08-27-1990 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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LMCD 25 \'EAR LONG RANGE PLAN (Amdorpher Plan) The Lake Minnetonka Conversation Dis trict (LMCD) held a public hearing to gather testimony from local citizens and dty govern ments June 6th at the Minnetonka Community Center. Sky Magary and Chris Lindstrom at tended as LMLOA representatives. TheLMLOA position statement on the 25 Year Plan was read into the record by Sky. Our response to the Plan follows: LAKE MINNETONKA LAKESHORE OWNERS ASSOCIATION RESPONSE TO LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Our assodatior was formed in 1989 to represent the interests of Lake Minnetonka home owners in fostering the preservation of the Lake as a natural resource serving environmental, residential, and recreational interests. The LMLOA has supported the concept of the LMCD's Long-term Management Program as the best vehide for ensuring continued stewardship of the Lake bv its surrounding fourteen communities. This Program, now at the public review draft stage, is admirable in its scope, but it is generally too directed toward encouraging and managing increasing densities of recreauonai usage. The Program is not sufficiently concerned with the pres ervation of the Lake as a natural habitat nor unth the needs of Lakeshore community residents as "users" re- quinng occasional respite from icehouse debris, irre sponsible watercraft operation and unrestrained recrea tional noise and pollution. Spedfically, the LMLOA does not accept the Pro gram daim (page 17) that "growth in access and level of use during peak hours can continue as long as resource managers adopt improved regulatory practices." The burden of proof should fall to the LMCD to find that any further increase in level of use during peak hours satisfies a legitimate recreational goal that should override envi ronmental or residential concerns. The LMCD Program draft, unless changed, ensures that only "user groups more tolerant of heavy use will remain." (Page 20). The Program accepts without sufficient question the premise that recreational objectives are quantitative (use, accf'ss, density, etc.), rather than qualitative (t>-pe of use, cc ideration for others users). The LMLOA accepts the addition of representatives from the Metropolitan Coundl, Hennepin County, Re gional Parks and Watershed Distnet to the LMCD Board, but opposes any other modification of the Board which reduces representation from the fourteen commuruties. "Tie LMLOA asks that our reservations be addressed -al draft of the Program, but othendse endorses of the Plan by the fourteen surrounding com- .r... uties. A.B. Magary, June 5,1990 Chair (For further information, call Chris Lindstrom, 474-4382.) Comments by Chris Lindstrom To date the most serious objections to the Plan centers around a perceived lack of identi fiable and quantitative environmental protec tion regulations which would off set the bur geoning efforts of the Pla^n to expand regional recreational access to Lake Minnetonka. Also, many dtv governments resent usurpation of their jurisdiction over shoreline development in their communities. The 25 Year Plan which denotes regionali zation of the lake into a metro area recreational playground is the most significant piece of lake regulation which will be passed in the history of Lake Minnetonka. The Plan could pass control of the lake from the local communities to county and state agency bureaucracies who have no immediate interest in the lake other than to expand its recreational use. Granted the Plan provides guidelmes concerning overuse and environmental protection, but can recreational expansion and protection of the environment and quality of life co-exist? Although water is part of the public domain, how is it that state and county agencies can usurp the authority of 14 local dty governments? Obviously if there isn't an out cry by the dtizens then the message sent is "you run our lake." If your dty has passed a resolution on this Plan it would be a good idea to check it out. Meanwhile, watch the local newspapei s for information on the 25 Year Plan. In fairness to the LMCD, all dtizens had access to knowledge about the Plan as it was ccntznu^d on page 3