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

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November17, 2025 Since its founding in 1960, the Lake Minnetonka Association has been a steadfast voice for Lakeshore owners, local businesses, and stakeholders throughout the region. Our mission is clear: to preserve, protect, and promote the responsible use of Lake Minnetonka through outreach, advocacy, and community -driven action. We support providing better and safer recreational and handicapped access at the North Arm Landing. While the proposed changes to the Landing are primarily a city land -use issue, continuing to allow —or expanding —heavy commercial or industrial use at the site raises significant lake -wide concerns regarding user safety and public recreational access. A lake -wide strategy is needed. We acknowledge that the County has made significant changes to its original design by removing structures that would accommodate heavy commercial or industrial use. However, the County has not stated that such use will be limited or prohibited going forward. A simple and inexpensive way to resolve this concern is to post and enforce commercial -use limitations at the site. City staff has indicated that use of the North Arm Landing as a public boat access is considered a legal nonconformity in the LR-1 C zone. The land use of the North Arm Landing is listed as "Park, Recreational, and Open Space," which is allowed in LR4 C zones. There appears to be no prohibition on public boat landings in these zones. Staff also states that "the property's current use as a public boat landing appears to be consistent with the existing and future land use guidance within Orono's Comprehensive Plan." It remains unclear what is causing the public access to be treated as a legal nonconformity. The ramp was built in the 1960s to provide recreational access to the lake- consistent with both the historic use and zoning of the site. At the time the zoning code was enacted, heavy commercial barge access was not contemplated; this is a more recent phenomenon. The site conditions themselves do not appear to create the need for a variance. Instead, the County's desire to expand or "improve" the site to allow for commercial operators and barges appears to drive the variance request. The County can make improvements that enhance safety and recreational access simply by limiting commercial activity at the site. Again, this can be done easily by setting and enforcing limits on commercial use. The City has the authority to regulate commercial use at the North Arm Landing, just as it may limit a legal nonconforming business from expanding loading docks or changing its use. Similarly, the City can prohibit certain types of uses at the North Arm Landing, The County's desire to expand or "improve" the facility does not constitute a "practical difficulty" any more than a homeowner or business wishing to expand a structure or parking into shoreland area is a practicable difficulty. The need for a variance would not exist if the County maintains the site as originally intended and works within the original footprint of the site that has been working since the 1960s. The proposed design of the North Arm Landing constitutes an expansion of its current use. The proposal includes: ® Creation of new fishing areas and walking paths ® Construction of a new, significantly larger boat ramp ® Construction of new docks, buildings, and other structures