By Tim Douglass

tdouglass@pctribune.com

Glenwood City Commissioners tabled a request from Pope County for a variance that would allow fewer off-street parking spaces at its parking lot in front of the renovated human services building at Minnesota Avenue and 2nd Street.

The commissioners voted unanimously to table the request until its first June meeting to allow city and county staff to get a better idea of how many parking spaces would actually be needed at that facility.  The variance was triggered by the renovation of the county facility. 

According to information at the meeting Wednesday, the city’s planning commission denied the variance request largely because it wanted the county to pursue other off-site parking options. 

At the hearing, however, city commissioners heard new information from Pope County Administrator Kersten Kappmeyer, who stated that the existing parking spaces would likely meet the city’s ordinance requirement for a couple of reasons, including the county has reduced its fleet vehicles parked in the lot and that there would be fewer county workers in the renovated building on a day-to-day basis.

According to a city memo, the proposed parking plan from the county calls for 10 parking spaces below the minimum requirement of 56.  The existing parking lot has 57 spaces, but 11 of those are occupied by vehicles from the county fleet, making just 46 spaces available.  Because of parking availability in the downtown Glenwood area, each parking space is important, said  Glenwood Commissioner Neil Haynes.  He said parking, or lack of parking in the downtown area is a major concern from businesses.  He said inadequate county parking can “spill over into off-street parking and that can affect our small businesses.” 

Kappmeyer, who addressed the commission at the public hearing, said he believed there was nothing in the code that addressed fleet vehicles and stated that the county was within city requirements because the county only renovated an existing building and did nothing to enlarge it.  “The footprint of the building is exactly the same,” he stated.  He added that the parking at the facility will actually be reduced below the pre-pandemic level.  

Kappmeyer also argued that denying the variance would not be consistent with other actions taken on parking issues in the city.  “I’m not saying its wrong, I’m just saying compared to what we’ve seen (on other variances) it appears arbitrary,” he explained.  

He also explained that the county is doing its best to reduce vehicles in that parking area, providing the commission with new information on the recent reduction of fleet vehicles from and stating that remote work and the merger with Grant County into Western Prairie Human Services, workers will work out of both locations reducing the number that are at the Pope County facility on a day-to-day basis.  He said that about at its highest, 33 workers were stationed in the building on a given day and now he expects that number to be 25 or lower.

County Commissioner Gordy Wagner also said he had spoken with the director of Western Prairie Human Services and it was estimated that 20-25 workers would be an accurate number at the Pope County facility.  

After the public hearing was closed, City Commissioner Todd Gylsen asked City Administrator Dave Iverson to explain the calculation he was using for required parking at the county lot.

Iverson said Kappmeyer had done a good job of explaining the situation and said the city’s code is based on square footage, but also pointed out that the parking lot also serves as an “overflow for the Courthouse.  

He suggested that the new information provided by the county warranted another look and advised the city commission to table the issue to give the city and the county staff a chance to re-look at the need and the request.

In other business, the commission:

•Approved a conditional-use permit for Yellow Company LLC (Marthaler Chevrolet in Glenwood) to build a reconditioning center north of the existing dealership that would provide washing, preparation and detailing of used vehicles.  While that usage was not identified by city ordinance it was recommended for approval by the city’s planning commission and after a public hearing on the matter, the city commission voted unanimously to allow the permit.

•Approved a $1,000 donation to the Minnewaska Lake Association.

•Approved State of Minnesota Joint Powers  agreements with the city on behalf of the city attorney and the Glenwood Police Department.  

•Directed city staff to purchase and install an automated reservation system for Barsness Park camping and building rentals.  The system, will cost about $700 per year, but will allow reservations every day, 24-7 and reduce staff time allocated to tracking and doing the reservations.

•Authorized the administrator to hire Karen Cockrell as the new office assistant/secretary.  The commission approved the hire pending a favorable background check.  

•Approved partial closing of 2nd Street SW for motorcycle parking during June 18 Glacial Ridge Hospice Ride.  It also approved closing a portion of South Lakeshore Drive for the Kid’s Day event on June 4.