Planning commission forwards Rolling Hills annexation to council after residents raise environmental, annexation concerns

The River Falls Planning Commission on June 2 voted to forward an ordinance recommending annexation of a parcel near Powell Avenue by Rolling Hills Development to the City Council with a favorable recommendation.

The issue matters to nearby residents because the annexation would change the jurisdiction, future land-use designation and zoning of land currently associated with the Town of Troy. Opponents said the change could lead to permanent loss of farmland, added infrastructure costs and development the neighborhood does not want.

Harley Melhorn, senior planner for the City of River Falls, told the commission the petition was a request from the landowner to be annexed and that the commission’s role is to recommend whether the proposed zoning and future land use would be compatible. Melhorn said the petition covers a contiguous area abutting Powell Avenue, that staff finds the area consistent with a medium-density residential future land-use designation and that a corresponding R-2 multiple-family residence zoning would align with the comprehensive plan. “Staff recommends forwarding the attached ordinance to city council with a favorable recommendation,” Melhorn said.

Several residents spoke during public comment. Cheryl Hoffman, identifying herself as a Woodridge neighborhood resident and a representative of the Woodridge Neighborhood Association, opposed the annexation and urged a pause until “transparent joint public hearings between River Falls and Troy can be held.” She asked whether soil testing or a Phase I environmental site assessment had been done and said the land “represents more than acres. It's family farms, open spaces, wildlife corridors and generations of stewardship.”

Joel Pearson, an East Woodridge Drive resident, asked for a written guarantee that current Woodridge homes would not be annexed in the future; he said residents wanted certainty that the city would not “swallow up” neighboring properties. The mayor replied that in his 13 years he had not pursued annexing residents who did not want to be annexed and said he could not tie future councils’ hands with a long-term contract.

During the public question-and-answer exchange, Melhorn clarified several procedural points: the city only annexes properties that petition to join the city, the plan commission is not reviewing any specific development proposal at this time, and if annexed, future development applications would be submitted separately. Melhorn said the petitioned area is a single parcel of land (described in the presentation as a 25.4-acre parcel) and that there would be no changes to utility requirements for existing Woodridge residents as a result of the annexation petition.

Residents and commissioners also asked about what R-2 zoning could allow. A resident asked whether apartments could be built; staff said R-2 is the multiple-family residence district and noted the current project partner has indicated an intent for single-family development but that the zoning classification allows multiple-family uses. During the discussion a numeric density cap was discussed; staff stated the current plan shows “about 3 units to the acre” and referenced a hard cap described in the meeting as 12 units per acre, though participants also described the proposed plan as materially lower than that cap.

The commission took a motion to send the annexation ordinance to the City Council with a favorable recommendation. The motion was moved and seconded; the commission approved the recommendation with four commissioners voting yes and one commissioner recorded in opposition. The item will next be considered by the City Council.

Residents asked for additional transparency, joint public hearings with the Town of Troy and an environmental assessment prior to any final development approvals. The record does not show a Phase I environmental site assessment having been completed; the request for soil testing and environmental review was raised by public commenters and remains unresolved in the meeting record.