The Park Rapids City Council denied planning and zoning requests by the Hubbard County Food Shelf regarding a parcel in a residential district at Eastern Ave. N. and Charles St., which the city council had sent back to the planning commission for review when they previously recommended denial.
They voted at their Tuesday, Nov. 28 meeting.
According to City Planner Ben Oleson, the commission again recommended denial of the food shelf’s requests, aimed toward relocating their facility to that neighborhood. He said the commission based their reasoning on a desire to preserve the residential area. Neighboring resident Katrina Carrier also spoke out against the rezoning.
Council member Liz Stone’s motion to deny the requested comprehensive plan and future land use map amendment passed 5-0, as did council member Tim Little’s motion to deny the rezoning request.
The council approved an after-the-fact setback variance for an addition to the Lamb Weston-RDO Frozen plant, which encroached on the city-township boundary as well as the property line of a parcel owned by R.D. Offutt Farms.
Oleson explained that the builder didn’t realize that any part of the addition was within city limits until the work was completed, and the township does not require a building permit.
He said the city planning commission recommended approval of a zero-foot setback where 15 feet is normally required, on two conditions including filing an easement agreement with RDO Farms.
Stone’s motion to approve the variance passed 5-0.
The council approved a minor subdivision involving properties owned by Shannon Henrickson and Martha Fischer in the Eastern Ave. N.-Rolling Hills Dr. neighborhood.
Oleson explained that the owners wanted to separate a portion of Henrickson’s property and merge it with Fischer’s property, after which both parcels would still comply with minimum lot-size requirements.
Stone’s motion to approve the minor subdivision passed 5-0.
Unpaid utility bills passed to owners
The council had a public hearing about certifying $3,090 worth of delinquent utility bills to the Hubbard County Auditor’s Office to assess on the property owners’ 2024 taxes.
The council’s agenda packet listed 15 bills to 14 property owners, ranging from $55 to $1,169.
Hearing no public comment about the assessments, the council passed a resolution to certify the bill to the auditor passed under their consent agenda.
Robin Fish is a staff reporter at the Park Rapids Enterprise. Contact him at rfish@parkrapidsenterprise.com or 218-252-3053.
