By Dan Solovitz

On Aug. 17, the Cottage Grove City Council approved the final plat for the already-in-progress Logistics Parks Second Addition. The council also approved the proposed development plan going forward, as well as the building agreement with Missouri-headquartered NorthPoint Developers. The large complex of multi-use buildings is expected to be used for distribution, light manufacturing, warehouses, and office space. The development aims to offer numerous future options to attract a wide variety of businesses.

Located in the city’s quickly-growing Business Park south of Highway 61, the new structures are going up just southwest of Ideal Avenue South and 100th Street South. The land area consists of approximately 252 acres, and the buildings themselves will encompass 3.4 million square feet, an area of over 70 football fields.

The City Council approved the planning of the development in December 2021. Construction began promptly in Spring 2022.

The Aug. 17 meeting allowed council members to review the progress and inquire about what the coming months have in store for the Logistics Park.

“We’re working through this in phases,” said Cottage Grove Senior Planner Emily Schmitz. “The developer comes back to us with a site plan review for each phase to make sure that we’re meeting all the details of the project.”

“As part of a site plan review, we do look at all of the details, such as setbacks, landscaping and parking. Setbacks and parking are all being met with Building 3, but also for the parking lot,” according to Schmitz. “Buildings 1 and 2 are in the northwest corner, while Building 3 is being platted on its own parcel in the southwest corner.”

When asked about the aesthetic and environmental impact the site will have on local residents in the area, Schmitz said, “The developer is proposing a robust landscape plan. As we look back and remember a lot of the discussions of that master site plan, we’re providing sufficient screening within the area on all sides of Building 3. In addition, with their noise study, they

See PLANS Page 2

Building 2 in mid-stages of construction, showing overall façade shape and an example of the planned noisewall. Photo by Dan Solovitz.

Early construction of Building 1 on the northwest side of the development shows walls beginning to go up. Photo by Dan Solovitz. PLANS

FROM PAGE 1 are proposing to extend the noise wall. They’ll continue that sound wall along the west side of the development, and again on the south side of Building 3, which would be adjacent to future 105th Street South.”

Progress and timing are currently exceeding expectations. According to Ryan Zickel, Development Manager for NorthPoint Development, “Building 2 is about a 500,000 square-foot building. The roofing is currently going on and is nearly completed at this point. It will be delivered by the end of the calendar year. We’re paving ahead of schedule, so it’s going really well on that building. Building 1 will be done shortly after, with walls going up this week.”

Asked by Council Member Dave Thiede about potential tenants in Building 2, to be completed first, Zickel said, “We’ve had good activity on site. We don’t currently have any leases signed as of yet, but we’re very excited to be investing in the community and bring another half-million squarefoot building here.”

Pictured above: Graphic representation of what the buildings will look like from the street upon full completion. Image courtesy of the City of Cottage Grove

View from above showing the full proposed layout of the development, with 100th Street South at the top and Ideal Ave S at right. Image courtesy of the City of Cottage Grove

Graphic representation of what the buildings will look like from the street, showing proposed landscaping and vegetation. Image courtesy of the City of Cottage Grove

A view of a small section of newly-built noisewall along 100th Street South. Photo courtesy of the City of Cottage Grove

Building 1 wall construction beginning to take shape on the northwest corner of the development. Photo by Dan Solovitz