As he began to discuss upcoming development and construction projects planned for Austin, Craig Hoium assured the handful of citizens in attendance at Thursday’s city Planning Commission meeting their voice will be heard in regards to a proposed housing development, just not that night.

Friday, January 28, 2000

As he began to discuss upcoming development and construction projects planned for Austin, Craig Hoium assured the handful of citizens in attendance at Thursday’s city Planning Commission meeting their voice will be heard in regards to a proposed housing development, just not that night.

Actually, Hoium, Austin’s planning and zoning administrator, took the bulk of the first commission meeting of the new year to explain the route to be followed regarding the plans of Dave Wellstone and a possible 132-lot development west of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. Just two city residents presented their concerns to Hoium and the planning commission; two days prior, about 70 city residents packed into a meeting at the nature center, the majority of whom were opposed to a development.

According to Hoium, the project is far from being signed, sealed and delivered. In fact, the mountain of paper work and planning necessary to bring Wellstone’s vision to fruition has just begun.

The 55-acre property lies within Lansing Township and the owner-developer has to submit an application for annexation and with that request, approval must come from the city of Austin, the Lansing Township Board and the Minnesota Board of Boundaries and Adjustments.

After annexation issues are dealt with, the planning commission would first review the preliminary plat design, as would the Austin City Council. As a requirement for plat design approval, environmental impact to the area has to be studied and submitted to the city.

Also included in the plat review stages, a design has to be completed for all municipal services that would be provided to the area. This plan would have to receive approval from the city for services such as sanitary sewer, municipal water, gas and electric.

According to Hoium, the most critical aspect would be the stormwater management plan. In displaying a preliminary conceptual plan of the development, Hoium explained that among the approximately 132 lots, would be two water retention-detention ponds; each pond would not only hold excess rain water, but also would filter out sedimentary erosion from the land.

Finally, a developer’s agreement must be completed between the city and Wellstone’s various parties, detailing who is responsible for whatever extensions of service is needed into the development and who will pay for the respective improvements.

Yet even after all of the positioning and posturing, three public hearings must be held for citizens to give input; through Minnesota state law, each of which require 10 days notice to the public and land owners adjacent to the property. After a recommendation to pass, the council can move forward with its authority to approve.

Hoium said that if and when all necessary approval is garnered, the development’s construction would likely take place in phases, much like the Southpoint and Orchard Creek subdivisions.