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Planning Commission Minutes <br />March 25, 2024 <br />Page 5 of 8 <br />----------------------------- <br /> <br />approval #1, as it goes against the Comprehensive Plan. Encourages all to read <br />through the Comprehensive Plan, you’ll see this rezone request is not inline. <br />Having all this potential commercial property is now meant for the traveling <br />public, these individuals will come in and get their gas and food from Kwik Trip, <br />and leave. Bypassing the whole town and not spending the money the <br />developers speak of. In looking at the area where the heavy wooded trees are, it <br />doesn’t appear that this would be a great area for development no matter who <br />comes in. He asked the Commission to think about this request – you could have <br />11 more acres of commercial development, or 11 more acres of forest <br />management, which is what’s currently there it serves a purpose for this <br />community, and we can preserve it. <br /> <br />We did get an opposition email from Charlotte Greer on this topic as well, a <br />property owner next to the parcel for rezone. <br /> <br />Chan, from PLAID LLC spoke to those in the room. He appreciated everyone’s <br />comments. When looking at purchasing these properties he spoke in advance to <br />some of the Council and the Commission with his vision. He wants to bring in <br />new money to the town, all while ‘not looking like Nisswa’. He stated Kwik Trip is <br />going in the 5.5 acres, they’re a family business and they’re very community <br />driven – they give back to the community. The other parcels in talk are a major <br />medical and a hotel. They’re working with the road access, city sewer - nothing is <br />final yet. He’s a local, from Nisswa and went to school in Brainerd. He’s excited <br />to bring economic growth to the area. <br /> <br />Commission members asked Chan questions. Commission Johnson asked if <br />there were current plans for the most northern section of the property, Chan <br />stated nothing at this time. The area that potential buyers are looking to actually <br />use in the lower section of the property – leaving the most mature trees alone, <br />taking out the 4-5 foot pine trees and moving them throughout the city. Leaving <br />adequate buffer and not clear cutting is the idea. Chan is interested in hearing <br />what others have to say. Commission Gonczy stated she’s concerned about the <br />buffering, but more concerned about Heart of the Good Life (HOTGL) as the city <br />has put a lot of time, money and planning into that section of the city. That is <br />where they wanted to see the commercial growth, and the properties aren’t going <br />in as they thought it was going to happen. She also stated in looking at the <br />Comprehensive Plan, it was last updated in 2022 – she has a strong moral <br />standing to uphold what they put into that plan and gave to Council. Commission <br />E.Larson agreed with Gonczy. <br /> <br />Commission Johnson asked if there was a way for Chan to split the request or <br />the land. Leaving the northern section alone and wooded with the 6.7 acres and <br />then rezone and develop the southern section of the land which would be <br />approximately 5 acres. Chair Ellering agreed, as did Commission Lang. Chan <br />stated he would entertain the idea but needs to talk with a few others and could <br />get back to us. He’s open for additional discussion. He could table his request <br />and work through a new plan potentially. <br />