Between 60-70 individuals showed up at last night's Isanti County Planning Commission meeting and hearing to discuss the Conditional Use Permit for the proposed wedding venue and event center located on Lily Street NW in Isanti County.

Again, it was demonstrated to the commission that not a single neighbor is in support of this wedding venue. The lack of community support was strongly voiced. 

Approximately 20 neighbors publicly voiced their concerns and spoke against the venue. The Isanti County Zoning office failed to mention how many letters they received in opposition to the permit. None of the letters were read or summarized for those in attendance at the meeting.

A representative from the township expressed concerns, specifically regarding the township road that the proposed venue would be located on. The township sent a letter to the County asking that a condition be considered that the property owners be held responsible for paying for damage done to the township road. It was suggested that a study be conducted as to the road's present condition and ability to handle an increased load.

Members of the planning commission also raised their many concerns.

Among the many concerns raised by residents, the township, and the County were: 

• community safety
• crowd, musical, and traffic noise near so many homes, a silent retreat center, and two lakes
• traffic concerns
• setbacks from the unnamed lake on the property
• accidents along Highway 47, one of the primary access roads to Lily Street
• the township road's ability to handle 25-30,000 additional vehicles annually
• lack of access to the property
• liquor licensing and intoxicated guests and drivers
• previous complaints (i.e. burning on the property)
• the density of population and nearby homes in the area near the venue
• impacts on wildlife
• disruption of the rural tranquility expected of families living in this agricultural residential area
• harassment of neighbors as evidenced through threatening notes, a Facebook post, and a Ring camera video
• existing business activity on the property
• criminal history
• the volume of complaints and law enforcement calls to existing wedding venues elsewhere (According to the Isanti County Sheriff's office, one venue has resulted in 711 law enforcement incidents since 2019)
• the number of pre-existing wedding venues (16 within a 20 mile radius)
• negative impacts on Pacem in Terris Hermitage Retreat's non-profit business, guests and mission

The property owner, Megan Swanberg, and Conditional Use Permit applicant, Reid Larson, were represented by Sapientia Law Group's attorneys Robin Wolpert and Towle Neu. Information provided by the attorneys included a noise abatement study and photographs of the township road.

At the end of the meeting, at the request of attorney Robin Wolpert, the decision was made to table the commission's decision until further information could be gathered by the attorneys regarding the various concerns raised by neighbors. Another public hearing will be held in June, at a date to be determined by the County.

A list of all 1,767 petition signer's names and the 97 comments made by signers of this petition was presented to the commission last night.

We will continue the petition so that our voices can be heard. Please continue to share the petition and link with your loved ones and others in the area. We will keep you informed of the date of the next meeting.