Oakdale council approves PUD sign variance, home‑occupation CUP and 2025 legislative priorities; two claims rosters passed

The Oakdale City Council on Jan. 14 adopted an ordinance amending the 3 m I nation Planned Unit Development to allow a pylon sign at 3490 Hayward Avenue North and approved a conditional‑use permit for a home‑occupation dental workshop at 4066 Goodwin Avenue North. Council also affirmed 2025 council liaison appointments and acting mayor designation, adopted the city's 2025 legislative priorities and approved two claims rosters.

Community development director Andy Gitzlaff presented the PUD amendment request for the sign at the site near the Superior third‑party logistics campus. Gitzlaff said the applicant requested a pylon sign “containing 2 sign faces. Each sign face would be 350 square feet,” and that the request “exceeds the city's zoning standards, which allows for a 30 foot tall sign and a 50 square feet per side.” He told the council the PUD covers a mix of underlying districts and that staff found the proposed sign acceptable because it would be placed away from existing campus signage and the design materials appeared consistent and high quality. Gitzlaff also reported that MnDOT reviewed the application and “noted that any illumination should be kept at reasonable levels and not distract drivers on the interstate.” The council opened no public testimony and approved Ordinance No. 943 by voice vote.

On the home‑occupation request, Gitzlaff described a conditional‑use permit (CUP) for a residential dental workshop operating from a garage at 4066 Goodwin Avenue North in an R‑1 zone. He said the business manufactures crowns and dentures and operates without customer visits, with materials and equipment that include polishing machines, suction units and molds. Gitzlaff reported that the Planning Commission held a public hearing on Dec. 5; one neighbor raised concerns about noise, while two neighbors said they had noticed no issues. Staff completed an exterior inspection and found nothing out of the ordinary. Council adopted Resolution 2025‑01 approving the CUP with conditions that include hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., a limit of one outside worker, compliance with signage rules and required state or federal approvals if applicable.

Assistant City Administrator Jake Foster reviewed changes made to the draft 2025 legislative priorities since the December workshop. Foster said the change to the Local Government Aid (LGA) section was grammatical and noted the removal of language about state preemption of local zoning authority because council members did not reach consensus. He said the council also removed proposed tax‑exemption language for construction materials after staff learned the city already could use an existing exemption, and that language about noise walls along Interstate 694 was broadened to apply generally to properties that abut residential neighborhoods. Foster said the draft added a request for an extension to use unobligated tax‑increment financing (TIF) revenue for a project that staff expects will proceed; without an extension the city could lose the ability to use those funds if construction is delayed. The council approved the legislative priorities as presented.

Council also approved a package of consensus motions labeled A through L, affirmed the 2025 council liaison appointments and designated Council Member Morecambe as acting mayor for 2025. Two claims rosters were approved by voice vote: one covering Dec. 11–Dec. 24, 2024 (approximately $1,520,000) and a second covering Dec. 25–Jan. 14, 2025 (approximately $8,000,000), the latter described by staff as largely debt service payments.

All formal actions on these items were recorded by voice vote; the council did not read a roll‑call tally into the record for the listed items.

Votes at a glance Ordinance No. 943 — Adopted; subject: PUD amendment to allow a 50‑foot pylon sign with two 350‑sq.‑ft. faces at 3490 Hayward Avenue North. Motion to waive reading and adopt ordinance; voice vote; counts not specified. Planning Commission recommended approval (Dec. 5). MnDOT recommended illumination limits. Resolution 2025‑01 — Adopted; subject: conditional‑use permit for a home‑occupation dental workshop at 4066 Goodwin Avenue North with conditions (hours 9 a.m.–5 p.m., limit one outside worker, signage compliance, required state/federal approvals). Motion to waive reading and adopt resolution; voice vote; counts not specified. Planning Commission recommended approval (Dec. 5); one neighbor comment about noise noted. Affirmation of 2025 appointments and designation of acting mayor — Approved; council affirmed liaison assignments and designated Council Member Morecambe as acting mayor for 2025; voice vote. 2025 Legislative priorities — Approved; staff revisions include LGA wording, removal of preemption language, removal of a construction‑materials tax‑exemption request and a request to extend use of unobligated TIF revenue; voice vote. Consensus motions A–L — Approved as a package; voice vote. Claims rosters — Two rosters approved by voice vote: Dec. 11–Dec. 24, 2024 (~$1,520,000) and Dec. 25, 2024–Jan. 14, 2025 (~$8,000,000); counts not specified.

Why it matters: The council's approval of the PUD amendment allows a commercial sign larger than the standard local zoning limits at a site adjacent to Interstate 694, which affects how the city balances commercial visibility, roadway safety and neighborhood impacts. The CUP decision governs whether a light‑industrial business can operate from a residential garage with limits intended to address noise and neighborhood concerns. The adopted legislative priorities and the TIF extension request guide the city's state advocacy and can affect future development financing.

What's next: The sign applicant must obtain required building permits; the CUP includes conditions that the property owner must follow and, if applicable, secure state or federal approvals. The council will continue to work with county and state partners on priorities it has forwarded to legislators.