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Councilors weigh rezoning former B3 parcels — concerns raised about land near CH Robinson
Summary
Oronoco planning officials debated whether to fold legacy B3 parcels into the new B2 highway‑commercial zone and discussed protections for adjacent homes after meeting with representatives of CH Robinson, which owns large tracts near the data center.
City planning staff and council members reviewed a draft that would eliminate the old B3 district and reclassify several parcels as B2, a highway‑oriented commercial zone that carries larger setbacks and screening requirements.
The discussion centered on a CH Robinson property and nearby lots that were previously described in the city's future land use map as B3. Council member Marie said she wanted to compare the old B3 wording with the proposed B2 text before rezoning to ensure the change would not expose nearby houses to greater noise or traffic. "I just want us to be thoughtful on that in some of those areas," Marie said, noting some B3 parcels butt up against residences.
Evan, a staff member leading the code review, told the group the draft B2 language actually provides more protections in many cases: increased side‑yard setbacks (a minimum 25 feet for sideyards adjacent to residential lots), building‑setback limits and landscape buffers, and specific screening requirements for parking and drive aisles. He said the draft calls out larger buffers intended to mitigate highway‑oriented uses next to homes.
Councilors also discussed the fact that CH Robinson owns a broad swath of land and had told staff they had acquired adjacent parcels for security and to avoid neighbors; a councilor relayed that the company had said, "No, we just don't want anybody on either side of our building." Members said that ownership does not prevent selling parcels later, which would change development options.
Staff recommended rezoning the CH Robinson lot to B2 while using the code's setback and conditional‑use tools to protect adjacent residential areas; they also flagged that any rezoning or future land‑use map amendment would require public notice and a public hearing through the normal plan‑and‑zoning and council process.
The council did not take a final action; members asked staff to provide the original B3 wording and a side‑by‑side comparison to review before any formal rezoning hearing.
