Still no say on Fledgling development

By Sara Quam
Tonight could bring a final decision in the Fledgling Field development issue, but both sides of the debate aren’t holding their breath.
The Luverne Planning Commission meets at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers to discuss the future of Fledgling Field after Tuesday’s meeting ended in a recess.
Since May, the commission has listened to those in favor of allowing Cornerstone Construction to build a funeral home on the lot and listened to those against varying from a strict residential zoning.
The commission has already taken a 60-day extension, which expires Nov. 8, and unless a decision is made tonight, it will have to ask for another extension.
Letting the deadline pass without decision would mean the request is automatically approved by the commission. The City Council still has final say in the matter but will give high consideration to the commission’s recommendation.
Funeral homes aren’t specifically named in any existing zoning codes — business or residential, so the Fledgling Field decision comes down to a judgment call by commission members.
Acting city attorney Ben Vander Kooi, said at this point the commission has three choices:
Members can decide to grant the conditional use permit.
They can deny the permit.
They can put a hold on the vote and amend the zoning ordinance to specify placement of funeral homes. This would require writing the amendment, a public hearing and council approval.
Vander Kooi recommended the third option but said the process couldn’t be completed before the Nov. 8 deadline. Since the commission has already received an extension, it would have to ask Cornerstone for the extension.
Commission members who will be voting on the conditional use permit are Bob Dorn, Mike Rofshus, Curt Gacke and Jim Kirchhofer. Joel Johnson is abstaining because as a funeral home director, he has a conflict of interest.