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Attachment 5 Extract of March 4, 2026, Draft Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 1 a. Planning File Heading (PF26-001) Request by Minnesota State Patrol for Consideration 2 of a Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Zoning Map Change for 1500 Highway 36. 3 Chair Bjorum opened the public hearing for PF26-001 at approximately 6:44 p.m. and 4 outlined the purpose and process. He advised that this item will be before the City Council on 5 March 23, 2026. 6 City Planner Paschke summarized the request as detailed in the staff report dated March 4, 7 2026. 8 Mr. Paschke presented a request to amend the Comprehensive Plan and zoning map for 9 property located at 1500 Highway 36, just north of and east of the existing Target store. He 10 explained that the parcel along Highway 36 is currently designated as Employment in the 11 Comprehensive Plan. In contrast, the parcel to the south near the Target parking area is 12 designated as Core Mixed Use. The proposal would change both parcels to an Institutional 13 designation. 14 Mr. Paschke said the request was related to a planned facility for the Minnesota State Patrol, 15 which is part of the State of Minnesota. He explained that institutional land use and zoning 16 designations are typically used for public or civic facilities such as government buildings, 17 churches, and libraries. In contrast, the existing employment and mixed-use designations are 18 generally intended for private development. Because the State Patrol is a public agency that 19 will own and operate the site, staff determined that the institutional designation would be the 20 most appropriate classification for the property. 21 Mr. Paschke noted that the project could technically be built under the current employment 22 zoning, but doing so would likely require multiple variances due to the facility's specialized 23 design and operational needs, including building entrance orientation, overhead doors, 24 frontage requirements, and security fencing. Under the institutional zoning designation, the 25 project could instead be reviewed as a special or object-oriented building, which allows 26 flexibility for unique civic structures. In that case, the City Council would review and 27 approve the site plan and building design elements. At the same time, technical items such as 28 stormwater management would continue to be reviewed by the watershed district and city 29 engineering staff. 30 Mr. Paschke concluded by stating that staff believed the institutional land use and zoning 31 designation best reflected the proposed public safety use and therefore recommended 32 approval of the Comprehensive Plan and zoning amendments. 33 Member McGehee asked what the proposed use would be for the portion of the property 34 located on the opposite side of Commerce Street in the concept plan. 35 Mr. Paschke stated that he was not certain of the final proposed use for the portion of the 36 property located on the other side of Commerce Street. He noted that the concept plan 37 currently shows a small parking lot, while earlier versions had included elements such as 38 solar panels. He stated the applicant would need to provide clarification on the intended use 39 of that area. Qbhf!46!pg!33: