Posted: 10/6/04
By MaryHelen Swanson
Rush City has the only regional airport in the county, and the only regional airport along the I-35 corridor up to Duluth where airplanes of many sizes are accepted, including small jets.
The airport was established several decades ago, but future expansion could be in the hands of the Rush City Planning Commission right now.
A request from Delores Mold and Dan Birdsall for an amendment to the cityís 1997 Comprehensive Plan was before the cityís planning commission Sept. 23 and drew a roomful of people.
The Mold family is in the process of selling 44.3 acres to developer Birdsall who would like to create a residential development.
One concept plan presented to the city some months ago showed about 200 residences in single and multi-unit housing.
Last May 11, the city council unanimously approved annexation of this property. But under the 1997 Comprehensive Plan, this area is not designated for any kind of development and it is currently zoned agricultural.
According to zoning official Amy Mell, to zone the land for residential use now requires an amendment to the 1997 comprehensive plan.
She also noted that the city is currently in the process of revising its comprehensive plan but it is not expected to be completed for about six months.
The crowd at the Sept. 23 meeting included a number of pilots who were concerned with the residential growth so near the airport. The land in question is on the east side of Forest Blvd. and abuts the current airport land.
Major concerns were too much housing, too close to the airport and no room for hangar expansion. Additionally, they were concerned about the noise.
A joint airport zoning board has been working to develop an airport safety zone.
Mike Louis of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, aeronautics division, was at the Sept. 23 meeting. Zoning at the airport, he said, needs to reflect two things: public safety and protection of the airport itself.
In the 1970s, he said, airports were not near housing developments. Itís different today, he said.
And because it is, he went on, it is important to place restrictions on houses near an airport.
The issue of noise, he said, is present when the residential development is not compatible with the airport. At a minimum, he went on, disclosure is needed for those who purchase homes near an airport.
He suggested limiting residential use to low density, avoid non-residential uses such as shopping centers, fast food restaurants, etc, and prohibiting schools and day care facilities in the airport zone.
Additionally, they should avoid anything connected to hazardous materials in the area.
Louis noted that there are 136 publically owned airports in Minnesota.
Government money that is available for these airports, he said, most often goes to those cities that have done the best job of protecting the airport.
He suggested a closer partnership between the planning commission and the airport board. He also suggested that the city identify its ultimate goal for the future of the airport.
Airport zoning, he said, needs to be part of the comprehensive plan.
Mark Nelson, owner of Hawk Aviation at the airport, said his concern was the limited amount of space for airport expansion.
He said about 50 planes use the airport now and 4-5 new hangars are being built each year. In 10 years, he said, they could be needing as many as 50 extra hangars. He said it was not the place for residential development,
The question came up if landowners should be compensated when they canít sell their land for the kind of development they would like.
It was noted that if the city has an airport layout plan (ALP) there could possibly be federal money to buy land which falls in the ALP area.
How much land would the airport like for expansion? Nelson said all 100 acres surrounding the airport.
Randy Mold, who was also at the meeting, said the airport would never grow that much.
Developer Birdsall said in order to move forward, some line needs to be determined and accepted as to what the airport needs for future expansion.
City Administrator Daniel Hoffman said it is a matter of determining the best use of the land. He cautioned the planning commission members that they would have to be very clear in their findings when making a decision. He said theyíd have to be specific and keep personal opinions out of the picture.
He suggested that when they look at land use they ask themselves what has happened in this area in the last 10 years.
Mold reminded everyone that his parents purchased the farm in 1952 and there was no airport then. They sold 15 acres for the airport, but he said, ìWe were there first, youíve got to remember that.î
When it was suggested that the acreage be set aside for commercial or industrial development, others said no one would want to develop a business there. They prefer the area near I-35, noted Hoffman.
It would be great if the city could buy up the land a quarter-mile around the airport, but we canít, said Hoffman.
Planning commission member Bill Schneider made an attempt to approve the requested amendment, but there was no second to his motion.
The amendment, Mell said, will only change the comprehensive plan, not the zoning.
The meeting was recessed to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13. When the PC makes a recommendation on the amendment, it will go to the city council for final approval.
©ECM Post Review
6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com