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Otsego resident says planned county roundabout could cut access to farm and bed-and-breakfast plans
Summary
At the Sept. 8 City of Otsego meeting, resident Stuart Turnquist urged city officials to press Wright County about proposed access changes tied to a planned roundabout he says could prevent driveway access to his farm and prospective bed-and-breakfast.
Stuart Turnquist, a resident of Otsego, told the City Council on Sept. 8 that a planned Wright County roundabout at County Road 39 and County Road 19 could block safe access to his 1918 farmhouse and a proposed farm store and eight-room bed-and-breakfast.
Turnquist said the county’s current design would force drivers arriving from the west or south into a westbound lane and then into a “duck-in” waiting lane before they could cross incoming traffic to reach his driveway. "I thought at the time that it really sounded to me like it was just a tad low probability for success…it's bewildering," Turnquist said, describing the maneuver as confusing and risky for first-time guests.
The issue is part of a broader county-controlled highway project the council and staff said is scheduled in the Wright County five-year construction plan. Councilmember Rod told Turnquist, "it is a 2029 project, so it's it's a few years away," while City Engineer Ron said the county controls access off the county road and ultimately decides whether drives are full-access or "right-in, right-out only." The city offered to ask the county to contact Turnquist directly and staff later agreed to follow up.
Why it matters: Turnquist said the access design could undermine his plans for a commercial farm operation and an eight-double-room bed-and-breakfast, which he estimated could bring about 16 overnight guests and increase daily and weekend traffic for the farm store. He also said the property borders the Mississippi River Trail and the big woods, increasing the potential number of visitors.
Details from the meeting: Turnquist said he had been waiting since 2019 for an intersection solution and that previous designs would have required taking most of his front yard. He described county discussions he had had with highway representatives, and he told the council he had not received follow-up from the county despite returning calls. Councilmembers and staff suggested possible mitigations, including connecting two access points across a neighboring parcel so the county could build a connecting driveway and allow ingress/egress across the properties. The city attorney present at the meeting said if Wright County pursues eminent domain the matter may be handled through county legal channels and negotiation between the county attorney and the resident or his attorney.
What the council did: No formal action or vote was taken on the access issue. Council members directed staff to follow up with Wright County and request that county staff contact Turnquist directly. Ron indicated the city would continue discussions but noted ultimate authority on access rests with Wright County.
Context: Turnquist identified the property as a farm he vacated in anticipation of the intersection project and said he chose the parcel for its landscape and suitability for a farm-based hospitality operation. He raised safety concerns about merging and crossing heavy traffic at the proposed roundabout design and urged the council to seek additional review of the access plan.
No ordinance, permit or other formal city decision regarding the driveway or project was made at the meeting; the matter as described in the meeting remains subject to Wright County’s project schedule and any legal processes the county pursues.
