Long Prairie council approves 61‑unit apartment conditional use permit after mixed public comment

The Long Prairie City Council on Nov. 6 unanimously approved a conditional use permit to construct a 61‑unit apartment building at 418 and 434 4th St. SW, after hearing extended public comment both supporting and opposing the project. The motion, made by Council member Jim Kreemer and seconded by Council member David Wright, carried on a 5‑0 roll call (Gripne, Kreemer, Krueger, Wright, Dixon voting yes).

The project was presented by Skip Duchesneau of D.W. Jones Inc., who told the council that the site is zoned I‑2 and that multi‑family development in the location requires a conditional use permit. Duchesneau summarized the three statutory CUP criteria the council must consider—effects on neighboring property, orderly development of surrounding land, and timely pursuit of building permits—and described tenant screening and management practices the developer will use, similar to those at the 2nd Ave Apartments. He also read planning and zoning’s unanimous recommendation approving the CUP with seven conditions, including a full‑time on‑site manager, construction of a tot lot and patio area, fencing around the stormwater pond, two rows of staggered staggered trees along property lines, engineered stormwater‑pond designs for review, an 8x10 school bus pad with a connecting sidewalk, and a recommendation on parking along 4th St. SW.

David Paskach, vice president of human resources for American Foods Group LLC, told the council the plant’s hiring needs have outpaced local labor supply and that the company recruits from outside the area. “They do not want to be in the housing business, but the market currently does not provide enough housing,” Paskach said, explaining why the employer supports constructing long‑term housing rather than temporary lodging.

Several residents urged the council to deny the CUP or to require additional safeguards. Resident Pat Schultz cited a list of ordinance provisions he said the project violated and raised shoreland and setback concerns; Kevin Klimek warned of potential crime and community burden but said the objection was not about race or industry, calling the focus a safety concern. Other commenters, including Dave Ruda, said developers had been untruthful in past projects and asked the city to enforce Conditional Use Permit requirements; conversely, several speakers including Toby Polkinghorne and Gabrier Perez urged approval to provide needed housing for workers and to support local businesses.

City attorney Joe Kreuger reviewed the cited ordinances and advised the council those provisions would not legally bar approval of the CUP as presented. The council asked questions about lighting, stormwater, emergency access and property values; the applicants and city staff cited an engineering review by Bolton & Menk on infrastructure (water, sewer and roads) and stated engineered stormwater designs will be presented for review as a permit condition.

The motion approving the CUP included the planning and zoning conditions listed by the commission. The council allowed a 10‑minute break after the vote. No appeal or further administrative action was recorded at the meeting.

What happens next: building permits must be applied for within nine months as required by the CUP criteria cited by the applicant; engineered stormwater plans will be reviewed by city staff and consultants as a permit condition.