August 13, 2021 at 10:32 a.m.
Center City vacating right-of-way not a black and white decision
Center City vacating right-of-way not a black and white decision
About a half-dozen residents attended to learn more about the applicant Pam Niemezycki who wants to combine five parcels on the east side of the Government Center on North Center Lake, and re-plat these into three rectangular buildable lakeshore lots, one includes the current ouse on Main St.
The request would necessitate vacating city rights-of-way that criss-cross near the lake.
Some residents at the public hearing argued in favor of maintaining the public strip of land for lake access. Small watercraft like kayaks and canoes can be carried in on the right-of-way— which now just looks like part of the applicant’s lawn.
The Department of Natural Resources is required by law to be notified when giving up or vacating right-of-way may affect lakeshore. There was a letter from the DNR opposing this street vacation as not offering a public benefit and as a regrettable loss of public access.
Center City zoning and land use consultant John Anderson said the resulting lots will provide a benefit through added property tax revenue.
Anderson said the way the configuration of the platted area is now “...makes it hard to make anything work on the property.”
There have been talks with Niemezyceski to shift lot lines when the plat is actually drawn, to create a good sized pathway to the lake that Center City could retain for public access. Mayor Jill Behnke suggested it could function like Chisago City’s public access to Little Green Lake at the end of an un-used, but platted, Chisago City street where Chisago City has a small improved dock, arch and path. Mayor Behnke said it would be her preference to prohibit snowmobiles from using any newly-created North Center Lake easement, however.
Consultant Anderson also explained that if details can’t be worked out and the final plat should never materialize— the street vacation goes away.
This was just the public hearing, the council vote on the street vacation will be Sept 7.
The issues with AT&T communications antennae projects on the city water tower have been resolved and staff said people may expect to see work happening on site around mid-August.
The dog training business in the mall— Balanced K-9 can proceed under a proposed revised ordinance.
Council will have to hold a public hearing to collect comment on the ordinance change in September, but everyone last week supported a proposed new definition of “keeping” a certain number of dogs. Center City limits dogs to three on a site but new wording will accomodate commercial needs.
Owner of the business Holly Carlson, (the Press was given the incorrect last name for the previous story) said she plans an Open House in October.
A plan to replace a cabin removed from a lot on Crescent Road was approved. The new building will be two stories with a wrap around deck on the lower level. The lot coverage variance was granted to go to 31.4 percent (25 percent is normal) and the front setback of the structure decreases to 12.8 feet from the required 30 feet.
A downtown commercial building owner was on the agenda to talk about issues with stormwater damages.
Kyle Johnson owns the former Gordy’s Pharmacy and the uphill corner of the brick building is being impacted by run-off. Johnson said from years of adding tar surface to the adjacent city street, the city is impeding drainage. The surrounding hard surfaces and an adjacent rooftop have nowhere to drain to except Johnson’s lot; and integrity of a sidewalk and the corner of the historic building is suffering.
Johnson wants to analyze the hydrology and work with the city on a solution. He was advised the quantity of water being dealt with will be measured by soil and water office representatives and start any engineering input needed.
The county senior center in North Branch requested $200 now that its is re-opened post covid, and council okayed the contribution unanimously. The center skipped its budget requests last year due to covid-19, and is replenishing accounts through summer 2022.
Council accepted a resignation from a city planning commissioner, leaving a vacancy to be filled at-large.
Anybody interested in serving can contact city hall. There also is a vacancy on the Heritage Preservation Committee (HPC), which reviews and safeguards historic structural design standards.
For details about the two groups’ meeting schedules and for applications contact city hall.
There is a conference call meeting with Minnesota Dept. of Health today (Aug 12) at 1 p.m. for available city council members and staff to discuss the manganese notice. (Story Press Aug 5.)
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