CYL37-25

Request of Eric Brewer for a rezone of the subject property from Industry to Residential Transition District. The subject property is described as being located in the SE corner of the NE quarter; the south 413.15 feet, thence north 305.88 feet, east 197.61 feet, south 14.5 feet, east 215.54 feet, south 291.38 feet, to the point of beginning, except Blue Earth County Highway Right of Way Plat No. 48, Section 22, Township 109, Range 26, a lot containing approximately 2.30 acres, Lime Township (Blue Earth County PID R400422200005, 58830 240^th Street).

The anticipated date of Lime Township Board action is August 12, 2025. 

The applicant is the property owner, Eric Brewer.
 

Eric Brewer, property owner, is seeking the rezone of his property from the current zoning classification of Industry to Residential – Transition District. The rezoning is being requested because the current use of the subject parcel is residential in nature and the proposed rezoning classification will be more in line with the current use. The applicant desires to construct an accessory shed on the parcel, however the setbacks and criteria in the industry district, which is the current zoning designation, do not align with the current use of the subject property.  According to the Lime Township ordinance, the Residential – Transition district is intended to allow for the continuation of residential uses in areas of the Township designed for industrial or commercial in the land use plan, which is the situation for this lot. Upon rezoning, uses and zoning criteria will need to achieve the Residential Transition zoning standards for the subject parcel.
 

The subject property is zoned Industry and is legally described as being located in the SE corner of the NE quarter; the south 413.15 feet, thence north 305.88 feet, east 197.61 feet, south 14.5 feet, east 215.54 feet, south 291.38 feet, to the point of beginning, except Blue Earth County Highway Right of Way Plat No. 48, Section 22, Township 109, Range 26, a lot containing approximately 2.30 acres, Lime Township. (58830 240^th Street; Blue Earth County PID R400422200005).
 

The parcel is made of 2.3 acre and is currently used for residential purposes.
 

The property is located in Lime Township and is zoned Industry.
 

There are no known environmentally sensitive areas on the property.
 

The Lime Township Ordinance can be found at this link: Lime Township Ordinances
 

The Site plan and Traffic Advisory Committee reviewed the item at their July 8^th, 2025, meeting and provided the following comments:

1. The applicant shall be aware that no additional access to CSAH 12 (589^th Ave) will be provided by Blue Earth County.
2. The applicant shall comply with flight zone C for the airport and the appropriate FAA form shall be completed and approved by the FAA prior to the issuance of building permit.
3. Applicant shall make the notification fee payment in the online portal, if not already complete.

The applicant, Eric Brewer, property owner, is seeking the rezone of his property from the current zoning classification of Industry to Residential – Transition District. The rezoning is being requested because the current use of the subject parcel is residential in nature and the proposed rezoning classification will be more in line with the current use.

The applicant desires to construct an accessory shed on the parcel. However, the setbacks and criteria in the industry district, which is the current zoning designation, do not align with the current use of the subject property.  According to the Lime Township ordinance, “the Residential – Transition district is intended to allow for the continuation of residential uses in areas of the Township designed for industrial or commercial in the land use plan” (Article 4. Zoning Map and Districts, Section 6 Residential-Transition District). This parcel fits the criteria, given the current zoning district of Industry and current use is residential.

 Upon rezoning, uses and zoning criteria will need to achieve the Residential Transition zoning standards for the subject parcel.

If the rezoning were to be approved, the applicant will be requesting an accessory storage shed on the property and will need to comply with all setback requirements for the Residential Transition District. The proposed shed will also need to meet the regulations of Flight Zone C and shall obtain approval from the FAA prior to applying for a Lime Township Construction permit.



 

Staff respectfully submits the following findings of fact for the request of the zoning classification of Industry to Residential – Transition District:

1. The request does not negatively impact on the health, safety and welfare of the Township. The property is currently a residential use.
2. Given the location of the parcel, the rezoning of the parcel does not impact natural resources, prime farmland and environmentally sensitive areas.
3. Rezoning of the land, does not affect the townships promotion and the preservation of agricultural land and uses and the economic viability of farming operations.
4. The use provides for a compatible land use pattern that limits existing and potential conflicts and respects private property rights. The rezoning provides flexibility for future uses of the property consistent with other uses in the area.
5. The existing use does not require municipal water and sanitary sewer services. Future uses will be evaluated to determined if annexation and service extension is required. 
6. The location of the property is not near “aggregate potential” land. Thus, the approval of the rezoning would not adversely affect the allowance for the extraction of mineral deposits in a manner that is sensitive to surrounding land uses, natural resources, and environmentally sensitive areas. Nor would it mitigate the impacts of mineral extraction on surrounding uses and reclamation of the property used for mineral extraction to a condition that can be utilized for future development should be considered in the review of permitting for mining interim use permits.
7. To allow Lime Township the continuation of commercial and industrial land uses on properties within the Township that currently are used for those purposes. The property is not and has not been used for industrial purposes, which is why the applicant is requesting for a rezoning of the property to bring back the use into conformance. The rezoning to residential transition allows for flexibility in zoning for future uses.
8. Allow for the construction of residential uses on existing lots of record and in locations that are not prime farmland. The land is not a lot of record and has a residential dwelling located on the lot.

Staff recommends approval of the request to rezone the property from the current zoning classification of Industry to Residential – Transition District in Lime Township.