Cliff Buchan
News EditorAction by the Forest Lake City Council Monday night has set in motion steps for two businesses to make improvements.
Votes by the council approved a liquor license request by the owners of Peppermint Parlor & Eatery, 56 E. Broadway, and plans for the construction of a funeral home proposed by the Roberts family, owners of Forest Lake Floral & Garden Center, 508 S. Lake St.
On the latter matter, council voted 4-1 with member Susan Young opposed to approve the preliminary plat plan, site plan and final plan as recommended by the planning commission.
The action paves the way for the construction of a 7000 square foot plus funeral home called Centennial Funeral Home. The facility will be located on the west side of the garden center site fronting on Centennial Drive. The site will have parking for 68 cars.
Young said she was opposed because of traffic concerns on Centennial Drive, a street that she called too narrow.
A spokesperson for the Roberts family said the business anticipated an average of one funeral a week in its first year and most public gatherings would come at night when traffic volume on Centennial Drive is not high. The business should not be compared to the high-volume traffic of the Forest Lake Post Office, the representative said.
The second business request affects the ice cream shop located in The Plaza. The councilís 5-0 vote Monday will allow Peppermint Parlor to sell wine and beer as part of its regular business offerings and have a set-up license to allow patrons to bring hard liquor into the shop during private parties.
Owner Wendy Chelberg said the wine and beer would enhance the evening trade at Peppermint Parlor while the set-up capabilities would enable the business to attract more private parties where liquor is desired.
Lakeside Park plan
Council Monday voted 5-0 to authorize plans and specifications for construction efforts in Lakeside Park next summer. A major park redesign and north-end Broadway improvements behind Park Place will be bid by the city next spring as a single project.
The decision Monday came with the blessing of the cityís park board, but with a contingency. The park board asked for and received council permission to delay the start of the park work until July 11, 2005 to allow for some of the Arts in the Park programs to be completed.
While park board members could not be definite, they said a plan was being formed for a secondary site in Forest Lake to host Arts in the Park, the farmerís market and the crafters fair.
City Administrator Chip Robinson said Department of Natural Resources grants, park board-matched funds, parkland donations and a five-year commitment for funding from the Forest Lake Lions Club will cover the park changes. The Lions have pledged $64,000 as their share of the total project cost that will exceed $500,000.
City Engineer Paul Hornby said the work would be bid next spring and carry a construction completion date of October 31. The goal, officials said, is to avoid having construction last until the 2006 season.
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