Planning commission backs Saint Francis preliminary plat, recommends street vacation and rezoning

The Brainerd Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a preliminary plat for Saint Francis Church that would consolidate 14 parcels into three lots, demolish three single-family homes to build a new rectory, and forward a petition to vacate North Ninth Street between Ivy and Juniper to the Brainerd City Council.

City planning staff recommended approval of the plat and associated rezoning to the Public/Semi-Public (PSP) district, with conditions that include council consideration of the street vacation and a development agreement addressing fire access, utility easements and pedestrian improvements. Community Development Director James Krambick told commissioners the proposal would allow the church, school and rectory to form “one cohesive campus” and that staff reviewed the request for consistency with the comprehensive plan and zoning code, citing Section 515-4-14 regarding demolition and replacement of dwelling units in traditional neighborhood districts.

Applicant representatives said the project is still in early master-planning stages. Chad Connor, a land surveyor with Widseth, said discussions with staff and the neighborhood focused on maintaining or improving pedestrian links through the area and on reducing impervious coverage for stormwater benefits. “We’re looking to improve and maintain that pedestrian connectivity that I think is important to a neighborhood,” Connor said.

Father Michael Gary, pastor of St. Francis, described the current rectory and the parish’s housing needs, saying the proposed rectory would consolidate living space currently spread across three houses and improve accessibility for aging clergy. “We do anticipate getting more priests. So we would need more room than we have currently in the two bedrooms that we have,” Father Gary said.

Public commenters were split. Several parishioners and trustees spoke in favor, noting the school is growing and the proposal would support parish and school operations. Ginny Knutson, a parish trustee and chair of the finance council, told the commission the parish has studied rectory options for more than three years and asked for approval. Other residents raised concerns about loss of housing and the precedent of vacating neighborhood streets. Resident Mike Duvall urged the commission to explore options other than demolition — moving or salvaging the existing homes — and suggested traffic-calming measures rather than a full vacation. “There’s an opportunity here to maybe repurpose these houses,” Duvall said.

Staff and applicant said public utilities and engineering reviewed the proposed street vacation; utilities within the right of way would be retained as a permanent utility easement and any future utility relocation would be at the property owner’s expense. Krambick said the fire department asked that North Ninth remain open until interior homes are demolished, and that requirement would be written into a development agreement. He also noted the church would not require a conditional use permit for the rectory if rezoning to PSP is approved because the PSP district allows those uses without a CUP, unlike the existing TN1 zoning.

The commission approved the preliminary plat and the recommendation to council on a motion and second; the vote was taken by voice and the motion carried. The action is advisory to the Brainerd City Council, which will consider the street vacation and final rezoning and development agreement.