Osburn asks for rezone near H Street

By Tara Nelson

A zoning amendment proposed by developer Rick Osburn could turn eight acres south of H Street currently zoned as manufacturing/business area into a mixed-use development.
During a Blaine city council meeting Monday, Blaine community development director Terry Galvin recommended council members give a preliminary nod to Osburn’s plan.

Under the current zoning, the property can only be used for industrial purposes. Galvin, however, said because the property is located on a high-volume intersection of H and Odell streets with a residential area immediately to the west, the property could be better utilized to serve a variety of needs, as well as create a transitionary buffer between residential and industrial areas.

Osburn said he would like to develop a mixed use planned development that would include Flexspace storage units, office spaces, and medium-density residential such as townhouses, apartments or condominiums with underground parking.

Preliminary sketches shown by architect Dave Christensen included a new street connecting Ludwick and Odell roads, as well as pedestrian crossings on H Street at Ludwick, and between Ludwick and Odell roads.

Christensen said the location was ideal because of the proximity to a high-density commercial center.

“People want to increase walkability, urbanity, friendliness and compactness,” he said. “A lot of the citizens are really asking to do this all around the country. We want this kind of connectivity.”

Galvin recommended that the city council support the initiation of a zoning and master plan amendment on the property provided that Osburn is able to show the zoning responds to current demand and that he submits a phased application for corresponding development project in conjunction with his request.

“We think it’s a pretty good place to start with and it could have some very positive impacts if proposed and developed correctly,” Galvin said.