Votes at a glance: Planning Commission advances St. Francis rezoning, several ordinance amendments and a variance

The Brainerd City Planning Commission voted on several agenda items and forwarded approvals or recommendations to the city council or adopted recommendations to move items forward. Key outcomes:

• St. Francis Church and School (411 N. 10th St.): Planning Commission recommended approval of the preliminary and final plats, rezoning from TN1 to PSP, and conditional‑use permits, conditioned on executing a development agreement and approving a vacation of North Ninth Street (Ivy–Juniper). The rezoning goes to council for a first reading June 2 and full consideration June 16.

• Outdoor sales ordinance (Item 6B): The commission held the public hearing and approved staff’s recommended amendment to clarify the definition of affected streets (including local/minor/collector) and exempt arterials from screening; staff will forward the ordinance to council.

• Parking material amendment (Item 6C): The commission approved an amendment to allow non‑concrete/batuminous parking (e.g., crushed concrete, class 5) in rear yards of general industrial and park districts, limited to rear yards; staff will forward the recommendation.

• Variance at 2517 Greenwood Street (Item 7A): The commission recommended approval of a variance to allow an accessory structure in a front yard because wetlands and stormwater constraints leave no feasible rear‑yard placement. Approval was granted with conditions (vegetative buffer, invasive species removal, paved driveway) and will be forwarded to council for final action on June 2.

• Allowed‑use table discussion (Item 7B): Staff presented a large set of proposed changes to the allowed‑use table (moving some uses from conditional to permitted and adding new uses in industrial districts). Commissioners generally supported the direction but asked staff to consider protections to retain dwelling units and to further restrict drive‑throughs in certain zones; staff will return with revisions at the June 18 meeting and commissioners discussed a possible workshop.

• Bylaws and code language changes (Items 7C and 7D): The commission approved a bylaw revision to move the public forum to immediately after minutes approval, and approved proposed language to address corner‑lot fences abutting alleys (allowing a taller fence measured from the rear corner of the principal building to avoid bisecting backyards); staff will schedule a public hearing or next step as appropriate.

What this means: Several items are recommendations to city council and require council action (St. Francis rezoning and plats, the variance). Council first readings and final actions were identified by staff (noted in the staff report and at the meeting). For items forwarded to council, staff will prepare ordinance language, conditions and development agreements as needed.