The Grand Marais City Council met on Wednesday, Oct. 10 and before it was two variance requests that were approved by the planning commission and forwarded to the council.
First up for discussion was a request from Anna and Sarah Hamilton who were asking for an allowance to build a 16-foot-wide residential structure on a lot 300 square feet less than the required 10,000 square feet and 25 feet less than the required 120-foot depth.
The property, which is zoned R-1 Permanent Residential, is located at 902 5th Avenue, across the road and just up from the Pappy Wright Little League field. A small cabin sits on it.
The Hamilton sisters are working to develop low-income housing in the county. This first project would be a small home that would be marketed for under one hundred thousand dollars with the caveat that when it is resold, it can’t be sold for more than the original purchase price.
Followed the planning commission’s recommendation, the city council approved the Hamilton variance.
Next, the council listened to a request from David Berner who would like to build a three-story building with retail space on the first floor and lodging on the two floors above in the area between Java Moose and the Harbor Inn.
In his application, Berner said the building would have to be 18 inches taller than the current 30-foot height restriction allowed by the city. His proposal promises to add two new parking spaces “and will not increase the burden on downtown overnight parking.”
Berner has deep roots to the county. “My great-grandfather August Johnson and great-great-grandmother Steina Johnson came to Grand Marais in the late 1800s and are buried in the Grand Marais cemetery. August had two sons, Charlie Johnson and Van Johnson (my great-grandfather) both who were raised in Grand Marais.
“Both Van and Charlie were very involved in Grand Marais and Cook County business throughout their lifetime and held various local government posts. Charlie had a son by the name of Lloyd Johnson who built the Johnson Heritage Post in Grand Marais and created a foundation that continues to provide exceptional assistance for great causes along the North Shore and Grand Marais.
“My grandfather Bev Johnson was a county commissioner and ran a real estate company, Ogema Land & Abstract in Grand Marais for over 50 years. My mother was born and raised in Grand Marais, I have been coming back and forth to Grand Marais since a young child to enjoy the wonderful attributes of the North Shore and Gunflint Trail. I own other property up the Gunflint Trail and our family continues to own property in Cook County. Our family has always been good stewards for the land in Cook County for many generations.”
Berner said the property under consideration had a small unused office on it that was recently taken down. His great-grandfather, then his grandfather, then an aunt and uncle owned the property before he purchased it a little over a year ago.
Due to the small size of the lot and close proximity of Java Moose and the Harbor Inn, Berner wrote, “The standard height for new retail space in today’s marketplace is 14 feet to the bottom of the joist. I have reduced this down to 9’6”.
“The standard ceiling height for upscale residential lodging space is 9’. The proposed ceiling height to the second floor is 9’ feet, but we reduced the ceiling height from 9’ to 8’6” to minimize the variance request. The retail space ceiling height is significantly lower than what is desired in today’s marketplace by most retail tenants, but I am hoping the exceptional location and view of the harbor will overcome the inferior height.
“Adding new retail space that could hopefully benefit the art community is my strongest desire if the demand is there.”
Noting several inconsistencies in the paperwork relating to the project and asking questions that Berner couldn’t explain, the council postponed making a motion at this time until Berner can come back and better answer their questions.
Leave a Reply