River Falls opens public hearing on annexation of 55-acre Johnson Trust property; council schedules follow-up review

Mayor Allison Page opened a public hearing and read the first-reading language for Ordinance 2026-12 on May 26, initiating consideration of an annexation petition filed by the Delbert F. and Elaine H. Johnson Revocable Trusts for approximately 55 acres at the southeast corner of County Highways U and M.

Senior planner Harley Melhorn described the annexation process and the staff recommendation to apply future land use designations of mixed use and medium-density residential, with proposed zoning of B3 (highway commercial) for the node and R2/R3 residential districts for the remainder. Melhorn said the property is contiguous with the city boundary and the staff memorandum concluded there would be no adverse fiscal impact under the current development concept; he emphasized the council was reviewing the annexation itself and not any specific development plan.

During public comment, nearby property owners and residents raised concerns about outreach and impacts. John Witt urged lower-density zoning to create larger lots that match adjacent properties and to avoid further concentration of multifamily units; Lowell McCann, who lives in the extraterritorial zone, asked the council to delay action and engage Clifton and River Falls townships and their residents; Christine Witt, an adjacent owner, questioned how the property is contiguous to the city across a highway and asked about potential assessment and tax impacts. Staff and councilors responded that annexation petitions are typically initiated by property owners, that city limits can abut across rights-of-way, and that the city has invited township governments to discuss boundary agreements (some town boards previously declined). City staff said the next procedural step is Plan Commission review and that the council may hold workshops and additional outreach before a final decision.

Council members also asked whether tax incremental financing (TID) or other incentives would be offered; staff said no TID request had been received and that residential TIDs are uncommon but that some funding or spending could be possible from nearby districts depending on future proposals. The first reading concludes the public hearing process; the ordinance requires later readings and Plan Commission review before final council action.