Four weeks ago, we reported that Björkberg Grand Marais, LLC was seeking final city council approval for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to build a 19-unit townhouse development that would include five income-qualified homes. The term “income-qualified” is often confused with “affordable housing.”
The council voted 3-2 to deny the CUP at its public meeting on August 14, even though the city staff and the planning commission determined the requested CUP met city requirements. The planning commission approved the CUP.
In addition to purchasing its property, Björkberg has invested over $200,000 in surveys, design, and legal work to create a common-interest community, often called a homeowners association.
The developer removed the accessory dwelling units (ADUs) from the plan before the council meeting on the 14th.
Without the CUP, Björkberg’s developers, Jon Petters and Steve Peterson, are regrouping. They plan to develop single-family housing on the 21 lots the property contains, which will not require CUPs but simply building permits.
Petters and Peterson issued the following statement:
“While we are disappointed that our project, Björkberg was turned down by the City of Grand Marais, we respect that [sic] the public process which has happened. Income Qualified for sale homes most likely are gone. That’s sad for the community. It brings up a lot of questions for developers like Björkberg and other organizations that tried to make it happen.
All we want now is the ability to hook up to city water and sewer and do what everybody else can do, follow the ordinances that the City wrote and build some homes. We have never wanted any neighbors to pay for our utilities and we pay for them ourselves.”
The council is meeting to formalize its denial of the Björkberg CUP on Wednesday, August 28.
