New Ulm City Council to rezone seven lots N. and German to service business district.

Council had already approved the rezoning but a first and second reading of the ordinance changing the zoning, plus adoption of the ordinance, were necessary to make the rezoning law.

The action came one a 4-1 vote following several expressions of continued opposition to both rezoning efforts plus two expressions of support. About 45 persons were present to hear the Council action on rezoning.

Only councilman voting against the dual rezoning ordinance was John Mowan. He told the Journal after the meeting he voted no because there were two separate issues involved in the one action and he had voted no on one issue and yes on the other issue when the rezoning petitions were originally approved by the council Feb.19.

Two petitions opposing the rezoning ordinance were received by the council-one signed by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Krause and Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Christiansen, and another signed by 257 persons (not necessarily neighbors to the land rezoned).

Two attorneys repeated their previously stated opposition to the rezoning.

Robert Halvorson, representing neighbors opposed to the rezoning of the seven lots in the 1100 block along S. Broadway, noted that the council takes actions it feels to be in the best interest of the city (a statement made by councilman William Gafford at the March 5 meeting).

But up to now, Halvorson said, he didn’t know of any showing by the petitioners of the S. Broadway rezoning that the rezoning would be in the public interest. He said the rezoning had been explained by petitioners as needed to make the and more desirable commercially, easier to sell. Halvorson said the opponents feel this is an improper reason to rezone.

Al Dosland, speaking on the 7th N. and German rezoning on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Christiansen, said,“This is another example of spot rezoning, not planning for the city as a whole.”

He said this rezoning would not be in the best interests of the city.

Christiansen himself spoke, asking the Council to vote down the rezoning, noting it wouldn’t cost anything to stop it at the council meeting but it would cost to stop it in court. He said he would either stop the rezoning at the council meeting or in court.

Alice Brey, a woman who lives across the street from Christiansen, said she was speaking on behalf of 16 other neighbors who still favor a Country Kitchen going in at Seventh N. and German.

Christiansen showed the Council pictures taken on a recent Saturday at Country Kitchen restaurants in St. Peter and Mankato showing garbage behind the buildings. Mrs. Brey said New Ulm is a clean town and there will never be such a problem of dirty garbage flying around at a Country Kitchen here.

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PAT MORIARITY, attorney for Martha Wegner who owns some of the lots involved in the rezoning at Seventh N., spoke in favor of the rezoning.

He said commercial zoning is only logical along a major access road, that the change is really only technical since the drive-in has been at that corner since before the zoning ordinance was passed.

Moriarity said there were already two commercial usages in that block-the drive in and a taxi service run by Christianson, that the rezoning would merely be an extension of these usages.

Dosland noted Christiansen operates one cab out of his home, with all business done over the phone, no customers coming and going.

Christiansen said the land wasn’t zoned commercial when he moved in or when Jerry’s Drive In opened, that the drive-in got a special use permit to open. He noted there will be no access to the Country Kitchen from the highway or access road, only from German Street.

The various arguments failed to change the council vote from its previous approval of rezoning.

New Ulm Daily Journal

March 20, 1974