By MaryHelen Swanson

Family Pathways lost out again Monday night, when the North Branch City Council denied the application for a land use guide amendment and rezoning of Abundant Life Church property to commercial.

Family Pathways, a non-profit service agency which assists low-income families, is trying to purchase the church building for a food shelf and thrift store.

The city council has delayed action on the request over concerns of moving the buffer between downtown commercial zoning and residential zoning.

In addition, there has been some concern about the type of business that could potentially operate out of the church if Family Pathways should move out.

But, Family Pathways may still have a way that they can get into the church building. It could happen if the cityís planning commission approves an amendment to the ordinance that would allow a service organization such as Family Pathways in a residential area as a conditional use.

A public hearing on the amendment will be held at the May 17 PC meeting. Their recommendation will go to the council at its June 14 meeting.

If an amendment allowing for such a conditional use is approved, Family Pathways can apply for a conditional use permit (CUP). That application could be addressed at the July PC meeting or at a specially called PC meeting.

In other business, the council:

ï Approved a fireworks permit for Northern Lighter Pyrotechnics for the 4th of July display at Tower Field;

ï Received the feasibility study for the Viking Park Street Improvement project and set a public hearing for 7 p.m. June 14 on the improvements;

ï Approved the preliminary plat of Willow Glen (near Green Acres) for applicant Minnesota Granite Investment Group, LLC, for 8, 10-acre lots with the request that a shared driveway for lots 5 and 6 be changed and that the city is granted an easement agreement and maintenance agreement between lots 7 and 8. The council also wants the planning commission to look at an ordinance amendment concerning shared driveways, as there is none;

ï Denied a variance and minor subdivision plat (on Jeffrey Avenue) for Kevin and Sue Torgerson. The council felt it would set a precedent to approve additional lot development (3 lots) on a private road. The council saw no hardship that would require the variance;

ï Approved, with 13 conditions, the final plat for the 9th addition of Casselberry Ponds which is for 11, two-family lots. The extension of municipal utilities will be at the expense of the developer, the trunk fees of $1,700 for sewer and $3,927 for water must be paid before infrastructure improvements begin. Water and sewer access fees must be paid per lot at the time of the building permit application. The developer will make a contribution of $1,800 per unit for park dedication. Sidewalks will be installed and there will be no driveway access onto Hemingway;

ï Approved, with the same 13 conditions, the final plat for the 10th addition of Casselberry Ponds, for 22, single-family lots. This is the last stage of Casselberry Ponds, noted planning director Al Cottingham; and

ï Adopted a newly revised personnel policy for city employees. As noted at the May 4 council work session, vacation and sick leave have been replaced by personal time off. At the request of the council, funeral leave has also been removed and rolled into PTO. Employees will now have to use PTO for funerals. Councilwoman Amy Oehlers opposed the approval of the policy because she doesnít agree with requiring employees to enroll in the insurance program, although the employees do not pay the premium for themselves, and she was opposed to including funeral leave in PTO.

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