DETROIT LAKES — Is the Detroit Lakes City Council looking out for the current residents of Detroit Lakes or are they more interested in expansion and growth? The July 13th issue of the Detroit Lakes Tribune carries a front page story on a zoning change and Detroit Lakes city annexation of a large tract of rural land near a quiet neighborhood to an out-of-town developer. Last year the same developer asked for a zoning change to permit a convenience store on a corner of this land. The Becker County Board approved his request with a stipulation that it be placed further back from South Shore Drive along 270th Avenue, closer to the commercial storage buildings, rather than in a residential location.
The convenience store builder canceled his plans. Now, the developer has come to the city with a request to annex the same 78-acre plot of land, which is now in the county, along with a request that a 10-acre parcel be changed to a R-M zoning with the balance to stay at R-A zoning. R-M allows high-density buildings up to 60 feet tall, that is four stories high.
R-A is agriculture and single family residences. This request occurred at the June City Council meeting and failed. So, the request was changed to the whole parcel staying zoned at R-A.
The City Council then approved the annexation request in June. ADVERTISEMENT During the July City Council meeting, a council member made the motion to change the ordination back to the original R-M and R-A Zoning request. The council approved .