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Dawn Bittner From: Ann Beaver<beaver @uslink.net> 1%, Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2014 9:13 PM To: Dawn Bittner Cc: Jim Oraskovich; Scott Pederson; Justin Burslie; Todd Engels Subject: Re: Wilderness Review Committee For what it's worth It's long past time to stop Tom Steffens from continuing to call the shots on matters regarding his resort and what the City is requiring of him. He does not have anything even resembling a positive track record since he began this whole process of resort renovation back in 2005 or so. Today's lack of having trees marked for desired selective limbing, when he was clearly instructed last week to do so,was a blatant disregard for the City's authority and responsibility and a waste of time for all parties involved except for himself. Very bluntly said, he is continuing to jerk the City around,getting what he wants to do done before anyone can stop him. The mature trees he has already removed on the steep slope in front of the east side villas cannot be replaced for effective screening purposes, at least not in the next half century, so he gets what he wants, a fairly clear view of the lake for his villa owners. At best, all the City can do is require additional trees to be planted, but the damage has/will have been done and any restoration, if required,won't be effective for decades. From his comments this afternoon, during our very brief and unsatisfactory time with him, I believe he still intends to cut trees down, not just limb them,for a lake view for each villa. He doesn't seem to know how to play by the rules. He blatantly violates them at every turn and expects to get by with it. The unfortunate thing for Middle Cullen Lake residents is that they are stuck with looking at an unsightly shoreline,one that would not be allowed under normal .development rules. This resort is turning into a side by side villa lined shoreline with very little between it and the lake and opposite shorelines,all so someone can make money off a "resort"that isn 't even required to have all units in its rental pool.As I drove in to the resort today, I thought the entrance area was worthy of"Wilderness Resort", but as I approached the cabins and villas,that name became completely inappropriate. As you undoubtedly have guessed by now, I really needed to vent after this afternoon's waste of time on site visit. What Steffens is getting away with is a travesty of justice! I can only hope that you,as city officials,will rein him in and preserve what little there is still left to preserve at this once beautiful piece of shoreline. Ann From the earth we come, by the earth we are sustained and when we die,to the earth we return. To wound the earth is to wound ourselves. --Aborigine philosophy On Oct 16, 2014,at 8:00 AM, Dawn Bittner<dbittner @peguotlakes-mn.gov>wrote: Barb: Please pass on to Mr. Steffens. Reminder: The Review Committee will meet at Wilderness Resort this afternoon at 4:15 to discuss the possible limbing of trees for sight lines. Todd Engels will not be attending as he is out of town. <image003.jpg> Ala&"AM%" Zoning Administrator City of Pequot Lakes 1