Once again the Grand Marais harbor is drawing a lot of interest. This time, however, it’s not because of a proposal to build a large marina, but because of some smaller improvements proposed to the city’s public boat access in the southwest corner of the recreation park next to the dog pound, and the possible reclamation of less than an acre of land to wetland.
Among other things, a first draft of the boat launch area shows the current 100-foot-long rubble mound break wall extended to the left another 105 feet. Plans also call for the parking lot to be extended and paved and a small removable dock that is American with Disabilities Act (ADA)- compliant installed for canoeists and kayakers near the pavilion.
Because no funds are available currently, these improvements and changes could be far off in the future, noted Park Board Chair Walt Mianowski at the park board’s April 1 meeting at Grand Marais City Hall.
The park board reviewed more than 40 written comments from the public and hosted the public meeting to hear more. Eight people came to listen or to voice concerns and raise questions about the concepts seen on the city’s webpage.
Molly Hoffman said she was in favor of the reclamation of wetlands, but worried changes to the rubble mound break wall might raise its current height and ruin the view for photographers and beachcombers.
“I’m in favor of you getting your docks, just watch the height of the break wall. As you move it out, it will be a problem because it will get taller. If you can settle that issue, a lot of people will be happy about that,” Hoffman said.
Former park board member and sailor Todd Miller asked that any work to the break wall, dock and launch/ docking area be done to accommodate sailboats because they typically need more depth and length to safely launch and land than other boats.
“If you can satisfy the sailor, you can satisfy everyone,” Miller said, adding that he hoped the project would include all boaters, and not just a select few.
Local fisherman Harley Toftey agreed. He said he knew of boaters who now take their crafts elsewhere to get pulled from the water at the end of the season.
“Explore the question to see if you can get more depth and extend the break wall,” Toftey said.
“What about the run-off from the parking lot?” was one of a handful of questions that John Haluska asked.
Because no one from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) could attend this meeting, Park Manager Dave Tersteeg answered Haluska. Tersteeg said, “I can’t answer all of your questions, but I will take them back to the DNR. The DNR was happy with all of the written comments received so far, but we are going to leave the public comment period open for another month to gather more comments and suggestions from the public.”
Jim Boyd asked the park board to take to heart the suggestions given them even if it would cost more and not “settle” for what the DNR would pay for. He suggested looking into the possibility of getting state bonding to help pay some of the costs, and he urged the board to work with the public, the DNR and the Grand Marais City Council to get the best possible outcome for everyone before any work is done.
History of the current proposal
Following the 2009 Master Plan, the park board and the DNR have been working on ideas to improve boat access, public parking, handicap access, storm water runoff, erosion control, and to make other improvements to public access.
The DNR and city signed a cooperative partnership agreement and reviewed a working draft concept plan for the project area in 2012. Following this agreement the DNR hired Jonson, Johnson & Ray (JJR), a design and engineering firm to come up with a design plan for the boat access area.
Joe Russell and Larry Killien of the DNR Trails and Waterways Division presented drawings and ideas from JJR at the park board’s March meeting. As part of their work JJR conducted a site survey and wave analysis and looked at historical information concerning weather patterns in the harbor.
The Minnesota DNR water recreation account paid for the site survey, wave analysis, and preliminary planning. Killien said that boat license fees and a portion of the unrefunded gas tax provide money for this fund. “Essentially the users (boaters) paid for this study,” Killien said.
At that meeting Killien presented the results of a wave analysis study which recommended the break wall extension. The proposed new rubble mound break wall would remain at the same six-foot height (above water), but would provide safer egress for boaters and maintain a half-foot or less wave height within the launch basin.
Following Killien and Russell’s presentation the park board agreed to seek suggestions from the public and placed the schematic drawings JJR made on the city’s website.
Written comments
Forty written comments—nine from photographers—were submitted to Park Manager Tersteeg at the end of a 30-day comment period.
Lisa Peterson, a Twin Cities resident, addressed the dilemma faced by most photographers if the break wall was extended as drawn. “As a serious amateur photographer and frequent tourist of Grand Marais, I am writing to express my concern over the proposed breakwater plan. The proposed breakwater will make it impossible to get a photograph of the lighthouse with the moon in the background. It’s an iconic shot of Grand Marais and makes the town such a special place to photograph.
“I know that many (more than 40) photographers visit an exact spot in Grand Marais during August, April or September to get that one shot. In my mind that shot alone is worth the sixhour drive to Grand Marais. …. The solution is to build a wider breakwater extension and put a handicap accessible walkway on its top. The walkway will allow photographers to get out on the breakwater safely.”
Local photographers Paul Sundberg and Bryan Hansel expressed similar thoughts in their letters to the park board.
Out-of-town boaters weighed in almost exclusively in favor of the project. “While the staff and town of Grand Marais could not be better, the marina facilities could be much improved when compared to other ports on Lake Superior such as those found on Apostle Islands. The proposed project would clearly be a step in the right direction,” wrote Duane R. Flynn from Duluth.
Todd Miller offered several suggestions and added, “Hopefully, when this boat access area is done, we will have created a low impact and highly effective facility for all our diverse boating interests that will be adequate for many years to come. For power boaters, sail boaters, and paddlers. Boats large and small, modern and traditional.”
A voice of dissent was John Gorski who wrote, among other things, “The creation of a large parking lot and a boat ramp, which will be used only four months a year, is a very low minded endeavor. One can assume that the DNR will demand a contractual agreement which will tie up the potential of this site for decades to come.”
Tersteeg said he welcomes comments from the public. The draft plan can be seen at www.grandmaraisrecreationarea.com and on Facebook, which also includes a place for written comments. Tersteeg will share those comments with the DNR and present them at the park board’s May meeting where, hopefully, either Killien or Russell or both can attend to further answer the public’s questions and concerns.
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