Tuesday, 5:15 pm, Ely Council Chambers
Scroll down to read Ordinances 397, 398, and 399. Copies of the 1st Reading are available at https://www.ely.mn.us/ordinances. Copies for the 2nd final reading are available via the April 7th Council packet at https://www.ely.mn.us/council-meetings
At the April 7th Ely Council meeting, the public will not be able to comment on the ordinances before Council votes. The public input happens at the Public Hearing at 5:15 pm just before Council meets.
City Hall and City Council don’t want or expect the Public to show up, so they allotted only 15 minutes for public input. Three Ordinances in 15 minutes.
The vague Public Notice posted on the City website gives the impression everything is fine and simple. To get details, you have to click several links.
If you click on the date and title of the Public Hearing, you expect more details, so you could do more research. Maybe a map. Maybe an explanation as to why the change is being made.
Sorry! Look at the right column to see what you see after you click.
Note: if you want to see the ordinances, the link will take you to the 1st reading.
More info about Ely’s Business Park – EEDA website
Read more about proposed development on Miners Drive
Read our post about Tuesday’s April 7th City Council meeting that starts at 5:30 pm. https://elyminnesota.com/blog/how-money-is-spent-council-mtg-april-7-2026/
On any of our posts, do a search for “Miners Drive,” and many posts will appear, including YouTubes of City meetings.
Do a word search on Comprehensive Plan, (luxury) hotel, train depot, or ordinances. Our post about city visions and plans points out what is missing as we try to set goals and development for Ely: https://elyminnesota.com/blog/reviewing-ely-city-visions-plans/
What is Ordinance 397 about? What’s the real intent?
Good luck figuring out what’s intended here. There is no other documentation or explanation in the Council packet or attached to the ordinance itself when you click the link to the City website. You’re on your own. City Hall, the Mayor, and Council apparently hope you get frustrated and don’t proceed to the Public Hearing.
Note: Ordinance 397 switches zoning from public to commercial, allowing for private commercial development along Miners Drive.
If you read Ordinance 399, you’ll see many restrictions are deleted for development. The City believes in build, build, build. Quiet green areas for passive activities are not valued. Read some of the excerpts to see what the City’s real intent is.
What is Ordinance 398 about? What’s the real intent?
There is no other documentation or explanation in the Council packet or attached to the ordinance itself when you click the link to the City website.
Ely City Code did not have anything permitting businesses that rescue animals or board cats and dogs. Ordinance 398 indicates where they are permitted.
The ordinance explains what the letters O, X and I mean. But it doesn’t explain C-1, C-2, or M. Good look searching on your own through the Ely City Code! Who would use the words “Zoning District Schedule”? Remember Section 11.41. Page numbers are confusing.
Because Contented Critters and/or other organization wants to set up these services near our current Ely Vet Clinic, Miners Drive seems an idea location. They meet a need in our community.
Zoning Codes Explained
Read the fine print in Ordinance 399 – what’s deleted?
For example, notice Subd. 1 of Ordinance 399
The stipulation for Only low impact . . . businesses has been removed. Notice what else has been deleted. Read the whole proposed ordinance.
Subd. 79 of Ordinance 399 is really confusing, probably intentionally. First, the City seems to want park and recreational spaces. And then it doesn’t.
Read all of Ordinance 399 and then Ordinance 397 again. The City of Ely wants public space turned over to commercial development.
If you have strong feelings about Miners Drive., go to the Public Hearing AND contact all of the Council Members (not just your favorites ones, all of them) directly. Whatever your opinion.
If you moved to Ely, because you appreciated the quiet, safety and nature of/within Ely, then say something at the Public Hearing.
Isn’t it strange that the usually vocal environmentalists are not trying to preserve what’s left of the natural quality of Miners Drive? Somewhere there has to be a reason for their silence. While discussing the Land Use and Comprehensive Plan last year, one active community member said the City of Ely has enough natural spaces: We have the Boundary Waters, Whiteside Park and Lake Shagawa. We don’t have room to create, preserve or expand open or natural environmental areas. Who disagrees?
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