Council discusses rezoning Hunters Inn parcel to B-2; comprehensive-plan amendment and Met Council review would be required

City planning staff told the council a property known as the Hunters Inn — which reverted to residential zoning after the business ceased operations — has an application asking to rezone back to B‑2 commercial so the owner can sell or redevelop the parcel.

Staff (Speaker 9) explained the request would require an amendment to the comprehensive plan and that the city must notify the Met Council; the Met Council’s approval or feedback is part of that statutory process. Staff noted the parcel sits between existing B‑2 districts to the north and south along Highway 65 and suggested extending the B‑2 designation down the corridor to serve as a buffer for housing and to reduce conflicts associated with highway‑adjacent uses.

Council members and staff reviewed the property history: the Hunters Inn parcel had previously operated under a conditional‑use permit (a CUP) since the mid‑1990s, which created a nonconforming use when the business ceased and the land reverted to residential zoning. Staff noted that changing zoning does not force existing residents to leave; it would create a nonconforming status for any remaining houses.

Staff said they had advised the applicant’s attorney that, if the council intends to pursue a comprehensive‑plan amendment, the applicant may wish to withdraw the current application to avoid paying fees that could be wasted if the comp‑plan process changes the rules. Staff said they would start the process to notify the Met Council and to consider whether a broader shift toward more commercial/industrial land would be appropriate in the city’s future growth area. Any comp‑plan amendment could prompt the Met Council to ask the city to reallocate density elsewhere if anticipated residential capacity is reduced.

No rezoning decision was made at the work session; staff said they would proceed with the administrative steps needed to begin the comp‑plan amendment process if council direction supports doing so.