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Albert Lea City Council members on Monday voted to continue a temporary housing option in an industrial district for Albert Lea Select Foods to offer its employees.

Traditional residential uses such as dwellings, apartments and lodging housing are not allowed within the I-2 Industrial District, but because of the temporary nature of the request, state statute allows interim use permits as long as a framework for the land use is established.

City Manager Ian Rigg said the Albert Lea Planning Commission met June 3 to consider the extension of the interim use permit for residential conversion housing at the site, 1212 Sykes St., and recommended approval as long as the property continued to adhere to residential noise ordinances, collects trash in a three-yard dumpster container and schedules it for regular pickup, has no outdoor merchandise display or sales and does not have outdoor storage of construction equipment or materials including vehicles, trailers, lawn mowers, snow blowers or other recreational vehicles.

The commission found that the property will continue to alleviate the community’s housing shortage, will not impact neighboring properties and has adequate utilities, access roads and drainage.

Rigg said between one and four people have utilized the housing units at one time, and noted that most of the company’s new hires have found permanent housing in one to four months.

There have also been no police calls for service since the time the original permit was issued in July 2023.

During the work session ahead of the regular meeting, 1st Ward Councilor Rachel Christensen questioned whether the housing shortage was still as bad as the council has previously been told as the employees were able to find housing within three months.

Rigg said, anecdotally, he spoke with someone over the weekend who had to move to Northwood recently because she could not find housing that would meet her needs in Albert Lea.

Mayor Rich Murray said he would be curious to know where the employees are finding their housing — if they are moving in with someone else or even if they are finding housing outside of the community.

He said in talking with Realtors in late May, there are still only about 60 houses on the market, which is half or less than half of what it was just a few years ago.

The new interim permit will be good for 24 months from the date of approval.

Check back to www.albertleatribune.com for more from the meeting.