former hamilton site

Staff presented a proposed 2026 community visioning process for downtown and the former Hamilton site, described as surveys, meetings, voting, and outside facilitation.

Staff linked the visioning process to environmental cleanup steps, referencing state cleanup benchmarks and upcoming soil sampling.

Staff said a zoning change is planned and noted that intended use affects the level of cleanup required.

Staff reported Thermo Fisher Scientific supports a city-initiated zoning change of the former Hamilton Industries site from industrial to business, with Plan Commission review expected in February and a City Council public hearing after that.

Staff reported the city plans a community visioning process with the Main Street organization covering redevelopment concepts, infrastructure needs, design standards, and public engagement for the former Hamilton site and the Main Street corridor.

Staff reported PFOS/PFOA sampling is required under the city’s state discharge permit, with results due in July.

Staff said trends are around 126 with an anticipated limit of 140, and that prior sampling confirmed PFAS is present in the effluent.

Staff said the city could be required to write a PFAS minimization plan depending on final sampling results.

Staff said they expect the landfill to be a major PFAS source and said they are talking with the state about narrowing any required investigation and exploring possible state/federal funding for treatment at the landfill before it reaches the sewer system.

Plan Commission discussed a city-submitted zoning change for the former Hamilton property (Parcel No. 053-000-052-030.05), from I-1 (Industrial) to B-1 (Business); the property is owned by Fischer Scientific INTL LLC.

Commission members were told PFAS-related materials had been submitted and state approval was pending, with soil sampling expected in the spring.

Commission members were told the city plans to develop the property after acquiring it.

Plan Commission voted 7-0 to recommend the zoning change to City Council.

Staff updated the committee on resident feedback collected so far for the Hamilton site visioning process and previewed the next phase meeting; no decisions were made.

City Council held a public hearing on the proposed zoning change for the former Hamilton property; three calls for comment were made and no one spoke.

City Council approved the ordinance rezoning the former Hamilton property (Parcel No. 053-000-052-030.05) from I-1 (Industrial) to B-1 (Business) by an 8-0 vote.

Staff discussed challenges with disposing of wastewater sludge, including rules and practical hurdles for land-applying sludge on farm fields; no decision was recorded.

City Council reviewed three preliminary concept maps for redeveloping the 14-acre Hamilton property and took no formal action.

Staff reported environmental testing results showing 10 soil cores below state PFAS screening levels, and said this could help the city pursue an environmental liability exemption before serious redevelopment talks.

Council discussion raised tradeoffs including conference hotel viability, long-term maintenance costs of expanded park space, and potentially high stormwater costs under a higher-density plan.

Next steps described included publishing the slide deck, running a public survey from July 6 to mid-August, and holding three listening sessions, with a targeted final concept expected to return to Council on Sept. 21.

The listening session agenda included reviewing site plans created by the community and by students.

The listening session agenda included reviewing conceptual design options for the former Hamilton property.

The listening session agenda included discussion of site features and priorities.