By Maya Betti, News Intern
Editor’s Note: Here on KYMN, we’re taking a closer look at transportation, parking, and infrastructure in Northfield. This is part one of our series, Transportation in Northfield, where we explore how the city is navigating current challenges and planning for the future.
We begin with a recent development aimed at easing parking pressures around St. Olaf College. In response to growing concerns from both the college and surrounding neighborhoods, the City Council has approved a request from St. Olaf to add 26 additional spaces to the Lincoln Street parking lot.
With demand for student parking far outpacing supply, and 300 parking permit applicants on a waitlist, the college has been struggling to balance the needs of students with the concerns of nearby residents.
Mike Berthelsen, St. Olaf’s Vice President for Business and Finance, says the college is trying to be responsive on all sides.
“We know that given the size of the student body, the interest and demand of the student body, and the things they want. We know that we don’t have enough parking to meet the need.. As proven by a 300-student waitlist, and so we also know that feedback from our neighbors, they have concerns of how many cars. Which clearly are related to students, are those neighbors, and what that means for their livability in their neighborhood,” – Mike Berthelsen, Vice President for Business and Finance and Chief Financial Officer of St. Olaf College, at the 7/22/2025 Northfield City Council Meeting
Like many problems, however, there isn’t one solution. The college is also working through a site plan to add 93 more spaces to the Skoglund lot. But even those larger plans are seen by some, such as City Council member Jessica Peterson White, as a short-term fix.
“I am sure St. Olaf doesn’t want to spend St. Olaf’s money on building and maintaining 300 more parking spaces. That’d really be a lot of parking. So there is continuing to be a gap unless St. Olaf and the city of Northfield both can take some more intensive actions to make it much more, dramatically more possible to live without a car,” – Council Member Jessica Peterson White, at the 7/22/2025 Northfield City Council Meeting
Berthelsen says the college is encouraging more students to use public transportation — and making progress — but acknowledges the problem isn’t going away.
“In the planning commission, one of the questions was, can we promise that students won’t park in the community… We can’t make that promise. We know that if we do nothing, it’s not going to get better,” – Mike Berthelsen, Vice President for Business and Finance and Chief Financial Officer of St. Olaf College at the 7/22/2025 Northfield City Council Meeting
While the 26 new spots offer a bit of relief, as the college and city navigate next steps, the conversation around parking is far from over.
Check back in with KYMN as we continue to explore the parking crunch at St. Olaf – and what the future could hold for transportation in Northfield.
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