May 21st, 2005

NORTHFIELD — Most of their concerns regarded environmental issues, but the crowd who viewed plans Thursday for the Riverfront Redevelopment project seemed enthusiastic about the future development.

The Northfield Economic Development Authority facilitated two public meetings this week to introduce the project to the public and gain their input. Mendota Homes has a preliminary site agreement with Northfield and the EDA to develop the site. As part of this agreement, the Little Canada-based developers must accomplish a number of goals and expectations for the site.

“They are not lofty, out of reach, ‘you’ll-never-be-able-to-do-it’ kind of goals,” but reasonable expectations, said John Mathern, owner of Mendota Homes.

It has been a year since Mathern took a look at the property, which is bordered by Highway 3, St. Olaf Avenue, Second Street and the Cannon River.

Along with Collaborative Design Group and Sanders, Wacker and Bergly Inc., Mendota Homes is proposing a mixed-use development site which incorporates design elements from the city’s downtown. Preliminary plans propose two condominium-type buildings and five retail areas with surface and underground parking available.

The city’s River Walk would also extend along the perimeter of the site, winding its way along the Cannon River.

Although Thursday night concerns ranged from traffic around the site to flooding concerns, many people had questions about what environmental protections developers would use for the site.

Bill Sanders, president of Sanders, Wacker and Bergly, stressed that there are concessions developers were making to be environmentally sensitive.

“We’re very environmentally sensitive to its location on the river, that’s an important goal,” he said.

In addition; rain gardens are being planned on the site to collect run-off from the development before it goes into the river.

Other concessions for run-off are also being made, Sanders said.

Ron Griffith, a member of the city’s planning commission, asked designers “what obstacles do you face. What do you worry about in terms of pulling the project off?”

For Lee Seppings, principal architect with Collaborative Design Group, one of the challenges is making sure the development is “harmonious” with the character of Northfield’s downtown and that the development is what people want it to be.

Sanders identified the river’s edge as one challenge faced at the site. Years of development have left the edge looking rather ragged.

The Mendota Homes team proposes to make the site “greener” than they found it with native plantings, but also to keep as many of the site’s original trees to keep the bank from eroding.

“The ecology of the site should be translated into its architecture.” Seppings said.

Penny Cupp of Northfield is one person who is enthusiastic about the plans.

“It’s one more places to live downtown.” she said. “… I like the location by the river and it looks like a pleasant place to live.”

One of Ann Kelley’s concerns dealt with preserving the environment around the river.

She felt her questions were addressed by Thursday’s presentation, adding that the development will be beneficial to Northfield.

“This is a very decent community and it’s going to be more so,” she said.

– Michelle Kubitz

Reprinted with permission from the Northfield News.