By MaryHelen Swanson

Fears that construction or reconstruction of buildings in the downtown area of North Branch will be hampered for months can be alleviated now that the North Branch City Council has voted down a moratorium.

The 3-2 vote at the council meeting Monday night means that building projects will not hang in limbo and realtors can sell downtown properties.

It could also mean that the downtown area may not be redeveloped in a theme the city would like, according to a plan that is to be prepared by the Revitalization Task Force with the help of a professional consultant.

City hall seating was at a premium as business people and residents flocked to the meeting to shed some insight into what a moratorium would do to the growth of the downtown area.

North Branch Chamber director Kathy Lindo started the public conversation with comments that a moratorium shouts an unwelcome message to new businesses.

She said it says the city "is difficult to work with" and would exude a negative attitude that wouldn't be good for the city.

Lindo is member of the revitalization task force.

Businesswoman Gail Koskinen asked what was wrong with the 1994 redevelopment plan, a plan that apparently has been sitting on a shelf in city hall, unused.

Some members of the public felt a moratorium was a good idea, and would allow time for public input into a revitalized downtown area.

Deb Heggerstrom, who owns Main Street Center, a large building formerly known as the 612 building, favored a moratorium to keep the look of the two-block downtown area consistent with its historic buildings. She also said it would be nice if neighboring businesses could be notified of pending improvements in the area.

Jim Vrchota, who plans to open a new banking business in North Branch, was against the moratorium. He said the task force should be able to do its job without putting up a "stop sign" for business growth.

Another person against a moratorium was Stan Jakubowski who suggested the city be run more business-like.

A homeowner whose house falls within the proposed revitalization district asked how residents would be affected.

That's when Councilwoman Amy Oehlers, the person who had suggested the moratorium and public hearing, explained that no one is trying to take property.

The main focus is the downtown business area, she said, adding that the larger area was created for tax increment purposes.

The discussion went back and forth, those who favored and those who didn't.

Some didn't want to end up looking like Forest Lake, others, like Cathy Carchedi, iterated what others said that a moratorium will not be inviting to new business.

A number of those speaking had businesses or owned property in North Branch but did not live here.

Finally, the public comment closed.

Council member Oehlers reminded her peers that as part of the task force she talked with business people and none were against a moratorium.

She said the moratorium she proposed would have been for six months, she did not favor going any longer. In fact, if the plan is prepared by November, she felt that's when a moratorium could end.

Regarding the message "Don't come to our city" that some felt would be out there, Oehlers felt it was the opposite. A "mish-mash" of buildings will not attract new business, she said.

Councilwoman Kathy Blomquist was concerned with the specific area of the moratorium, saying the council had not stipulated boundaries.

Blomquist felt a moratorium was premature, not the right time. She said they needed input from affected business owners and to have a plan in place.

Finally, Mayor Gloria Karsky spoke. Like Blomquist, she said it was important to get input from the business owners. She thanked the task force for the work they have already done and encouraged them to move ahead with their work.

She also told the roomful of people that input doesn't have to be just at a public hearing.

She sent an invitation to all to come to the task force meetings and share ideas.

City financial director David Stutelberg also reminded everyone that minutes of the task force are available online. Go to the city Web site and then click on the EDA link.

The mayor said she was struggling to find a purpose for the moratorium, and that it was a drastic measure.

The moratorium came to a vote with a time limit of November 30, 2006.

The vote went down with Blomquist, Karsky and Councilman Larry Erickson opposed. Oehlers and Councilwoman Theresa Furman voted for it.

Comment from mark schmidt, 8/2/06

i have had the privelege to tour many downtown areas of various cities because of my occupation as a truck driver. i have lived in North Branch for nearly 34 years and upon comparison with similar sized cities--our downtown has no character. what do we have as a draw to downtown north branch--we need revitalization of our down home down town, back to it's history and roots---without the midtown buildings---i want to be proud of this city and right now i'm not