Apple Valley — The City Council continued action on a proposed amendment to the 2040 Comprehensive Plan that would change land-use guidance for the Orchard Place area (the "Mixed Business Campus") after the applicant said consultants last night delivered state-agency well and resource data that require further analysis.

Planning staff summarized the requested change as removing certain restrictive "blob" land-use areas to allow broader industrial uses in parts of the Orchard Place Development Area. Tim, a planning staffer, said the amendment is a precursor that could enable later rezoning for industrial uses, including potential data centers, if the council later approves additional steps and conditional-use reviews.

Matt Duffy, representing Rockport, told the council the late information concerns private-well considerations and other resource questions and came from a state agency; he said Rockport requested an extension so the applicant and staff could analyze the submission. "The nature of it revolves around the city's request for additional information surrounding the private well consideration," Duffy said.

Council debate reflected competing priorities. Several council members said they were prepared to vote and were frustrated by late filings; others said the material merited time for review, and one member noted the comp plan must also pass regional review by the Met Council. Council Member Bergman said, "I don't like the extension," while Council Member Hebert and others said additional data and transparency justified a continuance.

Staff said the applicant had submitted a written request for an extension and that the item could be set for a January council meeting; staff noted there are two council meetings in January (Jan. 8 and Jan. 22). The applicant’s letter asked for an extension to Jan. 31, 2026, but council members agreed to continue the item to the Jan. 22, 2026 meeting so staff and applicants could review and, if necessary, seek further extensions or consultant review.

Council Member Bergman moved to continue item 5b to the Jan. 22, 2026 council meeting; Council Member Hebert seconded the motion. The council voted to continue the item and invited additional written comments and materials from the public before the continued hearing.

The council emphasized that this comp‑plan amendment is only one step in a multi-stage process: any amendment still requires staff analysis, possible consultant review, and subsequent approvals including Met Council review before site-specific development or conditional‑use permits could be granted.