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Commission denies rezone request that would have split family farm into smaller parcels
Summary
The board accepted the planning commission’s recommendation to deny Dorothy O’Reilly’s request to rezone an 80-acre parcel from A1 to A2, citing spot-zoning concerns and conflicts with the comprehensive plan and surrounding A1 zoning.
Wabasha County commissioners voted to deny a rezoning request that would have changed an approximately 80-acre parcel from Agricultural Protection (A1) to Agricultural Urban Fringe (A2), following the planning commission’s recommendation.
Planning staff summarized the application from Dorothy O’Reilly to rezone parcel R03.00176.00 in Guilford Township. The planning commission held a public hearing April 28 and, on a 4–0 vote, recommended denial. The commission’s reasons included that the rezoning would create an island of A2 zoning surrounded by A1, could allow uses inconsistent with surrounding agricultural protections, conflicted with the county comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance, and would confer a special benefit to the owner.
Mary Gassner, who said she is a family property owner and one of six interested parties, spoke in support of the rezone so family members could establish smaller, more affordable parcels near existing buildings and utilities. Commissioners who attended the planning commission hearing said the application would constitute spot zoning because the parcel does not abut existing A2 districts and warned that permitting such a change could increase conflicts between new rural residents and farming operations.
A commissioner moved—and a second was received—to adopt the planning commission’s recommendation to deny; the board approved the denial by voice vote.
