In a close 5-3 vote, the Detroit Lakes City Council approved a revised annexation ordinance on Tuesday, July 9. The revision allows for apartments on a 10-acre parcel at 13698 270th Avenue.
Last month, the council discussed annexing a 78.67-acre parcel along South Shore Drive requested by Gehrig Properties. Initially, a 10-acre section was zoned for high-density residential use (R-M), while the rest was zoned for agriculture (R-A). After a lengthy discussion, hearing from residents, their deep concerns, not much had been resolved. Some of the same citizens again used their voice in a public forum. Some, shared their frustration over not being able to share their concerns with the developer and the representative at Tuesday’s meeting did not assuage their doubts. Those people left the meeting with unresolved issues and questions.
City attorney Charlie Ramstad clarified that the original purpose of the ordinance was annexation, not zoning, which allowed the council to proceed without restarting the process.
During the meeting, residents expressed concerns about the impact of the proposed 60-foot-tall apartment complex, citing potential decreases in property values, increased traffic, and safety issues. Despite these objections, the council moved forward, noting the need for more housing.
The revised ordinance will become official after the completion of necessary paperwork and filings.