Southeast Rochester plan update could open industrial opportunities on 138 acres

Randy Petersen, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
·5 min read

May 19—ROCHESTER — Nearly 140 acres outside of southeast Rochester city limits could be set up for future industrial development on Monday.

The Rochester City Council is being asked to modify the city's comprehensive plan and land-use map to make way for potential annexation of up to 138 acres that sit between the Shoppes on Maine commercial site and Gamehaven Park.

"This doesn't authorize any kind of development at this present time," Community Development Planner Desmond McGeough said when the city's Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the request earlier this month.

The site, which is intersected by a recent modification to 48th Street Southeast, is owned by Seneca Foods Corp. and is currently designated for agriculture use in Rochester Township. The surrounding area is marked for various uses, including commercial and residential areas. There is also land that is zoned for industrial use, which contains Olmsted County's Public Works Service Center.

The current version of the city's comprehensive plan suggests the site could be developed at some point after 2050, but McGeough said Seneca asked city staff to help facilitate an earlier change. There is potential for a sale of at least 20 aces of the land on the northeast corner of the intersection of St. Bridget Road and 48th Street Southeast.

To provide access for development of the site directly east of Lowe's Home Improvement, the City Council would need to approve modifying the comprehensive plan to allow annexation before 2050. With that change, city planners are suggesting the site be designated for some form of industrial use after future annexation, which could range from a business park to heavier uses, depending on requests and council decisions.

"I'm not sure what the future application will entail, but (potential developers) would bring that forward for your consideration, I think, very soon," McGeough told the Planning and Zoning Commission.

A future annexation, along with potential development plans, would be the subject of at least one future public hearing. Neighborhood information meetings would also be required, with notifications sent to nearby residents and property owners.

On Monday, the City Council will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed comprehensive plan and map changes.

The proposal to designate the 138 acres for potential industrial development in the near term comes as the city is seeking to inventory needs related to industrial land.

McGeough said the city has lost 217 acres of industrial land since 2019. The bulk of that land — 199 acres — has shifted with zoning changes for different uses in the past two years.

Community Development Planner Elliot Mohler recently told the council the changes that have largely occurred to make way for new residential options leave approximately 15% of the city zoned for some sort of industrial use, which drops to 9% if the Rochester International Airport is taken out of the calculation.

With 179 acres of undeveloped industrial land in the city, he said the average lot size is 6.9 acres, which is less than the 20- to 40-acres being sought by potential developers.

He said the Seneca property, with nearby access to U.S. Highway 63 could meet those needs.

"It can suit multiple of those users," he told the council.

The council will take public comments regarding the comprehensive plan changes during its meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in council chambers, before being asked to make a decision on the requested change.

The council will also hold public hearings on:

* The requested annexation of 35 acres in northeast Rochester for the construction of a new First Unitarian Universalist Church building.

* A proposed subdivision of 60 acres into 95 residential lots and five outlots for the Scenic Oaks West Third development in southwest Rochester.

* The proposed approval of issuing bonds for the city's Downtown Building Energy Transition Project.

* A proposed update to the city's plan for 2024 Community Development Block Grant funds, which would reallocate $135,000 for sidewalk and infrastructure improvements.

Meetings scheduled to be held during the week of May 20 include:

Rochester

—City Council, 6 p.m. Monday in council chambers of the city-county Government Center, 151 Fourth St. SE. The meeting will livestream at www.rochestermn.gov/meetings/council-meetings and be available on Spectrum cable channel 180 or 188.

—Fire Civil Service Commission, 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in room 104 in City Hall, 201 Fourth St. SE.

—Public Utility Board, 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Rochester Public Utilities community room, 4000 East River Road NE.

—Planning and Zoning Commission, 6 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers of the Government Center.

Olmsted County

—Physical Development Committee, 1 p.m. Tuesday in conference room 1 of the Government Center.

—Health, Housing and Human Services Committee, 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in conference room 2 for the Government Center.

—Administrative Committee, 4 p.m. Tuesday in conference room 1 of the city-county Government Center.

—Board of County Commissioners, 6 p.m. Tuesday in the board chambers of the Government Center.

Rochester Public Schools

—School Board, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the boardroom of the Edison Building, 615 Seventh St. SW

Destination Medical Center

—DMC Corp. Board, 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Hilton Rochester Mayo Clinic Area, 10 E. Center St.

—DMC Corp. Board collaborative meeting with Rochester City Council and Olmsted County Board of Commissioners, noon Thursday at Hilton Rochester Mayo Clinic Area, 10 E. Center St.