Goodwill retail store gets Monticello city planning approvals

Goodwill Easter Seals of Minnesota will develop a new 17,636 square foot retail facility in Monticello located on vacant land near Cedar Street and Highway 25.

Monticello council members approved a conditional use permit (CUP) and cross-access request for the project May 27 after listening to a background report from City Planner Steve Grittman.

In a previously presented memo, Grittman stated Oppidan Investment Company, LLC.. had submitted plans to create a 2.64 acre lot to provide for construction of the new retail facility, which would include a drive-through, drop-off donation center.

A preliminary plat presented for the Cedar Street Retail Addition shows combination of two remnant parcels with an existing 38.11 acre parcel and subsequent subdivision to create one 2.64 acre parcel for the purposes of development of at the new Goodwill retail facility with the remainder (35.64 acres) platted as an outlet.

Cedar Street currently runs along an easement through the 38.11 acre parcel. The city is requesting Goodwill plat the full Cedar Street right-of-way for final approval.

The property is currently zoned commercial. In its project narrative, Goodwill stated its has been a strong contributor to the development of Minnesota’s workforce for more than 90 years.

Goodwill assists people with barriers to education, employment and independence in achieving their goals.

As proposed, Goodwill’s new Monticello location would be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The new Goodwill store would employ up to 30 employees along with 8 to 12 participants who are engaging in career training programs.

The Monticello Goodwill location would have parking on the north and east side of the store.

A donation drop off area located along the west side of the building will be fully enclosed with garage doors and be part of the main structure.

A loading dock and trash compactor will be located in the rear of the Goodwill building.

Grittman said a subdivision of the existing 38-acre parcel would create a single lot for development. An outlet of about 35 acres would include a formalized easement agreement for Dundas Road.

“This CUP accommodates cross-access for the parcel and it’s development as well as future development of property to the north,” Grittman said May 27.

“This CUP allow that to happen at the time this parcel is developed. The northern parcel is owned separately,” he added.

The Monticello Planning Commission commission unanimously recommended approval of all project applications May 6, Grittman said, adding the project’s required conditions had been separated into plat and CUP-related conditions on the advice of City Attorney Joel Jamink.

“Essentially, everything has been wrapped into a single resolution for your consideration,” Grittman said, adding a number of conditions had already been met by prior to the council’s May 27 meeting.

“Those were met by subsequent plan submittals ]since the May 6 planning commission meeting] and have been rolled forward,” Grittman said.

Councilmember Glen Posusta had a question about Oppidan’s landscape plan. “I see a lot of bushes, but I don’t see a lot of trees,” Posusta said. “How many trees per se are on this property?”

Grittman said he didn’t have an exact tree count, but Oppidan’s application with the city did meet landscaping ordinance requirements.”There are a series of trees within the parking islands, and along Highway 25,” he said. “They are limited because of the utility corridor that’s there,” Grittman added.

Mayor Clint Herbst said the city has revised its requirement for trees. “When Cornerstone Chevrolet went in, we decided to let up on the trees,” Herbst said. “As beautiful as they are, we want people to be able to see [business] signage.” Grittman said he and city staff did do a review of the city’s landscape ordinance against the Goodwill store plan. “I’m confident that they meet our code,” he said.

Herbst said the council had previously acted to be more business-friendly regarding trees and landscaping. Councilmember Lloyd Hilgart pointed out that the submitted landscape plans showed 14 trees and 116 shrubs.

Councilmember Tom Perrault said he had a question regarding a May 1 letter provided by WSB & Associates and City Engineer Shibani Bissan. Specifically, Perrault asked a question about water main looping.

Grittman said an original plan showed a private water main looping around the building. “The comment there was they could serve the building adequately with service from the street,” Grittman said. “They’ve indicated that they have planned to revise their plans,” he added.

With no further comments, Hilgart made a motion to approve the CUP, plat, and other agreements and conditions presented by city staff. Perrault seconded Hilgart’s motion. There were no additional comments or discussion. The council vote to approve was unanimous.

No opening date for the new Monticello Goodwill was mentioned during the May 27 council meeting or included in planning documents submitted to the city.

Contact Tim Hennagir at [email protected]

 

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