The former House of Nutrition building at 914 N. 5th Street will be home to a new bakery business following approval of an Interim Use Permit (IUP).
NEW ULM – A new bakery will operate in the former House of Nutrition building on N. 5th Street following approval of an Interim Use Permit (IUP).
IUP was unanimously approved by the New Ulm City Council at Tuesday’s meeting. The permit will allow applicants Holly and Justin Schaefer to operate a bakery at 914 N. 5th Street. The business will operate in the front two-thirds of the building, with the back third used for storage of bakery products.
The retail space will sell baked goods such as breads, scones, cookies and bars. Business hours are Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no indoor seating where you can eat and drink purchased items.
Schaefer estimated that about 150 loaves of bread and additional baked goods would be made on site each day. The majority of manufactured bakery products are delivered to customers outside the facility.
City Planner John Knisley said this is only the fifth IUP approved by the city. IUPs are typically used as temporary permits for real estate. Permits do not remain at the facility indefinitely.
In this case, a permit is required because the property is zoned as a traditional residential area with low-density housing. Although the property is zoned residential, the building has been operated as a commercial property since it was constructed in 1946. Art Meerfield Motor Shop was the first business to operate on the property. It later became the home of Able’s electric car store. Millers upholstery. Gary’s Outboard and Nutrition House. Nourishing House closed in 2023.
Knisley said because the property has a long history of commercial use, staff believes the bakery will be in line with the city’s comprehensive plan and has no intention of expanding the commercial site into residential land. . Staff and the New Ulm Planning Commission recommended that the city approve the permit application.
Mr Kniseley reminded council that IUPs are not permanent, but last for a specified period of time up to five years. Staff supported the five-year permit. After five years, applicants can apply for renewal. If the ownership of the property changes, the IUP is no longer valid.
No public comment was accepted on the permit, but the city did receive a letter from Anne and Dave Grunert in support of having a bakery in the neighborhood. The Grunertzes live near the property and reported no problems with their previous business, House of Nutrition, which operated the building. They believed it would be beneficial to operate a small business out of the building rather than leaving it empty.
Councilman Larry Mack said: “It’s a good use of real estate, and it’s been some kind of business since it was built.”
Councilman David Christian made a motion to approve the permit, seconded by Councilman Eric Warmka. The permit was approved unanimously.
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