm leases, a rezoning request, and a reconveyance of two parcels to the State of Minnesota.
City Administrator Amy Finch said the Planning Commission recommended the execution of both cash farm leases presented to them. “The two cash farm leases, one is on the airport and the other is the Colborn property,” said Finch. “Both of those leases have been in place for quite some time with the same tenants. Both leases, the tenants were the only and highest bidder. Planning Commission considered those and made a recommendation to the City Council to approve the execution of those leases.”
A rezoning request was also made for 334 Crescent Avenue, to bring the structure into the correct zone for compliance. “We also had a request for a rezone at 334 Crescent Ave,” said Finch. “That is in an I-2 light industrial zone. Their request is to go to an R-2, residential single family. It is adjacent to a residential area now. Planning Commission did recommend to City Council that the rezone be grant, so that will be another item coming up on the City Council agenda.”
The commission also recommended the reconveying of two parcels because the city had determined they were not using it as a right-of-way as intended explained City Attorney Corky Reynolds. “Originally, the City of Crookston received a tax-forfeited deed for the state to be used for a right-of-way,” said Reynolds. “The property is located on South Main Street. It’s the property that formerly had the coal-fired power plant by Otter Tail (Power Company). That was torn down and it was forfeited to the state. The city asked for the property to be conveyed to it to be used for a right-of-way. Over the years, it was partially used for a right-of-way. It was also a dumping ground for snow, that kind of thing. In 2019, the county said it had received information that the right-of-way was not being used and they should look into it. That was done and the city made the determination that it was not being used as a right-of-way.”
Reynolds added that property should be reconveyed when not being used for its specific purpose. “The proper procedure is to reconvey the property not being used for the specific thing for which the deed was granted,” said Reynolds. “That was what the Planning Commission was asked to consider – does the comprehensive plan for the City of Crookston address this and was it the proper procedure or forum to reconvey the property back to the state because it wasn’t being used for that specific purpose.”
Once reconveyed, the property could be purchased by the city at which point the use of the property would no longer be limited. “In the future, with a possibility that reasonable or fair market value could be established, and potentially the city could purchase the land,” said Reynolds. “It would have the full bundle of rights and be used for whatever purpose the city found appropriate. They can decide yes, we want that property or no, we don’t. If the city decides it does not want the property it remains tax-forfeited to be dealt with by the county.”
