Goodhue County board approves several rezones, denies others after public hearings

The Goodhue County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 9 considered five separate map‑amendment rezoning requests, approving three and denying two after public hearings and staff reports.

Planning staff summarized each application and the Planning Commission's recommendation before the board opened public testimony. For Section 27 in Pine Island Township, the board followed the Planning Commission's recommendation and denied William Holler's request to rezone roughly 30 acres from A1 to R1 to allow two new building sites; staff and the commission cited the county's comprehensive plan and the availability of conservation subdivision regulations as reasons to pursue a planned approach instead of an isolated rezone. The motion to deny was moved and seconded; the board voted to deny the request.

In Florence Township, the board approved a rezoning in Section 15 for property owner Savannah Carlson, who requested a change from A2 to R1. Planning staff said the Board of Adjustment had approved a mining setback variance for the parcel and that surrounding residential uses and an adjacent platted subdivision (Frontenac Heritage Acres) made residential zoning consistent with neighborhood…