The Crookston Planning Commission met Tuesday night and approved a variance request for APG Development pending a purchase agreement for the property located between North Broadway Apartments and Casey’s General Store.
Planning Commission Chair Joe Kresl said the commission felt the variance met the parameters of code without affecting any other property. “We thought it reached all parameters without interference with any housing or anything,” said Kresl. “The one setback on the east side was just an overhang. It wasn’t the building itself. So the building still fit the parameters of that. The other side is just a storage unit that we felt wasn’t going to interfere with anyone else.”
Elliot Steinbrink, a Crookston native, and Nick Waverek were at the meeting to represent APG Development. Waverek said the developers were drawn to Crookston as a growing community with a demand for housing. “I think the existing and ongoing growth of Crookston and the demand and need for housing is real,” said Waverek. “It’s something I know Elliot is passionate about in coming back to Crookston and taking the skills that he has developed outside of the city and reinvesting. And there is potential to provide a mixed-use building for the city not only as a place to live but a place with a sense of community.”
Steinbrink said the developer would follow the model established by the meadows and feels APG can fill a gap in housing in Crookston. “The big thing is with the larger communities we currently operate in is they are becoming saturated, ” said Steinbrink. “Those are tough markets for new investors and developers. Coming back to Crookston, we realize there is a need for apartments and housing. We felt we could fill that gap. And the big draw I think is I have connections and people I still know from here, so it’s going to make the process a little easier. And it’s going to give people the opportunities to have good housing in Crookston. One thing I’ve noticed through the years is Crookston always seems to struggle with housing, and I think that we can fill that gap.”
The property for the proposed apartments is owned by the Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority. Tuesday morning the CHEDA board directed executive director Craig Hoiseth to work towards finalizing a purchase agreement with APG. The variance will go straight to the City Council for final approval.
The commission also was asked to consider the land use of the property at 110 Lincoln that is currently zoned as an R2 and to recommend keeping it an R2. According to Kresl, the committee decided to table the decision until they have a better understanding of any issues or liabilities with the property. “There is a lot of things that need to be figured out before it comes to us, which is why we tabled it,” said Kresl. “They need to figure out if there is any taxes or anything else that is due. We figured it was the cart before the horse. So, it’s going to go to Ways & Means and probably talk to the City Attorney and Polk County before it comes back to us.”
