The Newsleaders
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Sartell – St. Stephen
    • St. Joseph
    • 2024 Elections
    • Police Blotter
    • Most Wanted
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Editorial
    • Letter to the Editor
  • Community
    • Calendar
    • Criers
    • People
    • Public Notices
    • Sports & Activities Schedules
  • Obituaries
    • Obituary
    • Funerals/Visitations
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Submissions
  • Archives
    • Sartell-St. Stephen Archive
    • St. Joseph Archive
  • Advertise With Us
    • Print Advertising
    • Digital Advertising
    • Promotions
    • Pay My Invoice
  • Resource Guides
    • 2024 St. Joseph Annual Resource Guide
    • 2025 Sartell Spring Resource Guide
    • 2024 Sartell Fall Resource Guide
The Newsleaders
No Result
View All Result

CentraCare Woods Farmer Seed & Nursery Pediatric/Welch
Home Opinion Letter to the Editor

Here we go again! Reader expresses frustration about repeated special-use permits

Christian Gilman by Christian Gilman
March 16, 2012
in Letter to the Editor
0
0
SHARES
1
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ellen Wahlstrom, St. Joseph
A special-use permit for a fourth used-auto sales establishment was approved by the St. Joseph Planning Commission over strong objections from the abutting neighbors. The site for the car lot is located on the east side of 8th Ave N.E.

Yes, we understand a used-car-lot use was grandfathered in when the site was annexed to the city. However, the problems of that poorly run car lot were also grandfathered in.

Yes, we understand an auto dealership is allowed under Section 52.32, B-2 Hwy 75 Business District, subd.4. Those auto dealerships need special-use permits with “conditions applicable” for the approval of their operations but experience has shown car lots seem to be unable to be in compliance with these conditions.

No, we do not understand why only a few of these conditions have been enforced by the city and the violations are not a meaningful part of the considerations at the planning commission public hearings.

No, we do not understand why there has been scant compliance required by the city and no concern on the part of the property owners, Four Square Investments, to oversee the car lots to operate in a manner that provides for the safety and privacy rights of the abutting residential neighborhood.

And, no, we do not understand why property owners, with planning commission assistance and again easing of required conditions, continue to put in a business that clearly does not fit the site. Experience throughout the years has shown the limitations of the site make management of a used car lot difficult thus resulting in the lack of compliance and that, in turn, causes problems with abutting neighbors. Adding there has been precious little enforcement by the city, it begs question whether the city has the resources to monitor and enforce a used car lot that draws interested parties day and night, as has been in the past? The security systems have been unworkable in keeping the night parties from walking in with flashlights to examine vehicles.

Because the property owners had no vendor at the time of the public hearing, there was concern about the business that would be put on the site. The city administrator stated any road-worthy vehicle could be sold on a used car lot. This was alarming to the residents because of the potential for lack of control for what can be sold and the possibility of what could be sold.

Compliance issues such as lights shining in houses, disruptive noises, people trespassing on neighbors’ yards and an added concern for preschoolers regularly staying at a home in very close vicinity to the sales activity are neighborhood issues. However, the type of road-worthy vehicles that can be for sale on a used car lot, and, in general, the city’s ability and will to do surveillance plus the planning commission’s apparent selectivity regarding  compliance should be concerns for all residents of St. Joseph.

In the ordinance, there are 20 to 25 businesses that would fit well into that location and into the neighborhood. We encourage the property owners to seek out one of those types of businesses for that site. The original plan for the site was very suitable to abut a long established R-1 District.

The whole process of the public hearing was unclear and actually confusing to the public attending. As a result, a party very directly affected by many years of business infractions felt intimidated by the manner in which the chair denied her attempts to reiterate her grievances.

This kind of treatment should not happen to any citizen attending any public hearing or public meeting.

If the city council approves the planning commission’s recommendation to allow a special-use permit for the used car lot, which the commission feels Four Corners Investments is entitled to, then they need to take responsibility to enforce compliance so the neighborhood can expect the safety and privacy rights to which they are entitled as residents of St. Joseph.

Previous Post

Stress transparency in government year-round

Next Post

Frank honored with Warter scholarship

Christian Gilman

Christian Gilman

Administrative / Layout Assistant

Next Post

Frank honored with Warter scholarship

Please login to join discussion

Rock on Trucks Autobody 2000 NIB - shared Pediatric Dentistry Pine Country Bank Quill & Disc Scherer Trucking Welch Dental Care Williams Dingmann

SJWOT Talamore 1 Talamore 2 Country Manor Country Manor - 2

Search

No Result
View All Result

Categories

Recent Posts

  • St. Augusta woman missing from Willmar area
  • Two-vehicle collision sends three to hospital
  • Tree-cutting mishap sends Eden Valley man to hospital
  • Regular school board meeting Sartell-St. Stephen public schools ISD 748
  • General notice to control or eradicate noxious weeds

City Links

Sartell
St. Joseph
St. Stephen

School District Links

Sartell-St. Stephen school district
St. Cloud school district

Chamber Links

Sartell Chamber
St. Joseph Chamber

Community

Calendar

Citizen Spotlight

Criers

People

Notices

Funerals/Visitions

Obituary

Police Blotter

Public Notices

Support Groups

About Us

Contact Us

News Tips

Submissions

Advertise With Us

Print Advertising

Digital Advertising

2024 Promotions

Local Advertising Rates

National Advertising Rates

© 2025 Newleaders

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Sartell – St. Stephen
    • St. Joseph
    • 2024 Elections
    • Police Blotter
    • Most Wanted
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Editorial
    • Letter to the Editor
  • Community
    • Calendar
    • Criers
    • People
    • Public Notices
    • Sports & Activities Schedules
  • Obituaries
    • Obituary
    • Funerals/Visitations
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Submissions
  • Archives
    • Sartell-St. Stephen Archive
    • St. Joseph Archive
  • Advertise With Us
    • Print Advertising
    • Digital Advertising
    • Promotions
    • Pay My Invoice
  • Resource Guides
    • 2024 St. Joseph Annual Resource Guide
    • 2025 Sartell Spring Resource Guide
    • 2024 Sartell Fall Resource Guide

© 2025 Newleaders