Council approves kiosk permit downtown but tables a request to convert first-floor storefront to apartment

The Crookston City Council considered two conditional-use items for downtown properties. It approved a permit for a kiosk-style retail operation in a parking lot but tabled a separate request to allow a first-floor apartment in the Janaki/Goldmark building while staff clarifies how the change would interact with the city's comprehensive plan.

Resolution 8.05 covered a CRK Enterprises kiosk that will operate in a parking lot area (coffee, scooter kiosk). Council members said the kiosk is similar to previously approved uses and voted to reaffirm the permit.

Resolution 8.06 involved a property owner (Randy Bridal of North Investments) seeking to convert a portion of the first floor into an apartment after two years of unsuccessful commercial leasing. City legal and staff noted the request conflicts with the comprehensive plan, which generally discourages first-floor residential along downtown commercial frontage. Council members raised concerns about scope (whether the approval would apply to the entire building or a specific walk-in area), parking and precedent for future deviations from the plan.

After extended discussion, council voted to table the apartment request for two weeks and asked staff to return with precise language that limits any approval to the specific area proposed and clarifies how it aligns with the current comp plan or whether a comp-plan amendment is required.

Next steps: staff will present clarified resolution language and comp-plan guidance at the next meeting; applicants may return with detailed drawings and delineation of the proposed area.