Matt Jacobson

Clay County Commission

Dan Haglund

A request to rezone a 4.6-acre tract along Highway 10 between Glyndon and Hawley was unanimously passed during a public hearing by the Clay County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday in Moorhead.
Matt Jacobson, Clay County Director of Planning and Zoning, presented a request for major platted subdivision and petition to rezone the tract, a parcel which represents the southwest corner portion of a half-section of land (319.77 acres) at the intersection of County Road 113 and Highway 10.
It would represent a final plat for a one-lot commercial subdivision named Highway 10 Store All Subdivision.
The tract is currently agricultural, primarily pasture. There are a number of wetlands on the property, though likely not in the area for the proposed platting, according to the National Wetlands Inventory.

Currently, it is zoned “Resource Protection Aggregate,” Jacobson said. There is not a lot of gravel extraction potential or minable land, but in past years there was some mining, he said.
“As always, we’re looking at these requests and how they are compatible with the comprehensive plan goals and objectives,” Jacobson said.
The main goal is to include the encouragement commercial and industrial development that is in harmony with the agricultural and rural character of the county.
There are three parts to this goal, including: to promote value-added agricultural. Commercial and industrial development in Agricultural Service Center areas along transportation corridors and hubs; to avoid or mitigate against commercial and industrial development in or near environmentally sensitive areas; and to avoid or mitigate such changes which would increase the potential for land-use conflicts with rural, residential or agricultural uses.
Jacobson said parcel development for residential use can be simple done administratively, but a commercial parcel a plat is required according to the county development code.
This plat will not require any internal roads, and access will be from County Road 113. The development plan includes up to four commercial storage buildings.
Jacobson added that the state Highway Department requires a minimum access of 480 feet away from the intersection of Highway 10 and County Road 113, with an access permit required.
Jacobson said there have been a few public comments on this proposed development as well, including that some residents do not want to see commercial development in this area, concerns about traffic impacts on County 113, and repeated issues with a nearby property owner as cattle have gotten out onto the road and residential yards.
The Clay County Planning and Sheriff have received these complaints about this in the past.
Jacobson said additional comments were received just this week as well, including concerns about consistency with agricultural and residential development in the area, potential risks to surface and ground water resources, impacts to wildlife (there is a state wildlife area a half-mile to the north), diminished property values, potential for increased criminal activity, impact on views from surrounding properties, and future ownership concerns, to name a few.
Jacobson also added that the tract already has water drainage in place to the north and east.
Clay County resident Randy Bach, who lives across Highway 10 from the proposed development, said traffic is already heavy at the intersection.
“There have been a couple of accidents recently,” Bach said. “Our Highway 10 corridor is traveled by visitors as well as residents in the summers, it’s really a high-profile area, and from a resident’s perspective we just want a real thoughtful development, growth and change there.”
Commissioner Kevin Campbell, Dist. 4, inquired with Jacobson if the commercial developers intend to fence the area, and Jacobson said yes.