BAXTER - ALDI Inc., the grocery store chain, requested and received approval for a preliminary and final plat for its planned construction of a store near Target.
The store is planned along Dellwood Drive.
Called the ALDI first addition, the approval came with condition of providing 7 feet of right-of-way on Golf Course Drive. The city's planning commission recommended the 7 feet of right-of-way be reflected in the plans before the plat is recorded. Baxter also requested a sidewalk from Dellwood Drive to the east property line, which would be continued farther west as the next outlot was developed. Josh Doty, Baxter community development director, noted ALDI did provide a sidewalk to the east property line and was agreeable to extending it to the north.
The grocery store's front access and parking lot will be accessed from Dellwood Drive, which is the service street just off Highway 371.
The city also granted a conditional use permit for a joint driveway access with Target. And a variance for a rear 10-foot setback was allowed. The minimum setback is normally 30 feet. Doty said ALDI requested the variance in order to move the loading dock on the backside or west side of the building. Initially plans were for a loading dock on the building's north side but with numerous discussions with city staff, ALDI did accommodate a desire to have the loading dock at the rear of the building instead. However, Doty said in doing that the setback issue arose.
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Council member Mark Cross was concerned that variance would be attached to the property in perpetuity meaning the 10-foot setback could be used should the site be redeveloped or for a possible store addition. Doty said that the language could make it clear the variance was subject to this development plan. Additionally, a 10-foot screening wall will be along the loading dock to screen views of the trucks.
With the development, ALDI's agrees to pay the city's required park dedication fund, which is currently $21,671.
The plan is for a 17,825-square-foot store on nearly 2 acres near Target with access off Dellwood Drive. The front of the store is proposed on the building's west side. The remaining land between Mills Ford and Target, about 10 acres after the right-of-way considerations, would be set up as an outlot. ALDI's expects to hire 14 to 20 workers.
RENEE RICHARDSON, associate editor, may be reached at 855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Dispatchbizbuzz .
