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Council Meeting Minutes for February 3, 2025 <br />Page 2 of 8 <br /> <br /> <br />Associate Planner Max Gort presented to Council the 2024 Community Development Annual <br />Report, which he explained included a review of planning applications, building department <br />activity, projects that were approved, and ordinance updates throughout the calendar year 2024. <br /> <br />Gort provided information on permits and planning applications submitted over the past ten <br />years that showed last year was equal to 2023 with 41 applications. There were 180 new <br />residential construction permits. There had been no multifamily construction for the past three <br />years; however, two projects were approved in 2024. One project would add 89 apartment units <br />next to Festival Foods, and the other would consist of 60 townhome style units for rent. These <br />will likely be constructed this year. New construction peaked in 2020-2021 during COVID. <br />There were 4,938 inspections completed. The building department conducted 756 of those in <br />Scandia. There were 171 platted residential units available, which was fairly average. <br /> <br />The primary new construction project in 2024 was Premier Bank, located on the corner of TH61 <br />and 147th Street, consisting of 4,500 square feet of commercial space. Several other businesses <br />moved to or expanded within existing buildings including Blossom Bridge Child Care, Autism <br />Services of Minnesota, and Nystrom and Associates. The City also approved a 33,500 square <br />foot expansion of Liberty Classical located in the old Withrow Elementary School. The City- <br />owned property along Egg Lake has seen a number of proposals. The most recent proposal had <br />received pushback due to the DNR’s shoreland rules, and staff will be working on finding <br />flexibility. <br /> <br />Staff had been working with Washington County and MnDOT on the Highway 61 Visioning <br />Study since 2022. This study will help guide the jurisdictional transfer from the state to <br />Washington County. <br /> <br />Gort talked about ordinance updates that included updates to the residential zoning districts to <br />match most recent development trends. The City recently received a $50,000 Policy <br />Development Grant which would allow for review of all zoning districts. Landform was <br />preparing a new scope of work. Other ordinances included the Solar Farm Ordinance (to be <br />discussed later in the meeting), Shoreland Ordinance to find a way for flexibility with the DNR’s <br />shoreland rules, and the Cannabis Ordinance, which was approved by the Council in January <br />2025. <br /> <br />Approval of Consent Agenda <br /> <br />Petryk made motion, Miron seconded, to approve the following Consent Agenda. <br /> <br />1. Approve Claims Roster <br />2. Approve Annual Performance Review for Finance and Public Works Administrative <br />Assistant Jennifer Compton <br />3. Approve Letter of Resignation from Public Works Worker Corey Triemert <br />4. Approve Advertisement for Public Works Summer Seasonal Employees <br />5. Approve Extension of Internship for Community Development Intern Phoebe Brown <br />6. Approve Donation to the Hugo Fire Department from the Bayport American Legion <br />7. Approve Donation to the Hugo Fire Department from the Hugo American Legion <br />8. Approve Lawful Gambling Exempt Permit for White Bear Lake Ducks Unlimited