Planning Commission Resolution PC-2025-41 (ZO Amdt_Land Use_Data Center PUD)CITY OF MONTICELLO
WRIGHT COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PLANNING COMMISSION
RESOLUTION NO. PC 2025-41
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MONTICELLO RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE
MONTICELLO CITY CODE, TITLE XV, LAND USAGE, CHAPTER 153: ZONING ORDINANCE,
SECTIONS 153.012 DEFINITIONS, 153.045 INDUSTRIAL BASE ZONING DISTRICTS, 153.090 USE
TABLE, 153.091 USE -SPECIFIC STANDARDS, 153.092 ACCESSORY USE STANDARDS AND OTHER
RELATED SECTIONS OF TEXT NECESSARY TO DEFINE AND REGULATE DATA CENTER AND
TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS LAND USES WITHIN THE CITY
WHEREAS, the City regulates land use through its Comprehensive Plan (currently the 2040
Monticello Vision + Plan), implemented through its development regulations, including its
subdivision and zoning ordinances; and
WHEREAS, the current Comprehensive Plan incorporates policy language that envisions a role
in the City's land use patterns for data centers and similar technology campuses within the
Light Industrial Park land use designation, under a series of expectations and conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Zoning Ordinance serves as the primary implementation tool of the City's
Comprehensive Plan goals and objectives for land use development; and
WHEREAS, the City utilizes a process for considering amendments to the Zoning Ordinance
from time to time, as various conditions or needs may warrant such considerations; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the direction of the Comprehensive Plan, the City finds that the best
interests of the City's land use goals and objectives, and reasonable flexibility for development
planning and timing, would be best served by amending the current Zoning Ordinance to
accommodate "data centers" as a unique land use category, within a specific "Data Center
Planned Unit Development" zoning district; and
WHEREAS, with the applicable amendment, the City would establish and retain land use control
over projects of this type, to ensure more effective planning, cost-efficient development, and
preservation of other City goals and objectives related to industrial and economic development;
and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has reviewed the amendments modifying the applicable
sections of the zoning ordinance and their effect on the City's land use plans and policies; and
CITY OF MONTICELLO
WRIGHT COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PLANNING COMMISSION
RESOLUTION NO. PC 2025-41
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on August 19, 2025 and September
21 2025 on the draft ordinance amendments and members of the public were provided the
opportunity to present information to the Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission tabled action on the proposed amendment and closed the
public hearing on September 2, 2025 to allow for additional research and revision to the
proposed ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on December 2, 2025 on the revised
proposed ordinance amendments and members of the public were provided the opportunity to
present information to the Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has considered all of the research and the written and oral
public comments, as well as the recommendations of the staff report, which are incorporated
by reference into the resolution the following Findings of Fact in relation to the
recommendation of approval:
1. The City's land use planning documents direct a balanced approach to development,
requiring adherence to high standards of use, but also recognizing the needs of the
private development market to efficiently plan for and finance that development.
2. The City's land use goals for industrial development as identified in the Monticello 2040
Vision + Plan include an emphasis on high -wage and high -volume employment, as well
as tax -base stabilization and diversification.
3. The incorporation of data center development has the potential to accomplish tax -base
stability and diversity.
4. The incorporation of data center development, due to its concentration of use has the
potential to create employment that includes high -wage positions, and periodically,
levels of employment that can be a component of the City's economic development
goals, even though total employment may be less than other industrial uses.
5. By retaining the ability to limit such uses in a controlled fashion, and only to suitable
locations, the potential allowance of data center development can accommodate both
the City's economic development goals and objectives, as well as its interest in quality
land planning.
6. The proposed ordinance regulating data center development establishes and retains
land use control over projects of this type, providing regulations specific to data center
uses, while facilitating more effective planning, cost-efficient development, and
preservation of other City goals and objectives related to industrial and economic
development.
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CITY OF MONTICELLO
WRIGHT COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PLANNING COMMISSION
RESOLUTION NO. PC 2025-41
7. The proposed ordinance requires that developers and users of data center facilities
study, analyze, and account for all relevant public costs, including public infrastructure
serving the project, subject to the review of the City, so as to avoid such costs being
spread to the general public.
8. The proposed ordinance requires that developers and data center facilities account for
the City's long term land use and growth when selecting potential sites so as to ensure
that the City's plans are not constrained by large data center location decisions.
9. The proposed ordinance makes it clear that the Monticello 2040 Vision + Plan, through
its future land use mapping, land use policies, and economic development objectives,
ensures that the City retains the full discretion and ability to approve only those data
center projects that clearly its various goals, objectives, and policies.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Planning Commission of the City of Monticello,
Minnesota, that the Planning Commission recommends to the City Council that the proposed
amendments to the Monticello Zoning Ordinance as provided in Ordinance 8XX to this
resolution be approved, based on the findings noted herein.
ADOPTED this 3rd day of February, 2026 by the Planning Commission of the City of Monticello,
Minnesota.
MONTICELLO PLANNING COMMISSION
By:
f
Andrew Tapper, Chair
ATTEST:
Angela Schumanlr,�o ir9finity Development Director
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