01-06-1992 Council Minutes Hearing Maxwell Bay Lake Access

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PUBLIC HEARING HELD REGARDING DNR'S PROPOSED LAKE ACCESS ON MAXWELL BAY ORONO CITY COUNCIL - JANUARY 6, 1992 is less than 2 .acres. The DNR is proposing 20 to 30 parking spaces on the location. Goetten reiterated that the,DNR had been invited to the public hearing and on Friday prior to the meeting, the City was informed that the DNR would only send a public relations person to relay comments back to the DNR. She stated that statements in Mr. Kimball's letter indicating that the DNR had discussed this project with local elected officials are untrue. She noted that the next opportunity that they will be allowed to review this issue with the DNR will be just a few days prior to the expiration of the purchase agreement. She noted this issue impacts the entire City and surrounding communities. Jabbour acknowledged JoEllen Hurr, LMCD representative for Orono; Steve Smith, State Representative; and Marge Gasch who has been working very hard for >.the City for many years. Jabbour expressed frustration with the DNR. He noted the letter exaggerated and he felt there was no use for a public relations representative to be present but felt someone should have been present to review a proposed site plan. He noted that the planned public meeting by the DNR on January 21st, with the option expiring on the 30th, is not a true process of democracy, but rather a ritual, of which the City should not be a party. He felt they are- short- circuiting the process. He stated that the DNR has not met with the parties which they suggested that they have met with and have exaggerated the truth substantially. I He suggested that this parcel of land is only I out of 5 or 6 to obtain the DNR's goal for Zone 1. He noted the numbers, in the survey are outdated and when the study was done, neither milfoil nor zebra mussels were a threat to the lake. Jabbour explained that the City doesn't have much to say in regards to the DNR using the property and noted the use conflicts with the local municipal code. He urged homeowners to look for a broader -base and suggested that the issue concerns homeowners surrounding the entire lake, not just residents of Orono. Callahan noted that it is true that the LMCD Subcommittee originally approved the plan as submitted by the DNR, but subsequently the LMCD decided that they should hold hearings on the matter before the DNR completed its acquisition in order to reach some conclusions which might be helpful to everyone. Callahan opined that the LMCD's long -range development plan which was recently adopted by the LMCD and approved by the Metropolitan Council addressed the matter of 700 car parking around the lake with access points, and regardless of what is mentioned in the written portion of the plan, there was a great deal of discussion about that program and its concept during the course of the 2