“We need to make sure that it’s very clear that additional applications will be needed for any development that is proposed on the site,” Senior City Planner Emily Schmitz said. “But that will be addressed at that time.”

Meeting Monday July 26, 2021, the Cottage Grove Plan Commission acted to approve a preliminary plat for the Shoppes at Cottage View along Highway 61 at Keats Avenue, with the next step the night of Wednesday August 4 at the regular Council meeting, after this paper goes to press.

The reason for current action on the preliminary plat as such has to do with the fact that the City has applied for federal funds to build infrastructure at the site and should know by the end of August 2021 if the funding is approved. It must be in possession of the right-of-way in order to qualify.

Just next to the old drivein theater before this was replaced by Walmart almost a decade ago, the site of the preliminary plat for the Shoppes at Cottage View also includes the site of the proposed Community Center to be voted on this November, with the preliminary plat approved by a vote of six to one at the July 26 Plan Commission meeting.

Now sent to the Council, the preliminary plat subdivides 55.82 acres into three separate lots, with one additional out lot of 0.28 acres for classed for future development. Currently zoned as R-4, Low Density Residential and AG-1 – Agricultural Preservation, the future site of the Shoppes at Cottage View (pending Council approval) was proposed to be divided into parcels of 18.18 acres, 14.47 acres., and 22.89 acres respectively, along with the out lot.

Public hearing notices to 56 property owners living within 500 feet of the development were mailed out on July 14, 2021, with an additional public notice appearing in the Pioneer Press newspaper of the same date.

The 14.47 acre parcel corresponds to the site of the proposed future community center is referenced in the preliminary plat as lot 1, Block 1 of the Shoppes at Cottage View.

As to sewer and water, the property is located within the Metropolitan Urban Service AREA, or MUSA, and City sanitary sewer and water service are stubbed at East Point Douglas Road, with the consequence that these can “be easily extended to the entire site when development occurs,” the Plan Commission packet states. Back at the meeting July 26, there was plenty to talk about.

“On to item 6.3, the Shoppes at Cottage View, Case PP2021-050 with Emily Schmitz,” Plan Commission Chairman Tony Khambata read from the agenda. Senior City Planner Emily Schmitz stepped up to the podium.

“The next application on your agenda is an application that was actually submitted by the City of Cottage Grove,” Schmitz told the Commission. “It is a preliminary plat application, to be known as the Shoppes at Cottage View,” she said. “A lot of people might know the site as the Dannur Apache site.” At present the site is subject to grading activity and would continue to be subject to this as it develops.

“It’s important to know that this plat is a proactive measure,” Schmitz said of the Shoppes at Cottage View, with the City looking to view Cottage View Drive as the main road through the site in the future. In order to be eligible for federal grant dollars to build infrastructure at the site, Schmitz said that the City needed to be in ownership of the right of way at the site. explaining the “why” for submittal of the plat at present as the City awaits word on whether federal monies are approved.

“The City has been working with the property owner to get to this point,” Schmitz said of the site. Lest there be any confusion of the plat division, meanwhile, Schmitz made clear that it was for establishing the City’s rightof- way and that more would be needed for any potential or future development.

“We need to make sure that it’s very clear that additional applications will be needed for any development that is proposed on the site,” Senior City Planner Emily Schmitz said. “But that will be addressed at that time.”

Making her recommendation to accept the plat, Schmitz then faced questions from the Commission.

“Just looking at the preliminary plat and as a pretty heavy user of the bike trails here in town I know there was a connection between Ravine Park possibly,” Commission member Derek Rasmussen said. Would the trail connection…?”

“Long term, but still a part of the plan,” Schmitz answered Rasmussen of the trail connection. Then it was into city resident comments.

“Question,” resident Gabriel Shore “How does that continue the snowmobile trail? That kind of cuts the snowmobile trail. Where’s the right of way for that?” he asked.

Schmitz replied by apologizing for not having the information and saying the city could get the matter clarified. Chairman Khambata also spoke up in reply to Shore.

“My current understanding of the snowmobile trail is that it’s mostly volunteer and that they work with the property owner,” he said. “I would assume that until any actual development there would be no change unless the property owner no longer gave permission.”

Following more questions, the Plan Commission sent the preliminary plat for the Shoppes at Cottage View to the Council to act on Wednesday August 4.

Plan Commission member Derek Rasmussen. Photo by Joseph Back

Senior City Planner Emily Schmitz at the Plan Commission meeting. Photo by Joseph Back

Meeting Monday, July 26, the Plan Commission approved a preliminary plat for the Shoppes at Cottage View, laying the necessary groundwork for eventual roads at the site.Photo by Joseph Back