Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Winona County committee to ask planning staff to study scenic-byway protections and data-center rules
Summary
Commissioners asked staff and planning to study whether additional setbacks or conditions are warranted for state-designated scenic byways and discussed whether preemptive planning is needed for emerging data center proposals; the matter will be routed through planning and environmental services for recommendation.
At a committee meeting the board discussed whether the county should consider a moratorium or policy changes for development along state-designated scenic byways after a recent conditional-use permit raised concerns about future unspecified development near Apple Blossom Drive. A commissioner said the county should consider adjusting setbacks and conditions to protect sensitive scenic areas before additional applications arrive.
Commissioners also raised parallel concerns about data centers and whether existing rules and processes adequately address them, noting that some communities in the region have been approached about smaller data-center projects. The body agreed the normal process is to send issues to the planning commission for staff review, analysis of other communities' approaches, and a recommendation back to the board.
One commissioner urged urgency: if an application arrives before rules change, it would be difficult to impose new requirements retroactively. Another commissioner asked staff to determine whether any proposals are likely in the near term and, if not, to proceed through the planning commission path for a measured review.
The board did not adopt changes at the meeting but directed staff to pursue review and bring recommendations through the standard planning commission and committee timeline.
