Planning commission recommends rezoning of 20-acre Dilworth-area parcel for cooperative energy subdivision

The Clay County Planning Commission voted to recommend that the Clay County Board of Commissioners approve rezoning of a roughly 20-acre portion of a larger parcel (parcel ID 23.0340.04, owned by Oberg LLC) from Agricultural General with Urban Expansion District Tier 2 overlay to Highway Commercial to allow the Cooperative Energy Subdivision.

Planning staff described the parcel as part of the northeast corner of Section 34, Township 140 Range 48, near the southeast corner of County State Highway 18 and 30 Fourth Street, just north of the County Resource Recovery Center and the DMV. The portion subject to the recommendation is primarily farmland (approximately 20 acres) with a crop equivalency rating of 72 and, according to staff, no National Wetland Inventory wetlands on the subject area.

Applicants told the commission the subdivision envisions two lots. Red River Valley Co-op Power plans a 10,000–12,000 square-foot service center on about a 5-acre lot with office and shop space to house trucks and equipment and room for 5–7 employees, with construction tentatively in 2026–2028. RESCO (a regional electric supply cooperative) described plans for a 40,000–60,000 square-foot precast distribution warehouse on roughly a 15-acre lot, with office space for as many as 30 employees and an estimated building cost of $12–$15 million and a 2026 build target.

Staff noted the parcel lies in Dilworth’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and the Dilworth Planning Commission recommended approval of the preliminary plat on Feb. 5; the Dilworth City Council approved the preliminary plat at its Feb. 10 meeting with conditions including establishment of a 20-foot utility easement, roadway access design for future street intersections consistent with city and county access regulations, and a developer agreement with the City of Dilworth for future utility extension.

Several commissioners said the proposed uses were compatible with the county comprehensive and transportation plan goals that encourage commercial and light industrial development near transportation corridors while attempting to limit land-use conflicts with agriculture and rural residential uses. One commissioner sought clarification that the rezoning recommendation would apply only to the 20-acre subdivision area; staff confirmed the recommendation was limited to the subdivision plat area and that the remainder of the parcel would remain Agricultural General with the Urban Expansion overlay.

Motion to recommend approval to the Board of Commissioners was made and seconded; Commissioner Kurt Stubstead recused himself from the vote. The commission chair voted aye and the motion carried. The petition will move to the full Clay County Board of Commissioners for final action.