St. Cloud Approves Trail Improvements, Opens Public Comment on South Side Development

(KNSI) – St. Cloud approved an opening up public comment on an environmental review for a development, gave the thumbs up to a trail redevelopment project, and wanted more information before selling a sports complex’s naming rights.

St. Cloud residents can look at the potential environmental impacts of the development of a 42-acre site on 33rd Street South. The city council will meet Monday to approve a 31-page Environmental Assessment Worksheet that looks at the potential effect of four separate apartment buildings with 350 units, a 90,000 square foot recreational facility, a 60,000 square foot retail building, several smaller retail establishments, a 45,000 square foot assisted living facility and a 40,000 square foot office building.

Residents, environmental groups, and government agencies have 30 days to review the EAW and submit their comments before the city council rezones the land. The EAW would look at the impact on traffic, water resources, fish and wildlife, and more. The EAW also has a suggestion to deal with those potential impacts.

After the public comment period closes, the city council can move forward with rezoning the property for the project. That meeting could take place in mid-March.

If approved, construction could begin on the apartment buildings in the summer of 2022. The rest of the property would be developed at a later time.

St. Cloud approved redoing a 4.5-mile stretch of the Beaver Island Trail. The $1.25 million reconstruction project will repave the trail from St. Cloud State University to Interstate 94.

Work on the project will begin in the spring. The Beaver Island Regional Trail Restoration Project was given $500,000 from the Minnesota Legacy Grant funding program. The remaining $750,000 will come from local funds, including the local option sales tax.

St. Cloud removed the proposed agreement to hire a consultant firm to help sell naming rights, sponsorships, and donations for the Municipal Athletic Complex. The money would help pay for an expansion project. The one-year contract was put on hold because council members wanted more information. The proposed deal is with Front Burner Sports and Entertainment. The deal would pay Front Burner Sports a $3,000 base salary for twelve months. ($36,000) The consultants would also get a 10% commission on the lifetime value of sold sponsorships.

The city says the naming and sponsorship rights could generate around $1.5 to $2 million to put towards the proposed MAC expansion. St. Cloud has proposed a $31.1 million expansion project for MAC. The project would include 30,000 to 40,000 square foot addition, including locker rooms, training areas, pregame areas, storage, adding artificial turf to Dick Putz and Joe Faber field, maintenance upgrades, and additional paved parking.

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