Planning commission recommends CUP to formalize historic Calvary Church and cemeteries at Rush Pointe

The Chisago County Planning Commission on April 2 recommended approval of a Conditional Use Permit to recognize an existing Place of Assembly and two cemeteries on property at 600 Rush Point Drive in Nessel Township.

Land Services Coordinator Beth Gervais said the church and cemetery uses had existed since the 1870s and were legal nonconforming uses under the County’s zoning, so the applicants — Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rush Point, represented by Lee Olson and Doug Fischer — sought a CUP to bring the uses into formal compliance. Gervais noted staff’s recommendation to base the CUP on a 10.18± acre lot (Lot 3 of the proposed Rush Pointe plat) and described the Church's typical attendance and parking accommodations.

Commissioner Jim McCarthy pushed for an added condition to ensure the cemetery complied with current State law (noting state requirements for cemetery endowments and potential county liability if a cemetery is abandoned). That motion failed for lack of a second. The Planning Commission then adopted Resolution No. PC2026-0402 recommending approval of the CUP with the conditions presented. The vote to adopt the resolution was 5-1 (McCarthy opposed).

Conditions require that the CUP be tied to the recorded Final Plat of Rush Pointe (or that staff revise the legal description should the plat not be recorded), that future expansions or commercial rentals require further review, and annual certification of the CUP. The recommendation will be forwarded to the County Board for final action.