Posted: 2/16/05
By MaryHelen Swanson
Churches and schools will be able to have multiple principal buildings on a single piece of property now that the North Branch Council has approved a zoning ordinance amendment.
The action taken Monday night was brought about by the Abundant Life Church request to build a youth center on the same property as their new church west of town.
This ordinance change now allows this to occur in all city zoning areas with municipal utilities as a conditional use, except industrial districts.
With the amendment approved, Abundant Life was then granted a conditional use permit for a church-related youth facility subject to the conditions that all city, state and federal laws be complied with, that there will be no parking on 392nd Street, that there be no access to Hwy. 95, that the plan be reviewed by the cityís fire department, that exterior lighting shall not exceed .5 foot candles and that lighting be box style, directing downward and turned off no later than 10 p.m. unless the facility is in use.
Screening is to be provided and the facility is not to exceed 5,000 sq. ft. in size. Councilman Larry Erickson added an additional condition, that there be no retail of Christian materials (from a store-like area) at this building.
The council also approved the sale of the Fairview Lakes clinic building for the price of $1.
In 1992, the city and Chisago Health Services entered into an agreement to provide doctor and clinic services with the intent of getting a full-time physician in the city.
At the time, North Branch served as the bonding agent for construction of a clinic building.
Since then, Fairview Health Services has purchased and taken over management of the clinic and now is completing the sale as agreed upon according to the former agreement between NB and Chisago Health Services.
That included the sale of the land and building to Fairview for $1, with Fairview paying all closing costs and the outstanding debt on the building bonds. According to City Administrator Joe Lynch, that is about $195,000.
Green Acres
proposal tabled
The agenda item on rezoning of the current Green Acres site, for nursing home operator Ecumen was tabled to March 14 as Ecumen and Chisago County were not ready with a new proposal, according to Lynch.
In other business, the council:
ï Hired Mark Jones as building inspector and code enforcement officer at a salary of $43,431. Councilman Larry Erickson opposed the hiring, but would not give an explanation.
ï Appointed Cindie Giem to the vacant park commission seat. Two applications had been received: Giem and Trevor Olson, who was a previous applicant for the planning commission.
ï Learned from planning director Alan Cottingham that cost estimates for development of Williamís Park (near the fire hall) are around $1.5 million for two soccer fields, playground equipment and parking lot. Adding improvements to the Wildridge park, the cost goes to $2.2- $2.7 million, Cottingham noted. Cost estimates did not include development of a future indoor ice arena or community center.
He talked about bonding for the improvements, as it could take 10 years of collected park fees to come up with the money for the projects.
ï Set two public hearings for April 11: One on the proposed adoption of modifications by the NB EDA to the Redevelopment Plan for NB Redevelopment Project I, the establishment of tax increment financing (housing) (TIF) within that redevelopment district and to establish a tax increment financing district for Ecumenís development of senior housing; and the second hearing on a proposed TIF district in the industrial park for a business that wants to come in.
ï Approved expenses of approximately $7,700 for remodeling and furnishings at City Hall. Also, administrator Lynch will be seeking a consultant some time in the future to help decide upon a better layout of City Hall offices.
ï Formally adopted five goals for this year as set forth at a special worksession earlier this year: 1) I-35 bridge; 2) downtown revitalization, 3) emergency vehicle preemption, 4) communication with residents, 50 global development review plan/policies.
ï Approved a conditional use permit for North Branch Water and Light to allow a well house north of 382nd Drive and Everett Avenue.
ï Approved a minor subdivision plat for Sunset Ridge Plat 2 (2 residential lots) for Stephen and Marjorie Benson of North Branch.
ï Approved the final plat for Lincoln Acres (6 residential lots located north of 360th Street and west of Lincoln Trail) for Terrance Bergeron of Chisago City.
There was discussion about shared driveways which Cottingham said were not recommended by the city.
Shared driveways were included in this plat because of issues of access onto a county road.
The councilís next worksession is Feb. 24 at 6 p.m., the next council meeting is 7 p.m. Feb. 28.
The council agreed to hold worksessions on the third Thursday of the month.
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