Residents on the north side of Interstate 94 in the communities of Albertville and Otsego are raising their concerns, and rallying for the cause against a possible truck stop near the intersection of the new County Road 38/137 (formerly County Road 37) and Interstate 94 intersection.
The Love’s Travel Stops corporation has approached the Eide family about the land, and is reportedly interested in building a truck stop at the location, which is about a quarter of a mile northeast of Emma Krumbee’s gas station and restaurant.
Otsego city representatives have told KARE 11 network and residents in the area – who are on the border of Otsego and Albertville – that they have been contacted by the company, but no plans have been submitted to the city planning commission. City Planner Dan Licht said the city will abide by zoning ordinances and state law if a submission of a plan is made and a land purchase agreement is finally put in place.
But Albertville city representatives, and neighbors, don’t want the project going too far down the proverbial road without some major questions addressed.
On her Facebook page, in a post on the issue, Mayor Jillian Hendrickson said she is “concerned” about the prospective truck stop. Infrastructure, for one, raises questions.
Residents in Otsego have said the same to KARE 11. In a story that aired last weekend on the NBC affiliate, families said the truck stop brings concerns to people in neighborhoods that are already on edge about a new entertainment center near the Albertville Premium Outlets, and are wondering how much traffic local roads can take.
Otsego Mayor Jessica Stockamp said she welcomes communication from residents, but if and when the item is placed on the city agenda, that is when residents need to make their opinions known. Correspondence – whether by phone, e-mail or letter – with the mayor is not placed in the city’s official record, she said. However, testimony given during city proceedings is logged in public record.
Albertville city leaders discussed the possible truck stop at its meeting Tuesday, Jan. 3. However, as Hendrickson said, there’s not much more Albertville can do beyond lobby the county and their neighbor city against the proposal. All zoning decisions will be made by the City of Otsego with Wright County’s highway department.
North Wright County Today will keep residents updated with any new developments in the Love’s Truck Stop issue when they happen.