Tower Planning and Zoning Commission rejects campground conditional use permit application

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 —The Tower Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously rejected a conditional use permit application to build a campground on East Two River lands at its monthly meeting. This was the second time that Dave Rose, on behalf of Power Sports of Minnesota, Inc., submitted his application and the second time it was rejected. Rose’s first application was rejected in May. The actions of the commission were conducted in front of a standing room only audience in the Tower council chambers.

Members of the commission rejected the application, citing it incomplete, following the recommendation of city zoning administrator Linda Keith. The application was reviewed, briefly, by Tower city attorney Andy Peterson, Ambulance Director Matt Tuchel and by Short Elliot Hendrickson, Inc. city engineers, according to Keith. If the application was accepted, a 60 day time limit would commence within which the commission would need to approve or reject the conditional use permit Keith explained. If the commission failed to act within that timeline the permit would be approved by default.

“We’ve said all along that we were not going to approve a permit until we have a complete application,” Planning Commission Chairman John Niemiste informed the anxious crowd consisting mostly of Mill Point Plat residents and property owners. Many residents from Mill Point have been working in opposition to the campground project since February when Rose first approached the commission seeking a zoning change to included the property in Tower Harbor Renaissance North, a zoning map designation which allows mixed use development including commercial activity such as the proposed campground.

Among the details Rose needs to include in a complete application is a State Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW), more information on the impact to wetlands and complete sewage and wastewater treatment specifics, according to Keith.

Chairman Niemiste indicated that he was not interested in discussing the project any further until the commission had a complete application. “It’s not in our best interest to go into details. It’s not the best use of our time,” Niemiste said. He did, however, continue to accept public comments on the project.

Joan Broten, a Mill Point Plat resident and an alderman on the Tower City Council, asked if there were additional requirements the planning commission might ask of Rose to complete his application. Jamie Trapp, a Mill Point Property owner and Northbrook, Ill. resident, said that he believed that Rose should put up a significant escrow account, which the city could use to offset its expenses in attorneys fees, and engineering reviews. “The permit application does not begin to cover the expenses,” Trapp said, “it’s not a very good use of taxpayer money.”

Mike Totenhagen said that he also was a property owner in the area and that he was a attorney from Chicago, and that he traveled 600 miles to attend the meeting. “What is the process?” Totenhagen asked, indicating that he did not want to keep having to appear before the planning commission each time the campground project was on the agenda. Totengagen agreed with Trapp, that an escrow account should be funded by Rose to offset any of the city’s expenses during its consideration of the project. “I’m sure each time you call the attorney, or the engineer, a bill is generated,” Totenhagen said.

“That would be something for the city council to decide,” planning and zoning commissioner Steve Altenberg said. “That’s not an issue for this commission to decide. It has to be a policy for every project, not just this one,” Altenberg maintained.

Concluding the discussion of the campground permit application, Altenberg moved to deny the permit citing the recommendations of the zoning administrator, the city’s engineer and the “lack of details,” provided. The motion to deny the permit passed with unanimous consent.

In other action, the planning and zoning commission:

• Discussed suggested changes to zoning ordinance No. 82

• Discussed if the previously completed EAW covering the area from the Iron Ore Bar location through the Marjo Motel and the East Two River boat landing North of Highway 169 could be used in the anticipated condominium/townhouse project adjacent to the Tower Harbor. It was determined that the answer to this question could only be decided by reviewing the existing EAW and determining if the proposed project fit into the scope of the existing EAW.