Detroit Lakes Planning Commission adds gas stations back into neighborhood zoning category; city council to address new draft May 9

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – A proposed neighborhood commercial zoning ordinance is heading back to the Detroit Lakes City Council after members of the city’s planning commission made changes to the potential zoning category during their meeting on April 27.

During the meeting, Larry Remmen, community development director for Detroit Lakes, explained why the draft ordinance was referred back to the planning commission from the city council.

“There were some members of the council that felt that some of the provisions that were presented to them were too restrictive,” said Remmen. “A mention was made of the building size and the hours of operation, and, of course, gas stations as a conditional use was also one of the items that was mentioned.”

The planning commission made four changes to the ordinance that will now be reconsidered by the city council during their meeting on May 9 at 5 p.m. at the Becker County Courthouse.

The changes included:

• Modifying the purpose statement to ensure future governing bodies are clear on the intent of the use of neighborhood commercial zoning.
• Allowing service stations that allow the sale of gasoline as a conditional use, which would require the applicant to have their permit approved by the city council. The stations may not have more than two gas pumps and service up to four vehicles at a time.
• Implement a minimum setback requirement of 30 feet for all buildings. Buildings will be limited to three stories tall; however, the building setback will be increased to one-and-a-half times the total building height.
• Hours of operation for commercial businesses must fall within 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, gas stations must close by 9 p.m. and can not offer 24-hour self-pump service.

Nancy Haggart, a member of the planning commission, was the only member to vote against the changes to the draft ordinance.

“I’m thinking we have three (business) zones available … for either conditional use or permitted use and I think there is enough property within our still small town to find enough space for gas stations,” said Haggart. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be in a residential area.”

Shaun Carlson, chair of the city’s planning commission and member of the Detroit Lakes City Council, said the goal of the ordinance is focused on the long-term planning of the city and gives a necessary zoning category to bridge residential and commercial districts across the city, if they are requested.

“This commission brought forward, in the last meeting, and did an outstanding job of listening to the comments and concerns of our residents while still bringing this zoning forward,” said Carlson. “There were also some concerns expressed, however, that we restricted it so far that it’s not useful and that developers aren’t going to ask for it, that they’re going to go to the next town, down the road, that does allow this type of development.”

He also said any zoning changes within the city already must go through the planning commission and city council’s public hearing process before any changes can be made.

The draft ordinance will now move to the Detroit Lakes Community Development Committee and be discussed at their next meeting on May 8 at 8 a.m. at the Detroit Lakes Police Station.