DETROIT LAKES — Is the Detroit Lakes City Council looking out for the current residents of Detroit Lakes or are they more interested in expansion and growth? The July 13th issue of the Detroit Lakes Tribune carries a front page story on a zoning change and Detroit Lakes city annexation of a large tract of rural land near a quiet neighborhood to an out-of-town developer. Last year the same developer asked for a zoning change to permit a convenience store on a corner of this land. The Becker County Board approved his request with a stipulation that it be placed further back from South Shore Drive along 270th Avenue, closer to the commercial storage buildings, rather than in a residential location.
The convenience store builder canceled his plans. Now, the developer has come to the city with a request to annex the same 78-acre plot of land, which is now in the county, along with a request that a 10-acre parcel be changed to a R-M zoning with the balance to stay at R-A zoning. R-M allows high-density buildings up to 60 feet tall, that is four stories high.
R-A is agriculture and single family residences. This request occurred at the June City Council meeting and failed. So, the request was changed to the whole parcel staying zoned at R-A.
The City Council then approved the annexation request in June. ADVERTISEMENT During the July City Council meeting, a council member made the motion to change the ordination back to the original R-M and R-A Zoning request. The council approved the amended motion.
This backdoor handling of zoning changes after the first reading is in question of being legal, and the residents in the area are very much against the commercialization of their now-quiet neighborhood. The apartment building is proposed to have four floors and 150 apartments which will make it a commercial business and will probably attract more commercial businesses in the future. The 150 apartments will probably house 300-400 people and vehicles, to add to the already overburdened South Shore Drive traffic.
Developers Brian Gramer and Brent Kuehne are involved in developing the 10-acre plot. They will build the apartment building and Gramer spoke about his plans for the area, which may sound very pleasing, but he presented no drawings nor pictures in support of his testimony. A woman and her young daughter also talked in support of the apartment building.
They were later identified as the wife and child of Shaun Carlson, chairman of the Detroit Lakes Planning Commission. Aldermen Stearns, Carlson, Boeke, Spry and Josephson voted for the second reading of the annexation proposal which included the zoning changes. Aldermen Deraney, Zeman and Buboltz voted against the second reading and against the rezoning request after many area residents testified against the proposal.
Mayor Matt Brenk and aldermen Wendy Spry and Dan Josephson not only supported the new Neighborhood/Commercial Zone, but are also up for reelection on Nov. 5. ADVERTISEMENT The following supported the rezoning for the 150-unit apartment building: Ward 3 Alderman Matt Boeke, Ward 1 Alderman Shaun Carlson, Mayor Matt Brenk; Ward 2 Alderman Wendy Spry, Ward 3 Alderman Dan Josephson, and Ward 2 Alderman Mike Stearns.
Please be careful what you are voting for. You either love this city or you don't. South Shore cannot handle more traffic.
A better suggestion for all the tax money that they collect from South Shore residents is to buy the property and build a safe bike path and walking path, and maybe something like the beautiful park very near that property. Pickleball courts are very popular. Please do something more positive than bringing more people and more vehicles onto an already dangerous road for bikers, kids, hikers and walkers.
Drive out there sometime and you will see..
