Concept Plans For Sartell Paper Mill Site Unveiled, Public Input Sought

(KNSI) – The Sartell City Council was recently presented with three potential concept plans for the Verso Paper Mill site on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River just north of Highway 15.

Consultant Anita Archambeau says the finalized document would be attached as an amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan. It represents only the first step of many before developers are brought in.

She says, “The purpose for these is just to have in policy form, upon adoption of the plan, an idea of what the city and the city council would deem an acceptable reuse of that property. There still needs to be changes in zoning ordinances and potentially land use policies.”

Archambeau is taking the suggestions of the council and revising the plans. They will then go before the public with about six meetings in early January to gauge overall opinion.

Archambeau says the documents are not developer documents but more like a blueprint. She explains the purpose behind bringing the plans before residents. “I think when we’re trying to go out and ask the public for their thoughts on the layout, ‘Are we hitting the mark in terms of what you’d like the buildings to look like? The building materials? landscaping trails? And other elements that might be part of the design guidelines that will eventually be adopted by the city?”

Earlier this year, the council, public, and stakeholders were asked what they wanted from the site. At that time, everyone agreed on a blend of mixed-use buildings with retail on the ground level and apartments or condos above, recreation, and townhomes.

The different concepts are already posted online for you to review here.

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