File Photo Aeroport Hobby Shoppe operates at the Minot Airport. The city and shop reached a lease agreement that will allow the business to stay, but the lease must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

A hobby shop owner and the City of Minot have reached an agreement that will enable the shop to continue operating at the airport, but approval from the Federal Aviation Administration still is needed.

The Aeroport Hobby Shoppe faced eviction because of the city’s position that it did not qualify for an airport lease under FAA guidelines that require an aeronautical use. Shop owner Eva Lucke and her attorney Robert Martin had been negotiating with the city since last August when the city council had voted to give notice of nonrenewal of the lease when it expires at the end of January 2020.

The city owns the land, and Minot Aviation, owned by Eva Lucke and Stewart Lucke, possesses the airplane hangar and attached commercial space. The operation has had an airport lease for 37 years.

Among its services, the hobby shop handles radio-controlled aircraft, rocketry and drone operation and teaches a Federal Aviation Administration-sanctioned drone program.

The proposed new lease adds Aeroport Hobby Shoppe to the agreement between Minot Aviation and the City of Minot. The agreement has a one-year term with right to renew and sets rent at $4,000 a year. The shop also would pay a sales commission to the city of 2% of gross revenues each month.

The city council had been looking for a way to preserve the business while still meeting FAA rules.

The city and Minot Aviation have had a rocky history, though. The city had entered litigation in 2005 against Minot Aviation to evict them, but the case was dismissed after a year. Minot Aviation then leased month to month until 2016 when a one-year lease was offered. In March 2016, Eva Lucke sued in federal court, alleging discriminatory commercial lease terms by the city. Lucke is a naturalized American citizen, born in Chile. Her lawsuit failed to convince the court of racial discrimination.