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Council approves comp‑plan amendment and rezoning to allow Sanford ambulance garage with conditions
Summary
The council approved a comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning from R4 (high‑density residential) to C2 (general commercial) for a Sanford Medical Center ambulance garage, contingent on zoning approval; council added a stipulation limiting siren use until vehicles reach Eighth Street (Highway 1).
The Thief River Falls City Council approved a second reading amendment to the city comprehensive plan and granted rezoning to allow Sanford Medical Center to build an ambulance garage on North Atlantic Avenue.
City planning staff (speaker 18) explained that the proposed site requires changing the comp plan designation from high‑density residential to general commercial to accommodate Sanford’s ambulance garage and an associated rezoning from R4 (multifamily residential) to C2 (general commercial). The zoning commission had recommended approval on a 7–1 vote, with one commissioner asking for transitional land‑use provisions for the west side of Atlantic Avenue to be addressed in the next comp plan update.
Council approved both the comp plan amendment and the rezoning by voice votes and included a stipulation limiting the use of sirens until vehicles reach Eighth Street/State Highway 1. Planning staff noted a survey adjustment was needed to meet commercial setback requirements and that an existing storage shed on the Sanford parcel will be incorporated into the ambulance garage parcel because Sanford owns both properties.
Why it matters: Rezoning will allow Sanford to site a local ambulance garage that staff said is necessary for emergency operations; the council conditioned approval on operational limits (siren use boundary) and signaled intent to address broader transitional land‑use questions in the next comp plan update.
What’s next: Final building and permitting steps are contingent on the rezoning and site survey adjustments. The planning office will proceed with required record changes and coordinate with Sanford on setbacks, easements and construction timing.
Representative quote: "We need a 20‑foot setback for commercial property…we had less than 15, so the property line had to get moved south further yet to accommodate 20 feet," planning staff said, describing the survey adjustments that prompted updated legal descriptions.
