11-17-2025 - Agenda Packet Planning Commission - Full Packet

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The proposed improvements to the North Arm access to make it easier to launch commercial -industrial equipment will result more heavy equipment, earth movers, trailers with several tons or rock, and other industrial equipment using residential streets. This sort of use is incompatible with residential neighborhoods and is contrary the fundamentals of thoughtful land use planning. Facilitating more commercial - industrial use at the North Arm access will create public safety concerns, noise issues, lead to conflicts at the access, increase the cost and frequency of repairs to surrounding streets, and will require more county oversight and maintenance of the access. Improvements to the North Arm access must be done in context of overall access needs of the entire lake and within the context of the carrying capacity of the bays near the access. The County must find and dedicate a commercial -industrial access on the lake which can be designed and maintained to support large equipment, have adequate areas for storage and staging, and which meets the needs of contractors who use heavy equipment. Contractors and marina owners have already told the county that many commercial -industrial uses require several hours to unload, take days to months to complete the projects, and they will need to be places for staging and to parking for days. The North Arm access lacks the space and is the wrong location for commercial - industrial uses. It is unclear why these concerns are still not reflected in the proposed redesign. It is unclear how the proposed design of the North Arm access fits within the Lake Minnetonka Access Plan developed and approved by the LMCD, DNR, County, cities, and others on Lake Minnetonka. Without clearly demonstrating the proposed redesign of the North Arm access in consistent with the Lake Minnetonka Access Plan and generally accepted zoning principles, homeowners and others may have a basis to sue for injunctive relief to prevent the reconstruction of the site. This will add unnecessary delays and costs to the project. History and intent of North Arm access has been for an access for fishermen and family use. The large commercial -industrial use of it would not only be in conflict with those who use it now but it would create an imminent danger for the less experienced boater/driver using the access. It has been over 30 years since an access survey was done for Lake Minnetonka and has been over 20 years since a boat count has been done. A redesign to encourage more commercial -industrial use at the North Arm Access without first understanding overall access needs, changes in the numbers, sizes, or types of boats on Lake Minnetonka, and the needs of commercial -industrial contractors is a mistake. The proposed design is, at best, based on anecdotal information. Some improvements are needed at the North Arm access to reduce trash, improve parking, make it easier to launch recreational boats, and help prevent the transport of AIS. But no changes should be made to facilitate commercial -industrial use. 149