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 character. Carlson told the board she purchased the parcel in March after seeing it listed as residential and that the previous owner had obtained a township rezoning but had not submitted the county application.

Also in Florence Township, the board approved a rezoning in Section 12 for a roughly 3‑acre parcel (owner John Lund) from Commercial Recreation back to R1, a change planning staff and the commission said reflected the property's long history as a residence (caretaker's residence for Villa Maria) and environmental constraints that make agriculture unlikely. The county approved a new septic permit earlier in 2024 for the parcel.

In Cannon Falls Township, the board approved a rezoning of a 2.4‑acre parcel from B1 (business) to industrial after staff said MnDOT access restrictions and the site's constrained road access had reduced the parcel's viability for customer‑focused commercial uses. Planning staff said a potential buyer had proposed a storage‑yard/modular storage use that would be allowed in industrial but not B1.

A proposed rezoning in Section 7 of Hay Creek (requested by Michael Farren on behalf of Stephen Farren) from A2 to R1 was denied. Planning staff and the commission recommended denial based on lack of public road access (the parcel would require an easement through other property) and bluff/topographical constraints; the commission also cited county density rules and concluded the section already had density available elsewhere.

Votes at a glance - Section 27, Pine Island Township (William Holler): A1 to R1 — Denied (motion to deny moved and seconded; board voted in favor). Referenced authority: county comprehensive plan; county conservation subdivision regulations. - Section 15, Florence Township (Savannah Carlson): A2 to R1 — Approved (Planning Commission recommended approval; board adopted recommendation). Referenced authority: Board of Adjustment mining setback variance; county comprehensive plan. - Section 12, Florence Township (John Lund): Commercial Recreation to R1 — Approved (Planning Commission recommended approval; board adopted recommendation). Referenced authority: Shoreland overlay (Wells Creek); county comprehensive plan. - Section 30, Cannon Falls Township (Randy Reichsigal): B1 to Industrial — Approved (Planning Commission and township recommended approval; board adopted recommendation). Referenced authority: county comprehensive plan; MnDOT access restrictions noted by staff. - Section 7, Hay Creek Township (Michael/Stephen Farren): A2 to R1 — Denied (Planning Commission recommended denial; board adopted recommendation). Referenced authority: county density limits; topography/access findings.

The board made each decision after the Planning Commission's report and short public‑hearing periods. Where applicants spoke, the record contains their statements: Savannah Carlson described buying the parcel after relying on materials that listed the property as residential, and John Lund's parcel was described in staff comments as historically tied to Villa Maria.

The board's action preserves the Planning Commission's findings in most cases and directs applicants who want residential development on constrained sites to pursue conservation subdivisions, variances or consolidated plats where appropriate.

A number of township reviews and related permits were cited during discussion (Board of Adjustment mining setback for Section 15, shoreland and floodplain constraints for Section 12, and MnDOT access changes for Section 30). The board's motions and roll call votes were noted in the minutes as having carried for each item.