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Home My WebLink About1975-11-13 Resident Letter-Property HistoryRICHAAO J MA[r[LC A0110C'ATE WILLIA,M H. 01)rj.1.1. Ar ORMILY At LAW ALUN DROO OUILOINO CMASNA, MI1dM2sOTA 00310 40121 444-2200 November 13, Mr. Michael Scheller. Building Inspector and Mr. Henry Munich, Village of Orono P. O. Box 66 Planning and Zoning Director Crystal Bay, Minnesota 5 323 Re: Alleged Discrepencies Dear Mr. Scheller and Mr. Munich: 1975 r MAIL A00Q916 o so* ss CNASMA. MINN6{O1A S4310 This letter is written in response to your letter of November S, 1975, and iicludes the comments and discussions of our meeting in your office on Wednesday, November 12, 1975. Perhaps a brief outline of the history of the structure in question would be helpful in understanding the situation. The building, to the best of my knowledge, was initially constructed in 1906 as a resort hotel. In about 1940 a large addition including a 20 x 60 foot dining room wa:. added to the south side. At this time, the Casco Point Lodge was operating as a summer resort with two large structures, one being the current existing building. The Lodge had a beer license and boat ren*al operation in addition to -ental of rooms and small cabins located on the premises. Subsequently, the Lodge property was divided into two parcels, and the cabins and dance hall were removed leaving the current structure, a S,Uuu square foot: summer hotel with i iueuruuwai. The liquor license was dropped sometime in the 1950's. Previous owners had attempted to operate both a retirement home and a drug rehabilitation center on the property and were forced to abandon these ideas on account of public sentiment. In March, 1973, I purchased the property with sty rother-in-law fioen Rev. Max Saltzman, who had been living there himself with varyinq numbers of children, grandchildren and foster children. He was operstinq a recorAinq studio on the premises under the businews name of Christian Dynamics which was even carried in the local phone directory at the 3600 Casco Avenue address. The premises was extremely rundown havir-i only screens and shutters on so*.* of the windows, little or no insulation, no garaqe, an above- ground well pump system and badly in need of cleaninq up and repaintinq. I resided in the home with any wife, her brother and his wits fir less than a year, at which time he decided it was a loosinq bettlo so saved out with my buyinq his *here. In the suss sr of 1174, we completed the garage, reroofed portions of the building and cleaned up the premises. Miring that summers we had substantial rewdslinq Page 2 Mr. Michael Scheller and Mr. tienry Munich Nr vember 13, 1975 ^osts and five unused bedrooms so rented two of them to two bachelors to offset our cleaning -up costs. One of these bachelors moved out in September of 1974 and during last winter we had one bachelor who also had living quarters in town and spent less than 20% of his non- working hours in our home. This last June, he asked if two additional single men could move in with him and use the empty rooms. Evidently, these two people and their I.,3ats have created the situa*.ion which someone feels is objectionable. At no time this summer have there been more than three cars visible in the driveway except for social gatherings. We would hope that since we have a driveway, which according to nu•- survey exceeds 525 feet in length, that no problems will occur. (Survey attached) As for the excess boats in the lake area adjoining the home, I was not aware of the ordinance and in fact requested a permit for the mooring buoy at the time we were contacted about the sailboat. (Copy attached) We were not informed by the Hennepin County Sheriff that there were any problems other than not having a buoy permit. At our meeting you informed me that you also require a permit, and we hereby make application for that permit. If special forms are required, please forward them to us. Also, in accordance with your suggestions, we will see that no permanent docking facilities will be provided for more than two power boats and a sailboat mooring buoy next spring. The scheduled Art Fair on Friday and Saturday, November 21 and 22 is a project o4. my wife and some of her friends. She intended it to be in the nat+ire of a garage sale and doE- not anticipate any problems with excess patkinq. You have brought to our attention the fact that this may violate the ordinance concerning "hones occupatior►s." This is the first sale of any type held on the premises since our acquaition in Mar%..h of 1973, and we at no time considered erecting any permanent signs or conducting any type of "over the counter sales' on a contit.uinq basis. We will make every effort to minimize any objectionable activity, eq. pa, ng, which may occur next weekend, and in the future not plan any activities which may give the appear- ance of 'cosmsercial or quasi -commercial" usage. The alleged school conducted on the premises amounted to my wife Meting with several neighbors - organized by the neighbors with no impetus ftom sty wife - and instructing thew in the art of macrame (knot tying) - "king hanging plant holders of varicme types. 71hese people, mostly neighbors fr,,im Case Point, includir:g the Nov. Johneow's wife fcom the Good shepherd Lutheran Church. I as rather b8wildWed ar to how a group of neighbors tying knots inside our home Page 3 Mr. Michael Scheller and Mr. Henry Munich November 13, 1975 can be objectionable but one never knows. Incidently, most of these people walked to our home and thus did not create a parking problem. This clas4 is now over and at your request we will plan any future similar activi*ies for the meeting rooms in one of the local churches or some other more acceptable location. We are sorry for any nuisance we may have created in the commun- ity. It has always been our intention to treat our neighbors the way we would like to be treated and to improve the looks of our residence. Having bought a 70 year old resort hotel as a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, without then having a full time job, we have had to make the beet of a rather precarious economic situation. Should you wish any additional information, please contact u3. SCQ,Lrs e y truly, Ri.cha!7d J. Haefele RJH/da f Enc l usurer;