02-17-2005 Planning Commission Minutes

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r t CULLEN LAKES ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 466, Nisswa, MN 56468 February 10, 2005 PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR WILDERNESS RESORT VILLAS LLC 1. Preliminary Plat: "To subdivide individual cabins into separately owned properties within the Wilderness Point planned unit development. A total of 55 separate lots are proposed to be created within the subdivision." CLA Position: The lake association objects in principle to this subdivision,since it results in privately owned lots which would not meet minimum lot size standards should the resort ever cease to function as a commercial property. However, CLA realizes it is allowed under current State Statute and the Pequot Lakes Ordinance. Because of the wording of the public hearing announcement, CLA requests a clarification as to whether the property owner will own the cabin and the"lot"on which it is located or just the cabin. 2. Rezoning: To rezone from Residential District to Waterfront Commercial a lot adjacent to and west of the Wilderness Point Resort in order to join the lot into the Wilderness Point Planned Unit Development. CLA Position: The lake association has no objection to this rezoning. However, it should be made clear that by rezoning the property and making it part of the resort the lot's easement to the lake and its right to its own dock are forfeited, since the dwelling is not in tier 1 . 3. Conditional Use Permit for a Planned Unit Development: "... to remove the camping and RV sites from the existing resort and redevelop the site with a total of 55 units." CLA Position: Because this preliminary plat is allowed under the current ordinance, if the Planning Commission and City Council approve it,the lake association does not object to the CUP for a PUD. However, CLA does have several concerns regarding the proposal. a. Dockage The developer is seeking slightly more than one watercraft mooring space (61)for each unit in the entire PUD. This is contrary to ordinance and to the DNR shoreland standards: The number of spaces provided for continuous beaching, mooring or docking of watercraft must not exceed one for each allowable dwelling unit or site in the first tier" (emphasis added). A day dock for loading and unloading is allowable to provide lake access for units in other tiers. CLA believes the ordinance and DNR restriction must be adhered to. Dockage allowed under previous CUPs is irrelevant. Also, because of the nature of the lake to the east of the PUD, a lake suitability assessment should be conducted to determine where to place docks so motorized watercraft will have the least effect on lake vegetation and bottom sediments.