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<br />Planning Commission Minutes <br />May 25, 1999 <br />Page 5 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Commissioner Schuster asked what the consequences would be if the city adopts <br />this ordinance. Peter Beck indicated that he does not know, since there conflicts <br />with the DNR itself, in enforcing the ordinance. <br /> <br />Steve Rohlf noted that the DNR Area Hydrologist, Larry Kramka, feels the City's <br />proposed changes are logical. <br /> <br />Chair Cote opened the public hearing. <br /> <br />Cliff Lundberg, 400 Jackson Avenue, stated that he has been attending the DNR <br />meetings for 6 - 9 months, but the meetings have stopped and no further <br />information has been received. He indicated it is difficult to understand why the <br />DNR has decided to enforce the old rules, since they have been allowing building <br />permits where they now say they cannot. <br /> <br />AI Nadeau, business owner on Main Street, encouraged the City to adopt the <br />ordinances. <br /> <br />Ron Black, 913 Main Street, commended staff for taking the initiative to resolve <br />the long-standing problems with the Wild and Scenic River Ordinance. Mr. Black <br />reviewed a case in Otsego regarding the KOA property at Highway 39 and 101 in <br />which property in the Wild and Scenic River District was exempted in order to <br />complete a highway project. Mr. Black noted that the DNR has routinely <br />changed and exempted properties as late as 1990 or 1991. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Mike Leary, 206 Watson, part-owner of the Americlnn Hotel, explained that he <br />has been unable to expand his business because of the Wild and Scenic <br />designation. Mr. Leary stated that he purchased the neighboring lots for $100,000 <br />in order to build a restaurant. He cannot currently get a permit for the restaurant, <br />nor is he able to expand the number of units. Recently, he was also denied a <br />building permit in order to make improvements to the entrance of the hotel. He <br />stated that the lots he purchased are worthless unless he is able to expand. He <br />asked the Commission to support the proposed ordinance amendments. <br /> <br />Lynn Caswell, 11801 Brentwood Lane, expressed his frustration with the DNR <br />process of "consensus-building". He stated that the internet site for this project <br />mainly attracts people who want to use the river and has not seen any evidence <br />of land ownership. He indicated that he will continue to attend the meetings in <br />hope that some resolution will follow. He urged the city to continue to force the <br />issues with the DNR or they will not see any action for several years. <br /> <br />Renee San dee, President of the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce, was <br />present, representing the business owners, to encourage and support the City's <br />adoption of the proposed ordinance amendments to the Wild and Scenic River <br />Ordinance. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Bud Houlton, 729 Main Street, (1st National Bank), stated the he is the owner of <br />several buildings which fall within the Wild and Scenic River boundary. He <br />explained that when the hearings were held in the 1970's for the original <br />ordinance, they were told that as long as the businesses conformed with the <br />city's ordinances, there would not be a problem. Mr. Houlton indicated he did <br />not understand why the DNR has taken this posture and the DNR doesn't have <br />