St. Joseph council approves street closure for charity run, patio permit appeal and Hansen facility variance; tables zoning change

St. Joseph’s City Council on a single meeting night approved several development and event actions, accepted the city’s 2023 audited financial statements and tabled a zoning text amendment for further drafting.

The council voted to approve a street closure and route for a 5K and 1K run organized by Mitch Evans of Saint Cloud Toyota, with proceeds to benefit the Indie Foundation. Staff described the route as starting and stopping on Baker Street and said vendors and parking were coordinated with Little Saints Academy. The motion to approve the street closure carried by voice vote.

Councilors approved an appeal by La Playette to reinstall an outdoor patio that staff had noted conflicted with off-street parking rules. City staff said the project would reduce on-site parking from 23 spaces to 16 after a reconfiguration; the planning commission recommended approval. The council approved the permit appeal by a 4–1 vote.

The council approved a variance (Resolution 20 24 032) for Hansen Companies, allowing alternate parking-surface materials (crushed granite or asphalt) for portions of a proposed 82,500-square-foot manufacturing facility with about 6,000 square feet of office space. The planning commission had recommended approval 5–0. Council also approved the applicant’s proof-of-parking plan for the site.

A proposed zoning text amendment (Resolution 20 24 002) that would alter code language to permit more than one principal building on a single lot (a change the applicant said would permit multiple leased structures) drew extended debate. Several councilors raised concerns about opening the change beyond industrial districts, citing potential traffic and parking effects; a councilor moved to table the amendment until staff could limit the language to industrial lots, and that motion prevailed 3–2.

In other business the council accepted the 2023 audited financial statements presented by auditor Janelle Bitzen of Bergen KTV and approved resolutions to declare costs to be assessed and to set a public special-assessment hearing for the 2024 street improvements project.

What happens next: Several approved items (the street improvement assessments and the Elm Street project) will proceed to required public notices and hearings or permitting steps; the zoning text amendment will return after staff revise the language to narrow the districts where the change could apply.