The Center for Sustainable Living

City Planner Dan Olson outlined the basis for the staff recommendation to deny the request citing that the land was not in the priority area as defined by the proposed comp plan, and that the development could not be seen to be of sufficient benefit to the city as a whole. A thoughtful email from former commission chair Margit Johnson, which was cited at the meeting, outlines that the proposal goes against several of the land use principles in the proposed comprehensive plan. Several community members spoke eloquently about preserving the land and keeping the rural character of Northfield, not allowing it to become another piece of suburbia. Northfielder Mark Fisher urged the planning commission and the Council to deny all annexation requests until the Proposed Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Ordinances revisions are completed and the residents have had time to review the final documents, which are held out as the blueprint for future land use in Northfield. Jeri Hurlbutt noted that for the commission to approve a request that is clearly outside the land use principles as outlined in the proposed plan would increase cynicism about city government and its willingness to listen to the people at a time when faith in its functioning is low,

However this issue is not yet settled as it will come to the City Council Monday February 4 at 7 pm. Several commissioners mentioned that the City Council has on several occasions overridden the recommendations of the planning commission. So your emails to the City Council before Feb 4th and attendance at that meeting is crucial.

What you can do now:
**Write an email to City Council members (addresses below) urging them to vote against this annexation request. Request that they abide by the 12 land use principles outlined in the Proposed Comp Plan which came out of public discussions, recommendations by staff and planners, and which was unanimously approved by City Council in July 2007.
**Please attend the Council Meeting on Feb 4 if possible, and speak to the issue that evening.

Here are some things to consider in your comments. Many of these were cited that evening.
1. Agricultural land is an economic resource to be protected, an economic resource for the city, the state and the nation. It is crucial that cities stop the encroachment onto farm land and eating away at this valuable resource.
2. It is possible to say no to further development. It does not have to be inevitable. If it is, our whole economy will suffer. It is ok to say no to further development.
3. Northfield residents have expressly stated we do not wish to turn into suburbia.
4. This parcel is not in the priority growth area.
5. The land use principles expressly state that the city should develop infill first, then redevelopment, then at the edge of existing development.
6. This parcel adjoins two working farms which are economic resources to the city, and which wish to be able to continue farming. Annexation and development contiguous to operating farms sets up a domino effect in which each farmer has to develop in order to pay for the assessments from previous development and so one farm after another falls at a loss to agricultural production, the crucial rural economy, and creates suburbia.
7. 100-225 houses in that area would bring stress to the infrastructure on Wallstreet Rd and 4th Street and bring a huge amount of traffic right through a traditional and historical Northfield neighborhood.
8. Keeping Northfield green should be a priority. The Proposed Plan clearly states develop the green field areas last.
9. Northfield has enough houses already for its projected population for at least 5 years, some say we are 7 years out. Many of these houses already sit empty.
10. City staff should pay attention to the expressed wishes of the residents and respect the process of the Comp plan revision.
11. Many citizens have expressed regret about the heavy development that has already occurred in the north and south sides of town, and hope city planners will pay attention to these concerns about the future “blueprint” of Northfield.
12. It is time for the City to start seeing agriculture as prime economics

To send your comments to the City Council:
Dan Olson, City Planner, dan.olson@ci.northfield.mn.us 645 3056
Jim Pokorney, First Ward, jim.pokorney@ci.northfield.mn.us 663 6170
Scott Davis, Second Ward, scott@ward2.net 507-664-9548
Arnie Nelson, Third Ward arnie.nelson@ci.northfield.mn.us 507-645-4553
Jon Denison, Fourth Ward, jon.denison@ci.northfield.mn.us 507-412-1259
Kris Vohs, at large kris.vohs@ci.northfield.mn.us 645 6009
Noah Cashman, at large, noah.cashman@ci.northfield.mn.us (612) 618-8273
Brian O’Connell, Development, brian.oconnell@ci.northfield.mn.us 645 3056
Lee Lansing, Mayor, lee.lansing@ci.northfield.mn.us

Thank you for staying vigilant about this issue, and about sustainable land use in Northfield.