(Photo of Lake Tamarack at Pacem in Terris Hermitage Retreat Center)
After 3.5 hours of additional discussion and testimony, the Isanti County Planning Commission moved 7-2 to accept the applicant’s request to table the Conditional Use Permit request until a date in late September. A fourth public hearing will be held at that meeting regarding the request for a Conditional Use Permit to allow a wedding and event center located at 25751 Lily Street NW, Isanti, Minnesota.
Fifty-eight people were in attendance at the public meeting held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at the Isanti County Government Center.
The wedding venue applicant’s attorneys spoke for more than 2 hours. Unable to adequately answer many of the questions posed by the Isanti County Planning Commissioners, the attorneys asked for a break. Upon returning, the attorneys asked to have the C.U.P. request tabled for a future meeting so they could gather additional information.
Much of the information offered by the attorneys was countered or corrected by members of the Isanti County Planning Commission, including data on traffic, population density, sound travel across water, and the rights of existing homeowners and businesses already located near the property.
According to the Commission chair, 94 homes and a silent retreat center sit within 1 mile of the proposed venue.
Area neighbors, by a show of hands, were 100% opposed to the Conditional Use Permit and the building of this venue on this property. They were provided 3 minutes to respond during the public hearing. Approximately 12-15 spoke against the project, including Bryan Huntington, the attorney representing Pacem in Terris Hermitage Retreat Center. No one spoke in favor of the project.
Huntington cited a similar retreat center case and related code violations regarding impact on an existing business. He asked that the Planning Commission request that a road study on Lily Street be conducted as the potential impact could amount to as many as 50,000 care or more annually.
A motion was made to not allow the tabling of the permit. Two members voted in favor, seven opposed. Discussion demonstrated that the members felt that they were not given adequate time to go through a 300+ page document that was provided by the applicant’s attorneys on the Monday preceding the Thursday meeting. A second vote was taken to allow the tabling of the permit. The commission voted 7-2 in favor of tabling it. The next meeting will likely take place in late September, with a possible date given as September 25 at 6 p.m. Please mark your calendars.
We ask for your continued support and prayers. Please pray for the continued protection of Pacem’s mission and ministry.