The Cloquet Planning Commission will have an action-packed meeting Tuesday evening, with two proposed apartment buildings on the agenda, as well as a Friends of Animals request that would allow the humane society to move into the Cloquet Business Park on Highway 33 north of town.
The commission will consider the following items at its meeting:
A request for a variance to allow a density of 32.34 units per acre versus the ordinance maximum of 20 units per acre from Commonwealth Development Corporation for a proposed apartment building planned on behalf of the Cloquet/Carlton Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). The building would be located next to the HRA’s existing Cloquet apartment building, Aspen Arms, on 14th Street. The developer is also requesting preliminary approval of the site plan for the building. Al Cottingham, director of planning and zoning, said the Planning Commission’s decision on a variance would be final. He also noted that under current city zoning laws, the entire site would be allowed 67 units total, and Aspen Arms contains 73 units already. Until 2009, however, the city allowed a density of 32 units per acre. This is a public hearing.
A request from Sherman Associates for preliminary approval of a site plan for an apartment building to be located in the current Cloquet Middle School so the company can proceed with funding requests. Cottingham said his department has informed Sherman Associates that they need to be sure they will have adequate off-street parking for the development, a major concern expressed by residents and officials at previous public informational meetings about the proposed development. The Cloquet School Board is currently negotiating a purchase agreement with Sherman Associates for the building once it’s vacated.
Two requests from Friends of Animals Humane Society. Both are public hearings. The first is a request for a zoning ordinance text amendment that would allow humane societies and commercial kennels as a conditional use in the office/manufacturing section. The second request is for a conditional use permit for the humane society to relocated to the Cloquet Business Park, lots 2 and 3, block 4, or the former Cloquet Home Center site.
Cloquet residents are encouraged to attend and give input during all public hearings. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, in the Council Chambers at Cloquet City Hall, 1307 Cloquet Ave.
