Council: House near roundabout can be business [St. Cloud Times, Minn.]

Dec. 06--Keeping an eye to a changing neighborhood, the St. Cloud City Council on Monday approved a plan to change a home into a business.

The council unanimously approved allowing an insurance company to remodel a home at 1988 Stearns County Road 134 for business use. The property owners wished to sell the property because of the impact of a proposed roundabout at Stearns County Road 120 and County Road 134.

A roundabout is planned for that intersection as part of improvements planned for County Road 120. A roundabout is also planned for County Road 120 and CentraCare Circle.

Jonathan and Tamme Seelen live at the property, which is at the corner of the proposed roundabout. They initially asked to change the zoning from residential district to commercial district, but the council approved a planned unit development instead.

A planned unit development restricts how the property can be used so the property can only have the home remodeled for professional office space.

Changing the property's zoning to a commercial district would have allowed a developer to tear down the building and put a number of different types of commercial buildings on the site.

The couple is worried about how the roundabout will affect their property. The couple says there will be an increase in traffic in front of their house and headlights from eastbound traffic will shine directly into their home. They also are worried about how the roundabout will impact their property value.

The Planning Commission had voted against the proposal at an earlier meeting, citing concerns about whittling away at the residential neighborhood, Community Development Director Matt Glaesman said.

While council members understood that concern, they said they thought the property was no longer suitable for a residential home.

Council President John Libert said the property is in his neighborhood and he wants to see the neighborhood preserved. But he said he would not want to live at the property once the roundabout is built.

___

(c)2011 the St. Cloud Times (St. Cloud, Minn.)

Visit the St. Cloud Times (St. Cloud, Minn.) at www.sctimes.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services