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ZONIHG HEWS BRIEFS ·
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<br />many communities, zoning workshops are held to test the
<br />concepts of the ordinance publicly and to gauge reactions.
<br /> After a review of the working draft, a public hearing draft
<br />can be prepared to respond to comments. This is followed by.a
<br />public hearing and, finall7, the ordinance adoption. Interest in a
<br />zoning ordinance revision does not peak until the draft
<br />ordinance is made available for public review. Involving the
<br />broader community during the early stages ora revision usually
<br />fails to generate much interest. Once drafted, however, the
<br />zoning ordinance allows residents to see what is proposed in the
<br />districts where they reside, own property, or plan to develop.
<br /> Procedures that are built into the development review
<br />process should guide and support public discussion of the
<br />ordinance, production of ordinance summaries, and consistency
<br />in ordinance adoption. Ordinance adoption is really a two-part
<br />process that includes a revision to the text and a revision to the
<br />zoning map. Both tend to ignite controversy, so presentation of
<br />the documents should be carefully strategized.
<br /> Under certain circumstances, it may be best to move forward
<br />one step at a time, securing adoption of the text before
<br />addressing and presenting a revised map for adoption. In other
<br />cases, it may be impossible to separate the two. A public
<br />information plan, which clearly specifies the changes made in
<br />each, and the relationship of the documents to city planning
<br />and development policy, must be carefully developed.
<br />
<br />The zoning ordinance allows residents
<br />to see what is proposed in the districts
<br />where they reside, own property,
<br />or plan to develop.
<br />
<br /> Assessing, revising, and adopdng a new zoning ordinance can be
<br />a daunting task. It requires a professional team that can assure full
<br />public education and presentation of the issues and responses.
<br />Ordinance revision also requires building understanding and
<br />support among a range of different constituencies, including those
<br />which are political. A commitment of seal:f time and financial
<br />resources is needed regardless of whether the city does the revision
<br />or employs a consultant.
<br /> Zoning revisions cannot happen quickly, and cities
<br />interested such an undertaking should understand the rime
<br />investment. Indeed, controversial revisions may require
<br />several years, perhaps calling for an incremental adoption
<br />process, Nevertheless, as the key land-use policy document,
<br />the zoning ordinance must evolve and change with the rimes,
<br />a process that happens best through an organized, well-
<br />staffed revision process.
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<br />
<br /> Another Big Box Baffle
<br /> A proposed big box retail development has produced divided
<br /> opinions in the town of Northfield, Minnesota. A referendum was
<br /> held in March to decide whether to allow large-scale commercial
<br /> development in the town of 16,000. The referendum asked the
<br /> question: "Shall the City of Northfield enact an ordinance to
<br /> permit large-scale retail establishments in planned development
<br /> zones in highwa7 business districts?" The big box retailing industry
<br /> won by a narrow margin (50.9 percent to 49.1 percent), thus
<br /> paving the way for Target to construct a 126,000-square-foot store,
<br /> which is m anchor a multi-phased retail development on Highwa7
<br /> 3 near the edge of town.
<br /> Citizen-based groups squared offover the development.
<br /> Citizens for Responsible Development opposed the zoning
<br /> ordinance changes while Citizens for Target (later changed to
<br /> Citizens for Northfield) supported the development proposal.
<br /> Local media were at similar odds. NorthfieldNews editorialized
<br /> in favor of allowing large-scale retail stores, and the Minneapolis
<br /> Star Tribune encouraged residents to "dare to think outside the
<br /> big box."
<br /> Many Northfield residents are concerned about the impact of
<br />big box retailing on downtown businesses. Northfield's historic
<br />downtown is nesded along the banks of the Cannon River and
<br />within walking distance of the town's two private colleges. The
<br />downtown's primary commercial street (Division Street) is lined
<br />with unique restaurants, shops, and a historic inn. Northfield plays
<br />host to the annual Defeat of Jesse James Days, commemorating the
<br />oudaw's failed attempt to rob a Northfield bank in 1876. The
<br />Target development proposal led the Preservation Alliance of
<br />Minnesota to list downtown Northfield on its annual list of the
<br />state's 10 most endangered historic sites.
<br /> Target supporters claim the development will allow
<br />Northfield to generate lost tax revenue from residents traveling
<br />elsewhere to shop. It is hoped that people who travel to Target
<br />from the surrounding area will also spend money and time in
<br />the historic downtown.
<br /> Despite winning the referendum, the proposed Target store
<br />still faces hurdles, as the site for the store is located in adjacent
<br />Bridgewater Township. Northfield offcials intend ro annex the
<br />30-acre site and amend the comprehensive plan to reflect the
<br />outcome of the referendum.
<br /> Another potential obstacle for the development is
<br />Northfield's ordinance. Target officials told the city council in
<br />April that elements of the planned development zone (PDZ)
<br />could prevent them from constructing the store. The PDZ
<br />contains standards dealing with street-level transparency of the
<br />building, requirements for multiple customer entrances, and
<br />provisions dealing with the amount and location of parking
<br />appropriaie for the development. For example, the PDZ
<br />approved by the referendum required 40 percent transparency
<br />for the street level facade. Target officials, however, proposed
<br />only a six percent transparency. The city council is considering
<br />amendments to the PDZ that would preserve the essential
<br />clements of the ordinance. The amendments would nor require
<br />another referendum, but would be heard at public hearings of
<br />the city council.
<br /> This is not the first time residents of Northfield have tac 'kled
<br />the issue ofbig box retail. In 1986, citizens voted successfully
<br />against a proposal that would have allowed Wal-Mart to
<br />construct a store in the town. Jason Wittenberg
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