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The city of Luverne acquired two properties — 309 West Main Street and 708 West Hatting Street — in July and the council took action on July 28 to designate the lots for public use.
The residential lot on West Main Street is adjacent to the Blue Mound Liquor parking, located between Remedez and the liquor store on the south side of the street.
“It’s in an area that probably should be in the city’s portfolio for future economic development,” City Administrator John Call said at the July 28 meeting.
The city purchased the property from Dale and Karen Bosch, Beaver Creek, for $70,000.
The house on the lot was demolished last week, and the property is being held by the city to develop at some time in the future.
Also demolished last week was the pink-colored house north of the Laundromat that the city acquired last year.
At Monday’s meeting of the Luverne Economic Development Authority, the board discussed the recent progress.
“Traveling down Highway 75, it just looks tremendous having all that stuff torn out of there,” said EDA member Mike Engesser, also mentioning the former turkey barns, which were demolished in July.
West Hatting lot joins city portfolio
The empty lot on West Hatting Street is a grassy area located just west of the U-Store-It rental units.
The city purchased the roughly 3-acre lot for $54,000 from Darrel and LaDonna VanAartsen earlier this summer.
It, too, is being held for economic development purposes that may develop at some time in the future.
“This is a nice parcel, fully developed with water, sewer and street access,” Call said. “The city is short on good available lots for economic development — especially for light industrial use.”
Designating the two properties for public purpose makes them non-taxable for economic development purposes.
Great Plains Processing land rezoned for expansion
In other land matters, the council took action at its July 28 meeting to rezone a piece of Great Plains Processing ground from “neighborhood commercial” to “general industry.”
Great Plains Processing is a custom manufacturer of premium feed ingredients, specializing in spray dying, blending, logistics and warehousing. In July the company launched a new animal feed product that can be used as an alternative source for protein.
A July 20 public hearing drew no opposition, and the Planning and Zoning Board recommended the City Council also approve the request.
Councilwoman Caroline Thorson, who also serves on the Planning and Zoning Board, said she “whole-heartedly supports” the project for the manufacturing facility located on S. Walnut Avenue on the west side of Luverne.
She said Quintin Honerman is planning an expansion toward the southwest side of the plant, prompting the request to rezone that ground.
“It makes perfect sense,” Thorson said about the zoning action. “It’s a quiet industry and it won’t affect traffic.”
The July 28 action officially adopts an ordinance amending the zoning map to expand the “neighborhood commercial" ground into the “general industry” district.