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Lake Detroit — Developers work with Lake Detroit City staff even as homeowners in that quiet part of Lake Detroit win out in efforts to block construction of a mixed convenience store/commercial complex and continues to work on land it owns off South Shore Drive. there.
The homeowner win meant frustration for developer Jason Gehrig, owner of Gehrig Properties. His annexation and rezoning request was effectively overruled by the city council on December 13, even though it followed Detroit Lake’s own growth plans. by the City Council itself two years ago.
“We are still working with the city to find the best solutions possible,” said the 68-acre South Shore site, which includes a 54-acre lot adjacent to the city line in Lakeview Township. Gerhrig, who paid $2.4 million for the property, said.
His development concepts include a convenience store and a four-story mixed-use building near 270th Street, and multiple single-family homes in larger areas along and off South Shore Drive and 270th Street. was
The plan was developed with the help of city officials, said John Rowley, Fargo’s project engineer.
“It’s a unique lot that’s part of the city and part outside of the city,” he told the council. What would you like to see in? How would you like to develop the region? There is a reason why the growth plan has been implemented in 2020.”
At the December 13 meeting, Linda Rones, a resident of Block 600 on South Shore Drive, was one of about six residents in the area who opposed the commercial aspects of the proposal. “Putting a residential area behind a gas station is a bad idea,” she said, adding that the development “will change the entire neighborhood dynamic — people enjoy it as it is.”
Chuck Collins, also a resident of the area, also objected to the proposal. “It’s clear that this doesn’t fit the neighborhood plan.” He added that most people in the neighborhood are not against residential growth. I am,” he said.
Others were disappointed that a convenience store would be built near the new city park, which could bring safety, traffic, light pollution and crime problems to the area. And they pointed out that traffic and parking are already an issue near the public lake access on South Shore Drive on busy summer days.
Most people said they were not against new housing in the area “unless it’s for low-income people,” one resident added.
Others pointed out that the city council still makes the final decision simply because the city has that area allotted for commercial and high-density residential use.
The Detroit Lakes need to grow south, said Alderman Dan Josephson. The city is bottlenecked by Lake Floyd in the north, Lake Long in the west and other problems in the east. The city “can’t grow in that direction,” he told the group. A logical place would be to grow south.”
Josephson said he lives in the area and bikes South Shore Drive regularly and does not believe the proposed development will cause problems for residents. He pointed out that many people were against the new park there before it was built. “Did the park ruin the neighborhood?”
“It doesn’t make me happy to hear the words ‘subsidized housing, public housing, low-income housing,'” he added. “Do we only want a lot of rich people in this area? We want to welcome all kinds of people into this community. We want to grow and we also want to welcome developers — last month we said no to a large development (on East Shore Drive), we said no to their money We said no to the apartment builders, we said no, no, no.”
Alderman Aaron Dalman saw things differently. “This town is having an identity crisis right now,” he said. “These people don’t want a convenience store in their neighborhood. We have enough convenience stores in this town,” he said. “We need to start respecting what the residents of this town want in their neighborhoods as much as possible. Build houses, get rid of commercials. That’s what I’m going for.”
“It’s a good project and that’s why it’s so hard,” says Boeke. He heard from as many people in favor of the development as there were in opposition to it, but no supporters showed up at the meeting. We lose that tax base and leave (determining subdivided zoning) to county and town regulation, which we all know is much looser and meaner than city regulation — 6 One high-rise condominium can have 64 storage units.
Alderman Ron Zeman opposed the development. “Okay, I’ll go again,” he said. Last month, Eventide asked the city to build a massive four-story complex on East Shore Drive, almost across from Fireside Restaurants. “And where do they want to put it? Right next to their house,” he said. … A strip mall or a gas station is not a setting you want in someone’s neighborhood or on a lake.”
Alderman Wendy Spry, like Zeman, supports more housing being built and wants to keep Lake Detroit inclusive and affordable for young people, but the lake’s He said he was concerned about the protection and maintenance of the existing neighborhood on South Shore Drive. “This is a really tough decision… but the design has room for improvement and I may have to vote against it,” she said.
Josephson moved to approve the annexation request, but in the end he and Matt Bork were the only council members to support it. , Jamie Marks Ericsson, Wendy Spry, Aaron Dallmann and Madaline Sacquet voted against. Council members Dan Wenner and Natalie Bligh did not attend the December 13 meeting and did not vote. The City Planning Commission previously voted against the annexation request as well.
Technically, the council refused to hear the first reading of the ordinance for the annexation of the 54.54-acre parcel of Lakeview Township. District, “LB” Lakefront Business District, and “RA” Residential Farm District, at 557 South Shore Drive and 270th Street.
What should I do then? “We’re kind of back in the planning stages of what the development plan will look like,” said city administrator Kelsey Klemm. “He wants to develop the property and our staff will continue to meet with him and work on it.”
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