Ireland Lambrecht Competes at State Golf Tourney
All-Conference Track and Field Teams
City/School District Considering Land Swap Page 8
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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, JUNE 22, 2016
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NUMBER 26
City Council Okays Final Plans for Ridgeview Health Campus But Major Amendment Might be Coming by Dan Ruud The Belle Plaine City Council Monday night unanimously approved the planned unit development and final plat for Ridgeview Medical Center’s health campus that will be located adjacent to the new overpass near the intersection of Highway 169 and County Road 3/Meridian Street. Final plans call for a mixed-use development that will include a three-story, 54-unit senior independent living center, a 12,900square-foot medical clinic with future vertical expansion, and a 10,000-square-foot health and wellness center. Construction
of the complex is expected to begin this summer. However, it was noted in the council packet that Ridgeview Medical Center and The Lutheran Home Association will be introducing a proposed planned unit development amendment and replat of the health campus. The proposed replat includes a new lot that would create the potential to transfer fee ownership of the lot 2 to a different property owner. Community Development Director Cynthia Smith-Strack noted in the report that the new parcel would be owned by private investors and would be taxable but that it is the intent of The Lutheran Home Association to purchase the land within the next five years, at which time The Lutheran Home would propose to change the property from taxable to tax exempt. During a recent workshop,
Ridgeview Vice President John Prondzinski explained that Ridgeview had been seeking the YMCA as a partner, which did not materialize and Ridgeview pursued other options. City Council Member Cary Coop expressed concern over the fact that the city provided a business subsidy to Ridgeview with the intent of increasing the city’s tax base, and that now it appears a portion of the development could become tax exempt. A public hearing on the amended planned unit development and replat will be held shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5. In other business Monday night, the council unanimously approved a conditional use permit request by Chris Wyman (Belle Plaine Motor Company) to allow for a used auto sales establishment at 405 Enterprise Drive near Highway 169 (former BP gas station property). The business will also provide auto repair and the rental of UHaul moving trucks and trailers. The 1.7-acre site was purchased at a Scott County foreclosure auction earlier this year. Community Development Director Cynthia Smith-Strack reported that the volume of used vehicles to be on display at the dealership is estimated at 40, and that the volume of
City Council
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The Tigers were awarded their state Class 2A runner-up trophy Monday at Target Field.
H.S. Baseball
Tigers Fall One Victory Short of State Title But Still Reach Target
by Dan Ruud The longest season and postseason run in Belle Plaine High School baseball history came to an end on the longest day of the year when the Tigers lost to Minnehaha Academy 5-1 in the state Class 2A championship game at a warm and sun-
splashed Target Field on sum- Cloud, defeating Fairmont 1-0 mer solstice this past Monday in the quarterfinals and Maple afternoon. Lake 6-4 in the semifinals. The Tigers, who were play- A summary and more ing in their first state baseball photos of the state basetournament in program history, won their first two games to ball tournament can be earn their date at Target Field found on page 13. last Thursday and Friday in St.
City Council Passes New Ordinance
B.P. Fire Dept. Hosting Relating to Solar Energy Systems Following a public hearing and receive a credit on their – If you move within the same Open House, Monday night, the Belle Plaine electric bill. Utility customers area (in some states, the same City Council unanimously ap- within the solar garden’s ser- county, and in others within a Ribbon proved an ordinance that will vice area, including residences, certain number of miles), you provide for solar energy sys- businesses, local governments, can transfer your subscription Cutting tems as accessory and principal non-profits and faith-based or- to a new meter. You can sell your subscription at any time uses in certain zoning classifi- ganizations can all subscribe. Tonight cations within the city. – Unlike big power plants, you choose if you move out of
The new ordinance, which is available for review at Belle Plaine City Hall, also assigns specific performance standards to potential solar energy providers. Previous city land-use controls did not address solar (or wind) energy systems. After receiving multiple inquiries the past year from solar providers with proposals to provide services in Belle Plaine, the council in January directed the city’s planning commission to develop guidelines (ordinances) to follow when considering such proposals. No one in the audience during Monday’s public hearing addressed the council. The new ordinance states that “solar energy systems are classified as either accessory or principal uses of property. Solar energy systems as accessory uses are allowed in all zoning classes provided performance standards are met. Solar energy systems as principal uses will only be allowed in the A-2 (Rural Residential) District under issuance of an interim use permit and provided performance standards are met.” Community Solar Garden legislation was passed into law and signed by Gov. Mark Dayton as part of the Solar Energy Jobs Act in 2013. About Solar Gardens Friday evening (June 17), downtown Belle Plaine businesses hosted the community cookout. – A solar garden is a solar It drew hundreds of area residents to sample delicious cuisine at several businesses. The cook- electric array with multiple subscribers connected to the out was accompanied by a classic car roll-in hosted by R/T utility grid. The subscribers Garage. Sponsored by the German Days Committee, the commay purchase a portion of the munity cookout and classic car roll-in were the kickoff to the power produced by the array weekend’s German Days festivities.
The Belle Plaine Fire Department is hosting an open house and ribbon cutting tonight (June 22) to present the refurbished fire hall and thank the companies that helped with the improvements. The open house will run from 6-8 p.m. The improvements inCaitlyn Schoon, who will be a senior at BPHS this fall, was clude new countertops and carcrowned Belle Plaine’s new German Days queen during Satpeting in the fire hall. urday’s coronation downtown. More German Days photos appear on pages 2 and 14.
Miss German Days
Cookout Draws a Crowd
a solar garden is a distributed generation project. Distributing power production provides benefits to communities beyond local, clean and more affordable energy. It also creates jobs locally and avoids destroying delicate habitats.
the area. If you sell your home, your subscription can be sold separately or with your home, depending on your preference. – Subscriptions usually run for 20 years and can be sold before that term ends if the subscriber moves.
B.P. Native Who Ran Glam Slam for Prince Found Dead Belle Plaine native Paul Pudlitzke was found dead in his house in Minnetonka Saturday morning (June 18). Minnetonka police were called to Pudlitzke’s house on the 5100 block of Woodhill Road just before 8:25 a.m. The call by an acquaintance of Pudlitzke’s reported a man not breathing, according to a press release from the Minnetonka Police Department. Minnetonka Police Chief Scott Boerboom said there was no sign of foul play at the house and investigators are not looking for any suspect who is a threat to the community. He declined specific comment on the investigation. “At this point, we’re looking into everything,” Boerboom said. “It’s too early to classify the investigation. We’re looking at it in all directions.” Pudlitzke, 48 and a Belle Plaine High School graduate, ran Prince’s Glam Slam night
clubs in downtown Minneapolis, Los Angeles and Miami in the early1990s. More recently, he worked in real estate. Pudlitzke’s brother, Mark, said Paul’s death is an unexpected tragedy, “especially considering his age.” Details on a celebration of Pudlitzke’s life are pending, Mark Pudlitzke said. Pudlitzke is survived by his brother, Mark (and his wife, Julie) and sister, Joy (and her husband, Todd). Minnetonka police and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office are investigating the case. The cause and manner of Pudlitzke’s death won’t be available for 6-8 weeks, according to an investigator in the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office.