02-12-1990 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

February 7. 1990 .. Throughout period of change in regional and state interest in the lake, intergovernmental relations, institutional arrangements and funding did not change. The level of cooperation needed between state and regional interests on one hand and local interest on the other was not developed. The result was conflict, misinformation, and with resolution in the courts. This is the context within which the work on the Management Plan for Lake Minnetonka was initiated. The authority for developing the plan is clear. First, the legislation forming the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District (LMCD) gave the District the authority to formulate a program to protect the lake. Section 13 of the Laws of 1967 grant the LMCD the power to regulate the lake; implicit with the authority to regulate is the authority to plan. Further, Section 3(j), authorizes the District to "undertake research to determine the condition and development of the lake and the water entering it...; and to develop a comprehensive program to eliminate pollution.” The authority of the LMCD is enhanced by the Metropolitan Council's underlying legislation, which gives that agency the power to direct organizations within its jurisdiction to pr*c are comprehensive plans. At the time this study was undertaken, the Systems Committee of the Council was considering using that authority. It opted to defer to the LMCD and to allow them to continue its efforts in developing the Program for the lake. REGIONAL SETTING This chapter will include sections on the lake's location; access; a socioeconomic profile lakeshore communities, the county and the metropolitan region. RECRFJVTION MANAGEMENT Future management of access and use is to impose progressively more restrictive regulations as density of boats increase on the lake. Fundamental to allowing access and use to increase on the lake is enhanced enforcement of existing and future rules and regulations. This means that growth in use and access will be allowed to a point (density of 7.0 acres per boat, we are now at density 8.0). Beyond density 7.0 acres per boat, no growth will be allowed unless there is a concomitant increase in the level of the Water Patrol. The progressively more restrictive regulation of access first focuses on limiting the growth of homeowner associations using outlots and certain marina conversions. To further assure that marinas remain available to the general public, condominium docks will be banned (not docks at condominiums). At the same time, storage of boats at riparian residents will be reviewed. The management excursion boat operations and boat storage will be improved. Also very important is the allocation of up to 700 boats entering through public access points to assure decisions on access reflect future addition of 350 additional boats to the lake during peak hours. Later, as density continues to increase, there will be no growth in access of any form without appropriate enforcement of ordinances. Without increased law enforcement presence on the lake, no form of access will be allowed to grow.