Note: The agenda and minutes indicate the meeting occurred on June 10, 2026; however, the summary date provided is June 11, 2026.
The Planning & Zoning Commission met on June 11, 2026 (per instruction) to address several items. The meeting included one public comment, a recommendation on a conditional use permit for a limestone quarry, a continuance on a major modification request, and a discussion on potential updates to the Unified Development Code (UDC). Seven commissioners were present, one was absent, and one arrived late.
5.A – Conditional Use Permit No. CD2026-008CUP (MGK LLC) – Limestone Aggregate Quarry
6.A – Major Modification No. CD2026-005MOD (Tiny Giant LLC)
All right. Calling the meeting to order. It's 5 p.m. Welcome everyone to the June 10th, 2026 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. This is an open comment period, a time on the agenda that allows members of the public to address the commission on items that are not on tonight's agenda as a public hearing. If there is anyone that would like to address the commission, please do so at this time. Please come up. Please state your name. Okay, again, my name is Mike Deggerstrom, the commission members. Um I'm reading a letter on behalf of the Zemro Val and Valley Audubon Society. We presented a letter twice over the last few weeks. These letters are intended to make the commission better aware of our rapidly declining wildlife. This is certainly a dismal subject. That is why we like to celebrate when we get good news. I've mentioned our local trumpeter swans, a species rescued from the brink of extinction. So our local swans have successfully hatched five signets, which is a term for young swans. Trumpeter swans are some of the largest flying birds in the world. Just uh that family alone will likely have significant impact on keeping the marsh from becoming choked out with vegetation. Scientists say they are providing vital ecological services. We must strive for similar successes with all of our many species at risk. In the last letter we presented, we say we'd begin presenting recommendations for the city to adopt. Many solutions are common sense and cost effective. We do not know all the areas that your commission has oversight. As such, please let us know. Uh again, as always, my emails on top. Um, so let us know if any of our recommendations might be better addressed to other commissions, boards in city departments. Um we are talking to three other boards and commissions at the city. So our our specific recommendation tonight is that new businesses incorporate native landscaping rather than by default covering with turf grass. This adds some upfront costs, but likely saves the company a lot in yearly maintenance costs. It adds habitat and retains and cleans the rainwater. Once established, deep rooted native plants hold the soil from eroding and can soak up heavy downpours. There are many examples of uh cities already implementing similar ordinances. Uh a nearby example worth highlighting is the Red Wing Shoe Company, located just 60 miles from Rochester in 2023-24. The company transformed the five-point acre lawn in front of the Burnside plant into native prairie habitat, the project was designed to create pollinator corridors, uh, support grassland songbirds, sequester carbon, and restore the historical landscape of the region. The company simultaneously joined the B City USA initiative, becoming part of the regional network of pollinator sanctuaries. This is a voluntary initiative driven by the employee and community engagement, and the company has publicly stated its hope to inspire other local businesses to rethink their green spaces. The Red Wing Sue example shows that when businesses are giving a framework encouragement, they often embrace native landscape enthusiastically. A city ordinance requiring native landscaping for new commercial development wouldn't be asking businesses to do something burdensome. It would, in fact, be pointing them towards a proven model that saves money, builds community goodwill, and delivers real ecological benefits. We respectfully ask this commission to consider our recommendation and if appropriate, forward it to the city council as a topic for ordinance development. We will return in a few weeks for to better describe why native plants are so important in the recovery of our ecological systems. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to speak in the open coming period? Anyone online? No. Okay. In that case, I will now close the open comment period and call the meeting to order. I will take roll call. Commissioner Ross.