The Winona County Planning Commission voted to recommend that the county board reclassify a 1-acre parcel adjacent to Highway 14 in Saint Charles Township from rural-residential service/commercial (Zone B) back to agricultural, a change staff described as housekeeping to correct legacy mapping and annexation errors.

Planning staff explained the parcel's history included prior industrial/commercial mapping dating to the 1980s and subsequent changes that left inconsistent records in the county GIS. The current property owner, identified in packet materials as Mark and Cheryl Leonard, proposes to site a roughly 100-by-60-foot building that would include seasonal living quarters; staff said the neighboring Himes property that houses a seed business would remain commercial while the Leonard parcel would be returned to agricultural zoning.

Commissioners asked about drainage and driveway access to Highway 14; staff said the property owner must coordinate with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and that any drainage impacting state right-of-way would be prohibited. Commissioners also discussed requested setbacks (the existing 130-foot setback versus requests in the 80–100-foot range) and historical reasons the parcel had earlier carried commercial/industrial designations. After discussion the commission moved and seconded a recommendation to return the parcel to agricultural designation; the motion passed by voice vote and will be forwarded to the county board for consideration on Dec. 11 at 6 p.m.

Action and next step: The commission recommended approval of the map and zoning amendment to return the Leonard parcel to agricultural use; staff will prepare the county board packet and coordinate any necessary MnDOT review for access or drainage issues.