Northfield Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting – June 18, 2026

The Northfield Zoning Board of Appeals met on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 801 Washington Street, Northfield, Minnesota. The board held a public hearing and unanimously approved ZBA Resolution 2026-002, granting a variance to exceed the maximum height limit in the C1-B Downtown District by 13 feet at 212 Division St. S. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM.

Call to Order, Roll Call, and Agenda Approval

• Chair Bill Kuhlmann called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM.
• Present: Commissioners Betsey Buckheit, Philip Holleran, Steven Schmidt, Aaron Lauer, Bill Kuhlmann, and Julia Menard. Absent: Commissioner Brian Nowak.
• Also present: Associate Planner Mathias Hughey, City Planner Mikayla Schmidt, Community Development Director Scott Wopata, Administrative Associate Kari Bonde, and youth representatives Abby Pape and Eli Podracky.
• A motion by Commissioner Buckheit, seconded by Commissioner Schmidt, to approve the agenda carried 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• None.

Public Hearing: Variance Request at 212 Division St. S.

• The public hearing was opened at 6:04 PM.
• Associate Planner Mathias Hughey presented a PowerPoint covering the variance process, the location, and the findings. He also reviewed the project timeline and noted that the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) approved the Certificate of Appropriateness earlier in June 2026.
• Matt Ganter of Rebound Enterprises reviewed the project timeline and showed renderings from different street levels, describing the proposed project at 212 Division St. S.
• A motion by Commissioner Holleran, seconded by Commissioner Menard, to close the public hearing carried 6-0.

Discussion and Resolution: ZBA Resolution 2026-002

• The board considered ZBA Resolution 2026-002, titled "Consideration of a Variance to Exceed the Maximum Height Limit in the C1-B: Downtown District by 13 Feet."
• Commissioner Buckheit moved to approve the resolution, and Commissioner Schmidt seconded the motion.

Key Outcomes

• ZBA Resolution 2026-002 was approved unanimously, 6-0, granting a variance to exceed the maximum building height limit in the C1-B Downtown District by 13 feet at 212 Division St. S.
• The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 PM following a motion by Commissioner Schmidt, seconded by Commissioner Holleran, which carried 6-0.