City Council adopts annexation ordinance for properties near Powell Avenue

The River Falls City Council on May 13 adopted Ordinance 2025-03 to annex two parcels at 53 Woodwards Drive and 555 Powell Avenue and assign a future land-use classification of medium-density residential and a zoning classification of R-2, multiple-family residence district.

The annexation drew one public comment from Benjamin Fox, who described a longtime personal familiarity with the area and said the parcels could support greater density and that pedestrian connections to nearby amenities should be considered. “You have access to, you know, Walgreens, everything else there,” Fox said during public comment, and he urged attention to pedestrian access and how sidewalks and crossings connect to Collins Park and surrounding neighborhoods.

City staff presented the ordinance to the council and the council closed the public hearing before taking a roll-call vote. A council member moved to adopt Ordinance 2025-03; the motion was seconded and carried on roll call. The council recorded votes of yes from Paige; Odeen; Morissette; Downey; Caro; Bjork; and Bierstead.

The ordinance assigns the medium-density residential future land use and R-2 multiple-family residence zoning to the subject parcels, enabling multi-family development consistent with those designations. Specific site-level requirements, development review by the plan commission, and any required public improvements will follow the city’s standard permitting and review processes.

Benjamin Fox’s public comments highlighted pedestrian connectivity and potential for higher density; those concerns were recorded during the public hearing and are part of the public record for the annexation proceeding. The council closed the hearing and proceeded to the ordinance vote the same evening.