Crookston Planning Commission Recommends Rezoning for Chico’s Transport Expansion

On Tuesday night, the Crookston Planning Commission convened at City Hall to discuss a rezoning and variance request from local business Chico’s Transport. The business, owned by Rosa, Lauro, and Robert Gutierrez, is located at 442 Marin Avenue and needed additional storage space for large trucks and oil changes, especially during the winter months.

Currently, Chico’s Transport performs light maintenance work like changing oil in a less than ideal area in the front of the lot. In order to expand their operations, they proposed to be rezoned from an I-2 to an R-2 zone, which is a residential family housing zone. The previous owner had allowed this change to accommodate a neighbor who needed the property for a residential house sale.

The Planning Commission unanimously recommended the rezoning and variance requests as they deemed it a beneficial move for both the city and the business. If approved by the council, this decision will allow Chico’s Transport to expand their operations while also benefiting the city with an expanded tax base and the removal of a residence that may have needed to be demolished.

The recommendation will be presented to the Crookston City Council at their next meeting on Monday, April 22 in the City Hall council chambers.