Rochester Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting – June 11, 2026
Rochester Planning & Zoning Commission Summary – June 11, 2026
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.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of May 13, 2026 – Approved 6–0–1 (Commissioner Ross abstained), with two members absent.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mike Degerstrom (Zumbro Valley Audubon Society) spoke in support of requiring native landscaping for new commercial developments. He cited the Red Wing Shoe Company as a successful example and requested the commission consider forwarding a recommendation to the City Council for ordinance development.
Reports and Recommendations
5.A – Conditional Use Permit No. CD2026-008CUP (MGK LLC) – Limestone Aggregate Quarry
- Staff Report (Desmond McGeough): Recommended denial, citing concerns about the quarry’s proximity (approx. 0.5 mile) to runway 21 at Rochester International Airport. Key issues included potential interference with FAA equipment, impaired pilot visibility from blasting dust, risk of projectiles, and the possibility of temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) that could shut down airport operations. Staff stated that FAA had only provided a no-hazard determination for physical structures, not for blasting effects.
- Applicant (Mark Welch, G-Cubed Engineering, representing Olmsted Aggregate): Argued that the FAA review had been delayed (six submissions over ten months) and that a blasting expert (Travis Saber, Bar Engineering) had been retained to provide an independent assessment. The applicant noted that blasting would be infrequent (once per month on average), that the number of workers on site would be small (fewer than a dozen), and that operations could be coordinated with the airport to avoid conflicts. They requested approval with conditions to allow further work on FAA input.
- Discussion: Commissioners questioned blasting frequency, dust, seismic impact, and the possibility of TFRs. John Reed (RST Airport executive director) and Brent Carlson (City Attorney) highlighted the unknown FAA timeline and the risk to a $1 billion airport asset. Staff noted that the applicant had previously waived statutory time limits but chose to bring the item forward without FAA confirmation. The applicant did not consent to further continuance.
- Motion: To forward a recommendation of denial to the City Council based on staff’s findings of fact. Passed unanimously (8–0). The item will go to the City Council for a public hearing on July 6, 2026, where additional information may be presented.
Public Hearings
6.A – Major Modification No. CD2026-005MOD (Tiny Giant LLC)
- Request: Relief from neighborhood protection buffer yard plantings, parking setback, and usable recreation area requirements for a townhome development.
- Action: The applicant requested a continuance to finalize fire department comments. Motion to continue to the June 24, 2026, Planning & Zoning meeting passed unanimously.
Other Business
- City Council Recap: Desmond McGeough reported that the West Meadows subdivision (15 lots) was unanimously approved by the City Council on June 1, 2026.
- UDC Update Discussion: Chair Ruchi Gupta proposed initiating changes to the UDC to require public transit access and native landscaping (or wildlife habitat set-asides) in new developments, reducing parking requirements. Commissioner Jens Boyum suggested incorporating Transportation Demand Management (TDM) findings into application reviews. Commissioner Lisa Ross cautioned against adding more hurdles for developers, noting the current process is already long. Staff will consider the suggestions and may bring back a formal proposal for a future meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Quarry CUP: Unanimous recommendation of denial to City Council; applicant can present new evidence at the council hearing.
- Major Modification: Continued to June 24, 2026.
- UDC Amendments: No formal action; staff to evaluate feasibility and report back to the commission.
Meeting Transcript
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.
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