Planning and Zoning Director Tim Nelson came before the county board on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 with an update on how the county’s zoning rules apply for the permitting of retail sales and other commercial operations in the various zoning districts, and to “clarify the roles and responsibilities Cook County has within the two mile jurisdictional boundary from the city of Grand Marais.”
Or as Commissioner Frank Moe put it, “Obviously Dollar General is the topic on the table.”
Nelson said as rules now apply, if Dollar General or any other business applied for a building permit and followed the county’s zoning laws and obtained the proper permits, they could build a store.
Nelson added that the city of Grand Marais recently established a moratorium on any buildings larger than 5,000 square feet built in city limits. He said the city had the right to apply its zoning regulations to unincorporated territory located within two miles of its limits in any direction, “but not in a county or town which has adopted zoning regulations.”
Nelson referenced the former bowling alley which was remodeled into the Howlin’ Wolf Saloon and is now used as Oddz and Endz, a discount store selling donated used items with the profits dedicated back to county nonprofits, noting that the county had no jurisdiction over what that 7,000-square foot building was transformed into as long as it stayed on its footprint. In Ely, a Dollar General went into a building that was rehabilitated.
Commissioner Garry Gamble said it was important that any statutes set up were applied equally and added the county couldn’t subjectively apply an ordinance where it felt like or where it didn’t feel like. He also said there was a conflict because, “The county bemoans the lack of economic development and then bemoans it when it is here.”
Commissioner Jan Sivertson questioned whether the addition of a store like Dollar General was a “black and white issue,” and added that from her understanding, a store like Dollar General could open the floodgates to bring more stores like it and change the nature of the community forever.
“We have an obligation to look out for private property rights,” said Moe, adding that the people who hoped to sell their land to the developer of the building which would house Dollar General, had “goals and rights for that land.”
At the end of Nelson’s presentation the board took no action on establishing a countywide building moratorium.
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