Faribault City Council approves rezoning, zoning-text change, downtown plat and accepts low bid for airport rehab

At its meeting, the Faribault City Council approved multiple land-use and capital items, including a rezoning at the corner of 14th Street Northwest, a zoning-text change to permit proof-of-parking in commercial districts, a combined preliminary and final plat and development agreement for 301 Central Avenue, and acceptance of the low bid for the municipal airport airfield rehabilitation project.

City staff presented Ordinance 2025-4, a rezoning request to change properties at the corner of 14th Street Northwest to C-2 (Highway Commercial); Mayor Spooner moved to approve the ordinance and Council member Barnes seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote. ‘‘That summary publication is fine,’’ staff said during the presentation and council approved the summary for publication.

The council then took up Ordinance 2025-5, a second-reading ordinance to vacate a portion of the drainage and utility easement at 190 20th Street associated with the Malico Auto Body project. Staff said there were no substantial changes since the prior meeting and recommended approval; the council approved the ordinance and its summary on second reading.

On Ordinance 2025-7, the council approved a zoning-text amendment to allow proof-of-parking provisions in commercial zoning where previously the rule applied to industrial property. Staff explained the change and recommended approval at second reading; the council approved the amendment and authorized summary publication.

The council heard a presentation from city planning staff on a combined preliminary and final plat and an associated development agreement for 301 Central Avenue, submitted by North Johnson on behalf of Faribault Downtown Central LLC. Planner Harry Davis said the proposal would subdivide the property into three parcels, follow internal fire-rated walls that will sit on property lines, and include an ingress/egress easement for fire and safety. ‘‘From the plat side staff has no issues; from the final plat side we have some specifics to change but nothing we can’t work through,’’ Davis said. Mayor Spooner moved to approve Resolution 2025-157 (plats) and Resolution 2025-158 (development agreement); both motions were seconded and passed by voice vote.

On the airport project, city staff presented Resolution 2025-148 to accept bids for municipal airport airfield pavement rehabilitation. The bid opening on June 4 produced two bids; the low bid was from BCM Construction in the amount of $732,729, which staff said was below the initial estimate of roughly $1 million. ‘‘The low bid coming from BCM Construction, amount of $732,729, which is below the estimate of just approximately over $1 million,’’ Director Block told council. Staff reported a total project cost (including engineering and administration) presented in the transcript as $958,45 (noted below as not fully specified in the record). After further conversations with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MDOT), staff presented an updated funding breakdown: federal participation of $833,745 (about 87% of the project), state participation increased to $78,486, and the city’s share was reduced to approximately $46,174 (down from earlier estimates around $140,000 and a $32,000 line in the budget). Director Block cautioned that the city would not sign the construction contract until the grant funding is in hand; staff said construction was targeted to start Aug. 18 pending final funding.

Council members moved and seconded to accept the airport bid (Resolution 2025-148) and voted in favor; the motion passed. Council also handled standard consent items, adopted the recommended summaries for publication, and recorded several local announcements—most notably a June council chat at 5:00 p.m. at the Great Hall in the library to discuss dam proposals from a consulting engineer and several community events later in June.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 2025-4 (rezoning to C-2 at corner of 14th Street NW): Mover — Mayor Spooner; Second — Council member Barnes; Outcome — approved (voice vote). - Ordinance 2025-5 (vacate drainage/utility easement at 190 20th Street; second reading): Mover — not specified in the record; Outcome — approved (voice vote). - Ordinance 2025-7 (zoning-text amendment: proof-of-parking in commercial districts; second reading): Mover — Council member Ross; Second — Council member Barnes; Outcome — approved (voice vote). - Resolution 2025-157 (preliminary and final plat for 301 Central Ave): Mover — Mayor Spooner; Second — Council member Ross; Outcome — approved (voice vote). - Resolution 2025-158 (development agreement for 301 Central Ave, planning-only): Mover — Mayor Spooner; Second — Council member Barnes; Outcome — approved (voice vote). - Resolution 2025-148 (accept bids for municipal airport airfield pavement rehabilitation): Mover — Council member Ross; Second — not specified; Outcome — approved (voice vote).

Why it matters The approvals advance multiple near-term projects: (1) rezoning and the zoning-text amendment change property rules that affect future development and parking requirements downtown and along commercial corridors; (2) the downtown plat and development agreement clear the way for subdividing 301 Central Avenue into three parcels and coordinate fire/safety easements; and (3) accepting the low bid for airport pavement rehabilitation positions the city to secure federal and state funding and, pending final grant paperwork, to begin construction this summer.

What’s next Staff signaled they will finalize minor edits to the final plat and development agreement with the applicant and will not execute an airport construction contract until grant funds are confirmed. The council announced a public council chat tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. at the library Great Hall to review consultant proposals for two dams and solicit public feedback. The meeting adjourned after routine announcements.