Alice Pickering
Linwood Area Reporter

A decision on a request for a conditional use permit by Nancy Zeidlik-Zimney, 24301 East Typo Drive NE, to operate a cat resort and kennel was tabled by the Linwood Town Board on July 25 until a special meeting Aug. 2.

A site visit is scheduled before the meeting.

A long-time resident, Zeidlik-Zimneyís house sits back about 300 feet from the road on the dead-end street. Her plans include building a 45-by-25 foot accessory building for the kennel.

She is requesting a variance that the building sits six feet closer to the road than her house. Supervisor Phil Osterhus had no problem with the six-foot variance for the location of a building more than 350 feet from the street.

According to Zeidlik-Zimney the resort is a new concept, with rooms versus cages, a facility with features not offered anywhere in Minnesota. There will be rooms for 10 cats or ìcat families,î if a pet owner has a couple of animals.

The building would be air-conditioned and air filtered. A garbage collector has agreed to provide separate containers for refuse.

She anticipates some clients will board their pets for longer periods, particularly if there is overseas travel. This is a high-end market, and since most stays will be for longer periods she does not anticipate a lot of traffic to the street.

She gave letters of support from a number of neighbors, previously brought before planning and zoning to Mike Parker, chair. She said she had talked with neighbors, explaining her plans, and they seemed supportive.

Her attorney, Stephanie Lucas, discussed the ordinances that had been checked. There was discussion of offering an interim use permit, which would expire if/when the property is sold.

Zeidlik-Zimney said that since there was no mention of cat kennels, they used as reference the CUP requirements for dog kennels. This use is appropriate for the area, but would not be an appropriate use for an industrial area for example.

Neighbor David DeVoto is opposed to the CUP proposal because it puts a business in a residential area when it is not zoned for business. He said it would set precedent. He is additionally opposed because he carefully sought information from planning and zoning before he selected where he purchased land when he moved to the township.

His was not the only objection. Discussion during the public hearing lasted over an hour and residents seemed polarized over the issue. Objections included concerns about increased traffic, noise, and disposal of waste.

Ken Kohel, asked about notification to neighbors. Clerk Judy Hanna said letters were sent to neighbors within 350 feet of the address. Kohel said the area is designated Anoka County shore land because of its proximity to Typo Lake.

A third neighbor, Arthur Darwin, wants close monitoring of the site if the CUP is approved. If approved, Parker supported inspection at least four times a year, probably by the town animal control officer, Marlene Skinner. Supervisors can also spot check.

According to Lucas, all the questions raised by the group attending have been addressed by building design and other procedures. Attorney Gerald Randall recommended tabling any action until more members of the board were in attendance.

Police on hold

Linwood Town Board supervisors also tabled action last week on the proposed 2007 contract police protection with Anoka County.

Cost for the eight-hour daily protection is $183,687. The total cost for providing the School Liaison Officer, shared by three schools is $108,554; with the Linwood share $36,185.

The vote to table was 3-0. Supervisors Scott Bailey and Dave Tryon did not attend the meeting.

Other actions

Randall reported that court action has begun for one of the houses about which there have been complaints. In another case, papers have not been served yet to the home owner because she has refused the mail. A homeowner on 229th Ave. has 30 days from July 17 to complete clean-up of his property.

The Linwood Fire Department cannot use an abandoned, tax-forfeit property on 225th Ave. for a practice burn. The board learned this from a memo from Rich Gabrick, fire marshal.

Public sale of the property brought no bids. Randall said a check with county land commissioners will determine whether the junk house can just be razed.

Approval was given to the building plan proposed by Brad Hansen, contingent upon approval by Dave Thompson, building inspector. He had been given permission to expand a cooler in his business last year. He was to include the plans for this in his application for the building permit for store expansion. The plans are to be brought to the township next week.

Supervisors approved a security system for the township pole shed and the warming house. The quote from Connexus system is $1350 installed, with $24.95 monthly monitoring fee.

The bid to upgrade lighting in the Linwood Senior Center was less than anticipated. Hanna requested the balance of the community development block grant be applied to a change in the security system using key-cards. Decision was tabled until the next meeting.

On the recommendation of planning and zoning, the board approved a variance for Dave Semrud, 22723 West Martin Lake Drive NE, to install a septic system two feet from the road right-of-way. Findings of fact include no other acceptable site on the narrow lake lot. A similar variance was approved for Ronald Opse, 6941, 225th Ave. NE. The variance is for a septic system seven feet from the south road right-of-way. Approval has already been given by the county for the project.

The board voted to table a decision on an updated sketch plan for Don Johnson. According to Hanna, Johnson had asked to have discussion removed. Randall advised he contact the board in writing of his intention to remove the issue from before the board, otherwise the sketch plan must be denied to meet the 60-day rule.

Hanna reported that when the township received the July draw from the county, it was slated to be $548,586.76, but instead a check arrived for $954,011.36. The township must return the overage.

Other business

In other business, the board:

ïApproved payment of the bills in the amount of $416,040.30.

ïAuthorized Hanna to make a contribution of $50 door prize for the Minnesota Association of Townships annual conference, Nov. 16-18.

ïLearned the next cemetery committee meeting is Aug. 8.

ïLearned the audit for the Linwood Food Shelf has been completed.

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