[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6159614,"mediaKeyId","5453371-3043b5cf52e9440ba5c0417f1511f383","parentId",5453371,"title","Cannon Falls planning commission recommends conditional-use rules for proposed data centers","audioSeconds",2202,"startMs",368000,"endMs",2570000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5453371-3043b5cf52e9440ba5c0417f1511f383&start=368&end=2570","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5453371-3043b5cf52e9440ba5c0417f1511f383/thumbnail_368000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6159614/Cannon-Falls/Goodhue-County/Minnesota/Cannon-Falls-planning-commission-recommends-conditional-use-rules-for-proposed-data-centers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159614-fe8f46bd24fb46fd5f5b94757674b14b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773579787&Signature=UbnaTxKCURRRu-cHmstHJFKeIECPPvoOczUlmOVoymDRf9Qo7lcpuumsXZI6qr35bmAti-qDQLTtQoAbUPAYOu1M9VmBa8UkXaErjhE074Ey~50wHuZKeUV9qUdynBaOCtRxuFMhUleudZRXthd~it0a-E0tDcADQA1EyWcEEKwaGF~0QFpBPlH7Ppw~7rzlGVBxP9C8HEa4S0tcBQQkf9ekxE9fkaioCRvDfupHdbVVpQmSTEQcF0nf3JKnq4WpGCpWE2YiNyZZMZjwPHenfGXpH0MODgBZz1cAMQ-zYzcpK-jMxYMm7vhvhRKC9Y1rCiot-tZXBZ6vyVTgDZJPmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Cannon Falls, MN","date","2025-07-23T17:15:03.11Z","article","Cannon Falls planning commissioners on July 21 recommended that the City Council adopt a zoning text amendment to allow data centers as a conditional use in the I-2 (industrial) district, while adding staff-recommended clarifications and regulatory references. The commission made the recommendation after a work-session discussion and a public-hearing period with no public speakers.

The amendment would bring data centers explicitly into the city code as a use eligible for a conditional‑use permit, with staff edits added to clarify oversight bodies and correct typographical errors. “Data centers do need to be brought into existence within our city code,” Staff member Shelly said during the introduction to the hearing. Shelly later told the commission the recommended edits would add the Public Utility Commission to lists of oversight or consultation bodies and correct a subdivision cross‑reference.

Why it matters: zoning language shapes what uses a city can authorize, and labeling a use as a conditional use gives city government a mechanism to attach site‑specific conditions. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized that adopting a conditional‑use framework preserves local discretion to require conditions or deny particular proposals at the conditional‑use review stage.

The commission discussed whether to add explicit prohibitions—for example on cryptocurrency (“crypto”) mining—during the hearing. Commissioners heard from staff and legal counsel that the conditional‑use process and the ordinance’s review criteria provide pathways to evaluate and decline uses found to be detrimental once a specific site application is filed. “If it were evaluated and came to identify that the use was detrimental, the city may have the opportunity to address it,” Shelly said, citing the conditional‑use criteria in the draft language.

The commission motioned to recommend that the City Council pass the ordinance with staff’s recommended amendments. The motion to recommend approval was moved and seconded from the dais and passed on a voice vote; the public record shows a majority voice vote in favor and no recorded no votes.

Discussion details and limits: commissioners stressed that the draft is not intended to be static and that the definition of “data center” may change over time as technologies and business models evolve. Several commissioners asked that the council retain the ability to reexamine the ordinance and to attach conditions at the conditional‑use permit stage. Staff advised that enforcement and regulation of specific technical aspects—such as electricity use, water use or specific equipment—may also involve state or federal agencies and that adding the Public Utility Commission as an oversight reference clarifies that state‑level regulation will be relevant.

Next steps: the planning commission forwarded its recommendation, with staff edits, to the City Council for final action. The council will consider the commission’s recommendation and may adopt, modify, or return the language for further revision. No public comments were received during the commission’s public‑hearing period on the text amendment.

Ending note: the commission’s recommendation establishes a local process for evaluating data‑center proposals under the city’s conditional‑use framework; specific project approvals would occur later when applicants submit site‑specific conditional‑use permit applications.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission Meeting - 7/21/25","oneSentenceSummary","Cannon Falls planning commissioners on July 21 recommended that City Council adopt a zoning text amendment to allow data centers as a conditional use in the I-2 (industrial) district, while adding staff-recommended clarifications and regulatory references.","taxTitle","Cannon Falls, Goodhue County, Minnesota","taxId",52522,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6159609,"Planning commission approves limited gravel‑driveway exception for large lots; applicant says local lots exceed draft minimums",1484,780000,2264000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5453371-3043b5cf52e9440ba5c0417f1511f383&start=780&end=2264","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5453371-3043b5cf52e9440ba5c0417f1511f383/thumbnail_780000.jpg","/articles/6159609/Cannon-Falls/Goodhue-County/Minnesota/Planning-commission-approves-limited-graveldriveway-exception-for-large-lots-applicant-says-local-lots-exceed-draft-minimums","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159609-e62fe10675e047673e8547d735e2533e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773579787&Signature=eImtPQ17YR5Xmd~ZPvjY~RAZ8HarLvuC-9zcV7NJ~mT0JUEjtjpvq4y2zBzEI33lM0Tg4YtdLWFO3NMxgn0d0DzHJW7tThev3XF4x7QFGmxqzTb2vc1CrHuUkKZUMnvnwdU40XTQORxJoAypBf~V55pFPvooL6OBkDczLZaNS4HHpfD3~KSUUwTZpyGPnIzdjOPY2FN-67i-cTeYRYIbql3OkFRDFUkXyJ~oRizDXtbN-cziHnnJa5RGF~JNTX3rU2WxrInc02eow3ybbM9qXQvxs6l9ZIeDPzSK7OHwpNrp59W1l6mXfEgkphGAyNE9DfSUneEl1JHjCKlXknTxsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cannon Falls planning commissioners on July 21 recommended that City Council adopt a text amendment allowing a partial gravel‑driveway exception for certain large residential lots, after discussion about minimum length thresholds, drainage, aesthetics and construction cost impacts. The amendment applies to single‑family and two‑family lots of at least two acres and requires paved surfaces for the entry (25 feet from the street) and at least 25 feet leading to the garage or parking area; the staff draft set 100 feet as the minimum driveway length to qualify for the exception.

Why it matters: the change creates a limited carve‑out to the city’s general requirement that driveways within the city be paved, giving developers and future homeowners more options for long rural driveways while keeping paved surfaces at the public entrance and vehicle parking area. Commissioners debated whether the qualifying minimum should be raised from 100 feet to 150–200 feet; that proposed amendment was moved and then withdrawn after discussion and developer input.

Staff member Shelly told the commission that the staff‑recommended draft narrows the exception to residential lots of at least two acres with driveways of a stated minimum length. “Number 4 would be added for single family, two‑family lots with a minimum of 2 acres. The areas utilized for driveways that are at least 100 feet in length. The surface must have a pavement or concrete for at least 25 feet from the street accessing the driveway and for at least 25 feet leading to the garage entry or parking space,” Shelly said.

Mark Soska, who identified himself as representing Timber Ridge Development (JMH Land), told the commission the developer’s long driveways would meet a higher threshold. “The one to the southeast is 500 feet long, and the common one going the other way is a little over 300 feet long,” Soska said, noting that a 200‑foot minimum would cover the Timber Ridge lots under discussion. He also said adding another 50 feet of asphalt (for example) would cost roughly $6,000.

Commissioners discussed the trade‑offs: paving reduces dust and may help drainage near the house, but paving every long driveway increases upfront development costs that can be passed to homebuyers. One commissioner said the intent is to permit an accommodation for large rural lots and avoid requiring immediate upgrades when properties are annexed into the city; another said the 100‑foot minimum had been recorded from prior work‑session conversations with the applicant and staff.

The commission ultimately voted to recommend the staff draft (100‑foot minimum, 25 feet paved at each end) to the City Council. A separate motion proposing to amend the draft to require a 200‑foot minimum was made, seconded and later withdrawn; the record shows the commission approved the staff draft by voice vote.

Next steps: the planning commission forwarded its recommendation to the City Council for final action. If the council adopts the ordinance, it will apply citywide to eligible residential lots and to future developments that meet the two‑acre threshold. The planning commission and staff noted that the rule does not change paving requirements for smaller lots or for streets and curbed public rights of way; public‑right‑of‑way and MnDOT/county road conditions may alter how a given lot is treated in practice.","The commission recommended that City Council adopt a text amendment allowing limited unpaved driveway lengths on single‑family and two‑family lots of at least two acres, requiring paved surfaces for the first 25 feet from the street and 25 feet at the garage entrance; the applicant said affected Timber Ridge driveways exceed the draft threshold.","actionData","errors"]

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Cannon Falls planning commission recommends conditional-use rules for proposed data centers

Planning commission approves limited gravel‑driveway exception for large lots; applicant says local lots exceed draft minimums