TOWER— The city council here approved a controversial rezoning proposal on Monday before a packed council chamber where residents spoke both for and against the change. The action converts three parcels along or near the east bank of the East Two River from their prior zoning classification to the Tower Harbor North designation, a zone district established as part of the city’s harbor redevelopment.

Two of the parcels had previously been zoned residential, while the third had been designated as commercial. The new zoning would allow a mix of commercial and residential uses.

Residents of Mill Point, who had spoken out on the issue for weeks at previous meetings of the city council and the planning and zoning commission, showed up in force again on Monday, raising objections about the impact of a proposed RV park, which had prompted consideration of the rezoning. “We support the RV park, but they should find another place for it,” said Todd Borden, a resident of Mill Point.

Dale Robertson sounded a similar theme in urging the council to deny the change. “I’m not opposed to the RV park, I just don’t want it down the road from my house,” he said.

But others saw the issue differently. Victoria Melloche who operates U-Betcha Antiques on the city’s Main Street said she hears broad support from the business community, although few have been willing to speak out publicly on the issue. “They’re afraid of backlash from the opposition,” she said.

Nate Dostert, who owns a mini-storage near the site, said the city should do all it can to bring new development along the riverfront connection with Lake Vermilion. “Our industry is that lake,” he said. “For the city of Tower and the downtown, it would be a good thing.”

While much of the debate focused on the merits of the proposed RV park, approval of the rezoning is no guarantee that the project will move forward. Even under the new zoning rules, the proposed business would require a conditional use permit and would need to meet existing setbacks and other rules, which could pose challenges on the oddly-shaped parcel recently purchased by Dave and Diane Rose, who have proposed the RV park.

The need for a conditional-use permit all but guarantees that the controversy will continue. Any CUP application by the Roses will have to go to the planning and zoning commission first, before heading to the council for a final up-or-down vote.

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Other business

In other action, the council:

• Referred a permanent schedule change for the deputy clerk to the employee relations committee. The schedule change, which includes three ten-hour days Monday.-Wednesday., and seven hours on Thursday, has been in effect on a trial basis for the past few months, but Clerk-Treasurer Linda Keith said the change has made it more difficult, at times, for her to stay focused on her work on Fridays, given the large number of interruptions that are typical during the day. The employee relations committee will meet with the clerk and deputy clerk to discuss the issues further.

• Accepted the resignation of Linda Keith from the planning and zoning commission. Keith said it’s been past practice for years to have the zoning administrator, a position she holds, serve on the planning and zoning commission. But she said city ordinances appear to conflict with that and she wanted to step off the board until the legal issue can be resolved.

The council approved advertising for a new member of the commission to replace Keith.

• Approved the resignation of Mary Worringer from the city’s ambulance service. Worringer had joined the service in February.

• Approved moving forward with a plan to transfer title of land to the Tower Cemetery.

• Approved a resolution in support of granting the Lake Vermilion bike trail project’s application for status as a regional trail. The trail, if completed, will eventually link Cook and Tower along Lake Vermilion.

• Heard that legislation supporting the Prospector Trail Alliance’s proposed ATV trail is moving forward in the Legislature. The group will hold a public informational meeting on the project on Tuesday, April 19, at the Tower Civic Center. Anyone interested in learning more about the planned trail is invited to attend.

• Accepted donations from the Bois Forte Tribal Council for both the Tower Fire Department ($7,500) and the Tower Ambulance Service ($2,000).

• Authorized seeking quotes from local concrete contractors for repair of the main steps at City Hall.

• Approved a request from the Tower Fireman’s Relief Association for a liquor license for the 4th of July weekend.

• Agreed to accept ownership of four tax-forfeit Main Street lots. Demolition of abandoned structures, including the former Bits and Pieces and the former Erickson Hardware, is slated for this year. A third, leaning building, between Bits and Pieces and the Post Office is also slated for eventual demolition. A half-lot located between Vermilion Fuel and Food and the Tower News is currently vacant. The three full lots will become available for economic development, while the half-lot, which is undevelopable, is likely to remain as public space, for parking or other such uses.