WILLMAR -- The Willmar City Council will hold a public hearing on Jan. 23 to consider a zoning ordinance that would allow for establishing a technology district.
The zoning ordinance is intended for MinnWest Technology, which will be located at the Willmar Regional Treatment Center campus. Sale of most of the campus to MinnWest is scheduled for Jan. 16. The technology district was recommended by the Planning Commission. The district would protect the integrity of the site and ensure the future uses on the property.
Bruce Peterson, director of planning and development for the city, said staff worked with MinnWest representatives to determine which uses fit the business model and which uses further the best interests of the city.
"The proposed use is unique to the community. It's different from a zoning standpoint,'' Peterson told the council Monday night. "We believe that what we have put on paper as a new district adequately reflects how that site should develop in the future.''
Among the permitted uses will be animal health product and services, bio-technology businesses, business and technology incubator, component assembly, engineering businesses, medical and dental clinics, and research and development.
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In other business, the council approved a recommendation from the Community Development Committee to order a boundary survey and develop a preliminary plat for the new industrial park to be created at the airport after the new airport opens this year and the old airport closes.
Peterson said the boundary survey will provide dimensions of the overall site and allow parcels inside the industrial park to be accurately subdivided.
Also, he said development of the preliminary plat will provide an accurate scale of the site on paper and allow Kandiyohi County to proceed with establishing right-of-way for extension of County Road 5 through the park.
Approximately 480 acres within the proposed 600-acre industrial park are developable, said City Administrator Michael Schmit. The remainder consists of right-of-way, storm water ponds roads, and transmission line easements.
"That's quite an expansion for the industrial park,'' said Mayor Les Heitke.
In other business, the council voted to meet as the Fire Code Board of Appeals on Jan. 23 to consider a request from Willmar Air Service for a variance from code regulations requiring a sprinkler system in the new hangar at the new airport.
City Attorney Richard Ronning recommended the council and Heitke meet as the board to consider the variance.
Willmar Air Service asked to receive a variance with the same conditions granted for the city-owned fixed-base operator hangar.
