Plans to build a rain garden on city land near the Best Western Superior Inn in downtown Grand Marais are moving forward.
On August 26, city councilors listened as Philip Larson of the Cook County Soil & Water Conservation District (Cook SWCD) described the proposal, and on September 9, the council approved the plan.
After talking to the city administrator, Cook County Soil and Water staff developed plans to build a rain garden at the southern terminus of Second Avenue East. The garden is an opportunity to remove sediment and phosphorous from stormwater runoff before it enters into Lake Superior. That site was identified in the Grand Marais Stormwater Management Plan as an area where a rain garden could mitigate damage caused by massive rains.
Larson told the council that Cook SWCD has secured grant funding to build the rain garden along with matching funds. Holland Hospitality, owners of the Best Western Superior Inn, has tentatively agreed to provide matching funds and provide light maintenance for the project, including weeding, trash removal and plant care.
In his request, Larson asked the city for the right-of-way and approval of the rain garden plans, which were granted at the September 8 meeting.
At an upcoming meeting, Cook SWCD will request an agreement to construct the rain garden and request that the city allow the project to remain functional for ten years. Under terms of the agreement, all removal of sediment from the sediment trap would be the city’s responsibility. It was noted that sediment removal could be done with the city’s vacuum equipment, and the design allows for snow removal to continue as it has.
Holland Hospitality has a 10,000 square foot rain garden at its’ Detroit Lakes hotel. Councilor Kelly Swearengen said she has been to the Detroit Lakes hotel and had high praise for the rain garden.
In other council action:
* Council approved a variance from Hamilton Habitat’s request for a side yard variance to build a single family home. The lot, which abuts to the business park, is across from the Law Enforcement and is in a wetland. Hamilton Habitat asked for a setback of ten feet while the city has a 25-foot setback. Councilor Tim Kennedy said there were no public comments against the request and added the planning commission felt this was a good use for this property.
* Kennedy motioned with a second from Councilor Craig Schulte to approve a conditional use request for Benjamin Leatham to construct a single unit lodging/commercial development on a lot located at the northeast corner of Highway 61 and the Gunflint Trail in the C1 Service Commercial, industrial zone. Council voted 4-0 to approve with councilor Moody, not in attendance.
* Cook County/Grand Marais EDA Director Mary Somnis came before the council to explain a request to build a faith-based teen center in the business park. Before that can happen, the council has to change the allowable permitted uses in the Cedar Grove Business Park. Somnis said the EDA has broad-based language in the covenants drawn up for allowable services to be conducted in the business park. However, some of those acceptable uses like “services” aren’t covered in the city’s zoning.
Councilor Swearengen commented that she strongly approved of a new teen center, but she wanted to dig into the zoning question more before deciding. Councilor Kennedy said a youth center fits in the park. “We have a church in the business park,” he said and cited a veterinary clinic with a home attached, artist studios and other items that meet the criteria for building a teen center in the park.
Because an ordinance modification would be read at the meeting and a second reading would be held at the next meeting, Mayor Jay Arrowsmith Decoux said the council could move on the proposal, but he called for more discussion first.
Administrator Mike Roth said if the lot is sold, the city taxpayers wouldn’t have to pay for the special assessments for the water and sewer, and jobs could be created through the youth center’s development.
Swearengen pushed back and asked if the city would allow a strip mall to be built in the business park and wondered what the EDA first envisioned for uses in the business park when it was developed.
Somnis said the lots along the Gunflint Trail were designed for strip malls or small shops. Roth noted through the years the vision for the business park has changed from the original plan. Kennedy added there had been many changes since the park opened with commercial industrial builders not coming into the park-like first thought. But by allowing services, other types of business could be built and operated in the business park.
Swearengen said she felt uncomfortable with the short notice and wanted more time to look into it. “I think it (the teen center) is so needed here,” but she wanted to think about it more and do a little more digging before deciding.
Mayor Jay Arrowsmith said it might be good to slow down the process and look into what is allowable and what fits in the business park before the council changes an ordinance.
“I feel like I need a little more time, I don’t want us to go through the process a couple more times,” said Swearengen.
Kennedy said he had no problem with making sure the council was making the right decision and he had no problem waiting until the next meeting to decide on the ordinance change. Councilor Schulte agreed, saying he wanted to study the covenants in more detail before voting to change the ordinance.
Council will take the matter up at a future board meeting after they have had time to understand better the implications of making the change to the city’s ordinance.
Council was notified that the city had received $106,230 for COVID-19 related expenses. So far, the city has spent $23,000 in related expenses, said city administrator Mike Roth. The money can only be used for expenses caused by the pandemic. The council approved the report that documents the spending the city has made so far.
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