Posted: 11/10/04
By MaryHelen Swanson
A place for children under 12 to play and learn is the goal of three women who faced the North Branch Council this week.
Lori DíAgustino, Larissa Gunderson and Christine Stephans would like to open Outback Playhouse in North Branch.
The cityís planning commission and the city council both agreed that such a business would fall under the ìlimited recreational facilitiesî definition. This may help the women find a suitable location for their business.
The indoor play center would not be a place to drop off kids, but a place to bring families together, the three women stressed.
Besides fun activities, they would offer classes for parents, such as first aid and CPR, and clubs for kids to join.
They do not intend to have a pool, exercise equipment or banquet halls, but still provide a community-type center for the families of the North Branch area. The women told the council they are still in the planning stages.
The council was updated on progress of the county to sell Green Acres Country Care Center to Ecumen, a health care provider. County Commissioner Rick Olseen talked briefly about the additional 20 acres and the cemetery on site which is of interest to the county historical society.
The council also approved a minor subdivision plat for Peterson Addition - 3 residential lots on Maple Street - and denied a zoning change for Andrew Harrington to allow multiple principle buildings on lots in the commercial district as a conditional use.
The council also approved spending $12,500 of park dedication funds for a feasibility study on improvements at Williams Park and $6,800 from the same fund for a feasibility study of improvements for Wildridge Park.
City Administrator Joe Lynch also apprised the council of a speed study that has been requested of Mn/DOT by the county on a portion of Forest Blvd. from 375th to Hwy. 95. He told the council not to get hopes up that the speed would be reduced, noting that some times it is increased after a study.
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