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Home My WebLink AboutRe: proposed letter L.�. � � �� — � SRIlORS (,(JORLI� MARINA & BOAT CLUB „Se�uucg S'at�i �aw� � Sa.ie,. January 13, 1998 _,>.�� . � � . � 5199� City of Orono 2750 Kelley Parkway �`j'?�!� Orono, Minnesota 55323 Re: Sailors World Dear Mr. Mayor and Council Members: This letter is to give you background information regarding Sailors World. Sailors World would like to request a letter indicating the City's approval of our business operations since 1994. We continue to work towards a mutually agreed plan for land�caping completion and a new road sign upon completion of soil clean up with the He�nepin County property on the west side of County Road 15. This soil clean up started in 1992. We have endured the business interruption and fina�l�ial hardship during this process related to soil problems we have inherited from previous owners and the old gas station across the road. At our expense; we have even had our e nvironmental engineers bring high tech, expensive toxic vapor detection equipment into the Lasement of our neighboring property owners to confirm positive results from our clean up e('forts. Unfortunately, much of our problem (and neighbors') has been related to lee�}iing of the petroleum waste from the 75 year old, abandoned gas station. We sought legai counsel to force the issue with the Hennepin County and the MPCA. As you also know, these problems were aggravated when iu 1988, a 300 gallon gas spill occurred when the c�ld tanks were illegally dug up and removed by the owner. We are requesting from you a letter to show suppart so that we can coutinue our opea�ations as we have since 1994. This includes dock slip rentals, boat club and off season brokerage with our main revenue source beiirg dock slip rental. We have voluntarily reduced our Uoat club from 50 power boat members in 1996 to 35 iii 1997. (We are current�y approved for 100 members.) Our sailboat inembers were 15 anci �ur plans are to stay at 35 power alid iiicrease the sail to no more than 30. We will repi;:�.ce this income with sn�all boat brokerage and will continue this way as it reduces activity and this vital balance of dock slip income, boat club incouie aud �rokerage income is acliieved with less intense use of the Marina. P.O. Box 176, CrryslAl Bny, MN 55323 PHonE (612) 475-3443 Fnx(612) 475-3517 MSMITHS BAY� LAI(E MINNEfONI(H' L.�. � t � �� S�ILORS (,UORID MARINA & BOAT CLUB „Se�uucg �ot�i r�au� & Sai�„ Mr. Mayor and Council Members Page 2 In particular at the present time, we are concerned with trying to keep 10 slips that the LMCD is trying to have removed based on an old agreement with the previous owner of our property. These slips are vital to keeping our operations status quo. We have and will work closely with the City to achieve a lower inteu�ity of use and ample income basis to su�port the 1/2 million dollars in improvements we liave in place. It is impossible to not drastically change business operations if these slips are removed. We have two overflow parking areas in place to accommodate increased activity. If the LMCD does not grant a variance to us, as they have done to most other marinas oi� the lake, we would unfortunately have to pursue other activities to make up the income loss. The removal of these slips will also jeopardize the integrity of tlie entire dock complex. Removal of these slips is specifically required in the areas of the outer property liiie site backs. We would have to remove all the slips attached to the dock complex that provide the natura! break water protection to the rest of tl�e dock slips. Bigger boats are parked in these slips to counter the excessive waves the prevailing summer l�reezes bring. Additional economic liardship is created as people will not pay as much for the smaller unprotected slips. So, in summation, removal of these ten slips significantly reduces income in all our other slips and dock integrity, exposing boats and docks to damage and difficult in and out maneuvering. Please consider our long-standing efforts to improve this Marina, environmental and neighboring city property owners. A draft of a proposed letter specific to our request is attached for your review and implementation. We would also request your perniission to move our portable storage shed to a more aesthetically pleasing location of the City's choice. Thank you very much. Sin�erely, � � �, ^t, I,/. r . i,��.;, ; ' �� ary �Santis � Sailo s!World, Inc. P.O. Box 176, CrrysrAl BAy, MN 5 S 323 PHone (612) 475-34-43 Fnx(612)475-3517 MSMITIIS BAy� LAICE MINNETONI(H� ,��''C�Ie- -P✓�o�os� �`? ��s�'�s CITY OF ORONO 2'I50 KELLEY PARKWAY ORONO,MINNESOTA 55323 December 13, 1998 Mr. Gary DeSantis Sailors world P.O.Box 176 Crystal Bay,Minnesota 55323 Dear Sir: This letter is to confirm that the City of Orono is most pleased with the way in which Sailors World has operated since you took over in 1994. We would not want to see any changes in the way the business is operated. We understand that the LMCD is considering removal of several of your boat slips,which would cause hardship to you We would not like to see this happen and we would urge that you take such steps necessary to avoid this because we understand that the lost revenue from the slips would have to be made up from other business operations. We would not want to see any significant changes,and we would hope that the LMCD would not remove those slips,so that you continue to operate in the manner in which you have operated since October of 1994. Yours very truly, CITY OF ORONO By