Posted: 9/6/05
By MaryHelen Swanson
The North Branch community is one step closer to potentially having a new nursing home, again.
The NB city council, on a vote of 3-2, officially approved the rezoning of the current Green Acres Country Care Center property so a developer can proceed with a plat.
That means that Ecumen, the current operator of the nursing home, can potentially sell the property, which it is buying from the county for $1, and use the revenue to construct the new senior living complex west of the freeway which is planned to include a 68-bed long-term care facility.
Earlier this summer, the rezoning approval had originally been denied because of a 2-2 vote and then that vote was rescinded at an Aug. 22 meeting when Councilor Kathy Blomquist decided to no longer abstain from voting (she said she did not have to even though she is employed by Ecumen). But there was a question about the legality of that vote, since the issue was not on the agenda Aug. 22.
Last week, city attorney Tom Miller said he consulted with another attorney who is a certified parliamentarian. Miller said he believes that what the council did in rescinding a tie vote was what the majority of the council wanted and could be supported.
He said he believed the rescission on Aug. 22 would be considered a technicality should it be contested and that the vote could be ratified.
Mayor Gloria Karsky then said it might be good to ratify that vote and she moved to do so. The ratification was approved 3-2. Councilors Amy Oehlers and Theresa Furman were opposed.
The council then went on to discuss a revised preliminary plat. Blomquist noted that Ecumen is now willing to donate 25 acres for open space, that they have identified the wetlands and are aware of what they have to deal with and are willing to abide by the cityís tree preservation plan.
Blomquist indicated that for these reasons she has changed her mind about voting on issues related to the Green Acres project.
The discussion turned to the denial of the preliminary plat for the housing development that would go on the current GACCC property. The plat had been denied Aug. 22, also on a 3-2 vote.
City planner Al Cottingham told the councilors they could rescind that vote too or move to reconsider it. The council chose to reconsider it by a 3-2 vote.
But the plat now before the council was not the same plat that had been approved by the cityís planning commission on a 5-0 vote.
Cottingham said the plat could be sent back to the planning commission.
The new plat is proposing smaller lots, since the developer is giving up more open space. In order for the plat to be approved a variance on lot size would be needed or the plat would have to be submitted as a planned unit development (PUD).
This time it was councilors Oehlers and Furman making the motion to send the plat back to the PC and that vote was unanimous.
The council, receiving a petition to conduct an environmental assessment worksheet, voted unanimously to approve having the EAW completed.
There being no other business for this special meeting, the council went through the list of upcoming meetings. The next regular meeting will be Sept. 12, unless there will not be a quorum at which time it will be moved to Sept. 13.
A tape of the Aug. 30 meeting will be aired on local cable at noon Sept. 12.
©ECM Post Review
6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com