The City of Rugby Planning and Zoning Committee voted Nov. 8 to approve two plats of land on the east side of the city between U.S. Highway 2 and property owned by BNSF Railway.

The first plat, called Healthy Heights Addition, encompasses land proposed for the location of a new Heart of America Medical Center east of the Blessum’s Third Addition and Sixth Avenue Southeast, north of U.S. Highway 2. HAMC CEO Eric Christenson and project steering committee member Neil Lotvedt appeared at public hearing before the vote to answer any questions. No members of the public attended the meeting.

After the unanimous vote to approve the Healthy Heights Addition plat, the committee held a second public hearing to plat land to be purchased by St. Therese Little Flower Catholic Cemetery.

The land extends beyond the cemetery north to property owned by BNSF Railway and east approximately half the distance of the cemetery itself. The purchase also extends 198 feet from the southwest corner of the cemetery and 33 feet to the southeast corner of the land tract in a narrow strip.

David and Pamela Anderson, Travis Anderson, Joshua Anderson and Kirsten Lee own the land. David Anderson, a member of the planning and zoning committee, recused himself from the committee vote.

The committee enlisted the help of council member Wayne Trottier to form a quorum to hold the vote. Committee members Gary Kraft, Wayne Schmaltz and Trottier all cast votes in favor of the plat.