Planning commission backs Chapter 20 revisions, tables separate reviews of food trucks and communication-tower rules

The Nisswa Planning Commission on May 5 voted to recommend approval of broad revisions to Chapter 20 of the city code (ordinance 007-26), with an explicit amendment that sections addressing mobile food units and communication towers be excluded for separate review and public hearings.

City planner Steven introduced the public hearing and summarized that the proposed package updates have been under review for months with input from Crow Wing County technical review. Staff said the revisions aim to harmonize local standards with county practice and to clarify administrative processes. "We've already received a conditional letter of approval from the DNR on our proposed changes today," Steven told the commission.

Several members of the public spoke during the hearing with written comparisons and suggested edits. One speaker who identified himself as Roger Landers urged the commission to add safety and clarity to the city’s communication-tower ordinance after a recent Verizon tower appeal. Landers recommended expanding allowable tower zones outside the central business district, adding a fall zone equal to the tower height plus 10 feet, preferring monopole designs for aesthetics and smaller footprints, requiring owner contact signage and tightening site-plan and lighting standards. "We did not appeal the Verizon cell tower because we're against cell towers. We know we have to have them," Landers said, urging clearer procedures and additional safety measures.

Mayor Jennifer Carnahan, attending in her capacity as mayor, told the commission the draft will come before city council in two weeks and said she planned to review outstanding questions with staff and Council Member Hall to be better informed for the council vote.

After discussion, commissioners agreed to the staff recommendation to remove food-truck and communication-tower sections from the current package for separate legislative review and public notice. Steven said a clean legislative review and its own public hearing would be the recommended path for communication-tower changes should the commission choose to pursue them; he suggested scheduling a specific public hearing on communication towers for June.

The commission voted to forward the Chapter 20 revisions to city council with the exclusion amendment; the motion carried. No ordinance adoption occurred at this meeting — the planning commission’s action is a recommendation to the city council, which will consider the package at an upcoming meeting.

Authority and references: public commenters cited comparisons with Crow Wing County, Brainerd and Baxter ordinances and raised federal review and FCC-safety references; staff reported receipt of a conditional Minnesota Department of Natural Resources letter on the proposed changes.

Next steps: staff will publish the commission recommendation to city council and will schedule separate public hearings should the commission or council proceed with dedicated review of communication towers or mobile food units.