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Kasson council approves zoning text change to allow accessory childcare via conditional-use permit
Summary
Council approved a zoning-text amendment that lets accessory childcare operate in several districts with a conditional-use permit, clearing a path for SEMCAC to consolidate services including a Head Start program at a site on Fifth Street Southeast. One member abstained.
Kasson City’s council voted to approve a text amendment to the city’s zoning code that will allow accessory childcare in several commercial and industrial districts only through a conditional-use-permit process.
Staff told the council the request originated with SEMCAC, which plans to consolidate a food shelf, senior center, outreach services and a Head Start program at a property on Fifth Street Southeast. “Their proposal rather is to purchase a property here in Cassin at [Fifth Street Southeast] and consolidate many of their services into that one location,” staff said during the public hearing, and noted that SEMCAC’s executive director, Jennifer Hengel, was present at the meeting.
City staff explained that while social-service and charitable uses are allowed as principal uses in the I-1 Business Park/Light Industrial district, childcare is treated separately in the zoning code. To address that gap, staff proposed adding accessory childcare to the accessory-uses table for specified districts (RC, C1, C2, C3 and I1) and requiring a CUP so the city can conduct site-specific review of circulation, drop-off/loading and required outdoor play areas.
Council discussion touched on setbacks and buffering near uses such as cannabis or adult-use retail, and staff said the CUP process would allow the city to address those site-specific concerns. One council member asked whether a prior cannabis applicant at the same location had withdrawn; staff confirmed the earlier cannabis request had been withdrawn.
A motion to adopt the ordinance change passed after a voice vote with one recorded abstention (Committee member S2). The council’s action authorizes the text amendment; SEMCAC or any other applicant would still need to apply for and obtain a conditional-use permit before operating an accessory childcare facility at a particular site.
Next steps: the ordinance text amendment is now part of the zoning code as approved by the council; any future CUP application for the SEMCAC site will return to the city for site review and, if applicable, a separate public hearing and council action.
