A Duluth-based company that specializes in working with troubled youth and families in outdoor settings has purchased 160 acres of land north of Pike Lake and west of the Cascade River to use as its Cook County base of operations. Cazier Properties LLC purchased the property and will lease it to Positive Energy Outdoors (PEO).
Positive Energy Outdoors is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Blake Cazier and Stephanie Love. Cazier, who has owned and trained sled dogs since 1993, has a teaching degree in earth science from UMD and Love a master’s degree in experiential education from Mankato State University. They purchased four parcels totaling 160 acres from Kevin and Karen Woodward of St. Paul, Minnesota, with the aim to grow their business on the land.
Cazier told commissioners the property was purchased as an LLC because that offered more opportunities to secure financing than to purchase the land under their PEO name, which is run as a nonprofit.
Cazier came before the county board on July 26 with a request for a conditional use permit (CUP) to establish a sled dog kennel on the property.
It was noted that the 12 closest neighbors were sent letters of notification about the request and none sent back any objections to the Cook County Planning Commission.
While the CUP calls for up to 80 dogs to be kenneled on the Bally Creek Road property, Cazier said the number would be more like 55 dogs.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Bill Lane said in reviewing the application, it was noted by the planning commission that the land was in one of the more remote, non wilderness landscapes of private land in eastern Cook County, with the nearest neighbor over one mile away.
When asked by Commissioner Jan Sivertson if Lane thought there would be an issue with noise from barking dogs, he replied, “From my perspective in being out at the property, there is no easy trek to get in there. The topography is pretty pronounced. Without any kennel experience, without any mushing experience—I have two cats—from a modeling standpoint this is really the best area in the east end of the county to put a kennel in.”
Commissioner Frank Moe, who raises and races sled dogs, said he spent a day with Cazier three years ago and he encouraged him to look at putting a kennel in the eastern part of Cook County where most mushers live and train their dogs.
Moe said he knew of a musher who had tried to establish a kennel not far from the proposed PEO kennel and he said that musher was harassed and left the county. Moe added that he was concerned a kennel the size proposed by PEO in that location might shed an unfavorable light on the mushing community.
“I spent a good deal of time with Blake explaining the landscape about mushing in the county,” Moe said.
Board Chair Heidi Doo- Kirk replied that she hadn’t heard anything negative from the people in her district. She told Moe there were two other kennels on the Gunflint Trail that haven’t received negative attention, and she believed that with the plans submitted by PEO to mitigate noise from the dogs, and the care and control they proposed, she didn’t think there would be problems.
“If you read his documentation, this is the most complete and thorough application I have seen in 3 ½ half years come through planning and zoning,” Doo- Kirk said, adding, “I’m not concerned about pushback. I don’t think this will put a bad mark on mushers in Cook County.”
Moe replied that he knew that Cazier and Love had a good reputation in Duluth and said that because of his work “on the inside” of the sometimes contentious mushing issues in Cook County he felt he should voice his concerns, but he wished them good luck on their venture.
While addressing commissioners Cazier said PEO’s five-year plan was to build three bunkhouses that would sleep from 4-6 campers, and also build a central kitchen/dining facility and add a cabin or two for staff. He envisioned high school students coming for day trips with potential for families and adult groups to also come for instruction and recreation. The camp won’t be used year round, with periods of inactivity in the spring and June and July.
In the near future activities may include draft horse driving lessons, with the horses living off-site at Lutsen Mountains, and hiking and fishing along Swamp Creek and Cascade River. Plans also include forest history activities and winter wall tent or yurt camping activities to go along with dog sledding.
While sled dog trails will be built on the land, not all of the property can be developed. Currently Cazier Properties LLC is seeking a wetland delineation of 80 acres to be included in the county’s wetland bank program.
Positive Energy Outdoors (PEO), a 501© 3 not-for-profit outdoor education program, was started in 2004 by Cazier and Love to provide opportunities for low-to moderate-income youth to experience people and animal powered outdoor activities.
At their Fredenberg Township location in St. Louis County, PEO offers dog sledding, sleigh and wagon rides, kayaking, rock and ice climbing, skijoring, field trips, day camps, teen adventure camps and special events. Its mission statement in part reads, “Positive Energy Outdoors encourages people and animal powered exploration of the outdoors. Our program encourages teamwork, healthy risk taking and positive communication, creating learning opportunities that can lead to a lifetime of active adventures.”
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