Commission recommends conditional use permit for My Neighbor to Love Coalition boarding house, with conditions

The Brainerd Planning Commission on March 19 recommended that the City Council approve a conditional use permit (CUP) for a mixed-use boarding house proposed by My Neighbor to Love Coalition for property on Northwest Third Street.

Community Development staff summarized the request and recommended approval with conditions: the applicant must start the project within 18 months, complete a boundary-line adjustment so a required stormwater retention basin sits on the same parcel as the boarding house prior to issuance of a building permit, and meet final stormwater and grading requirements. Staff noted the city engineer had not raised concerns with the preliminary grading and stormwater plans but emphasized final SWPPP and storm calculations would be required at permit stage.

Vicki Kinney, representing the applicant, described the multi‑phase Creekside Community Development project: phase 1 fourplexes are occupied, a 12‑plex is near completion with a target move‑in in April, and subsequent phases would include the boarding house and additional buildings. Kinney said the boarding-house rooms are intended to provide longer-term, low-rent housing for people who might not require or be suited to a full apartment. On current rents, she said fourplex units start at about $450 a month (tenant pays utilities) and two-bedroom units at about $600; rents are month-to-month. The applicant said phase timing depends on grant awards and construction bids.

Neighbors and renters at the hearing gave mixed comments. Supporters called boarding houses a long-standing, useful form of affordable housing. A neighbor objecting to the CUP argued the proposed development underutilizes the site relative to the TN2 zoning density standard and expressed concern about the large, disturbed construction area and ongoing site stabilization work.

After discussion commissioners raised three topics in conditions and deliberation: preserving existing trees versus required grading and stormwater needs; ensuring adequate site stabilization and landscaping; and incorporating modest design details from the city’s single‑family standards to help the building fit the surrounding neighborhood. A motion to recommend approval as presented by staff passed on a roll-call vote; the commission will forward its recommendation to the City Council for final action at the April 7 meeting.

(Ending) The applicant will need to secure final stormwater, grading and permit approvals, complete the boundary-line adjustment for the retention basin, and satisfy the 18-month project start condition specified in the staff recommendation; the council will consider the CUP on April 7.