NEW ULM — The New Ulm Planning Commission recommended the amendment of the city’s zoning map at its meeting Thursday.

This recommendation would bring the map into conformance with the proposed new zoning ordinance for New Ulm.

New Ulm City Planner John Knisley said the city’s zoning ordinance consists of two parts: the ordinance text and the map. The text was previously recommended to the New Ulm City Council. The map shows the various zoning districts and uses that are described in the text of the City’s Zoning Ordinance.

The zoning map is always kept current with any change in zoning districts approved by the City Council. Zoning districts are generally divided along public streets or alleys but sometimes may follow a property line if there is a distinct change in uses between properties.

Knisley said the old zoning map had nine zoning districts.

The new zoning map will depict 21 zoning districts; eight residential, four commercial, three industrial, and six special. An agricultural/open-space district is also included on the map.

The map was unanimously recommended by the commission. The map will be formally adopted by the city in conjunction with the adoption of the new zoning ordinance.

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A preliminary plat in the Milford Heights 5th Addition was recommended by the commission. The plat applicant is Al Poehler on behalf of S & P Development. The plat is for the project at 648-685 Waraju Drive and the total area is 5.48 acres.

The plat would create 20 new lots to accommodate 10 twin homes; five on each side of Waraju Avenue.

Staff recommended approval of the preliminary plat as it complies with city code requirements.

Poehler attended the meeting. He said this plat would help continue the development of twin homes by S & P Development in that area.

“The twin homes are selling very well,” Poehler said. “There are very few lots let in town, that’s why we decided to do both sides.”

The twin homes are popular with the 60 and older demographic, he said. Poehler said the twin homes were a way to downsize with less lawn to mow. The location is also popular.

The preliminary plat was unanimously approved by the commission.

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The commission approved the application of Nicole Elsawaf and Rich Draheim for a Conditional User Permit (CUP) allowing the conversion of the back half of the New Ulm Event Center into 22,000 square feet of climate-controlled self-storage units and converting the detached warehouse building into 7,200 square feet of non-climate controlled storage units. The property is at 301 S. 20th Street.

With this permit, the remainder of the building would continue as an event center.

This plan has approximately 53 units on two floors in the event center for 106 units total and 32 units in the warehouse building.

Staff recommended approval of the request as this use fit the same basic characteristics of the permitted use in the district. Parking provided for the storage units was not expected to interfere with the event center business.

The planning commission supported the permit, believing it was a creative use of the existing property.

Community Development Director David Schnobrich asked about the building’s future as an event center.

Permit applicant Nicole Elsawaf attended the meeting by conference phone. She said the intention is to continue marketing the building as an event center. She said due to COVID the event center business was tough financially. The storage business was intended to support the building through this time. She believed an event center and storage facility were a great mix and could keep the business going.

The commission unanimously recommended permit approval. The permit will come before the New Ulm City Council next Tuesday.

Elsawaf said the plan is to have the storage units operating by May.