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Grand Marais Planning Commission met on December 7 to discuss a proposal to build 15 individual cabins, a registration office (and support structures) described as “an eco-friendly, upcycled, sustainable offgrid boutique style luxury resort catering to the active outdoor tourist.”
If approved, the development would be built above the Grand Marais water tower on the Sawtooth Mountains.
The boxy structures would be constructed near the disturbed area, which was previously graded to meet the currently approved zip line project with the current drive accessed from the Gunflint Trail.
Called the Blackbox Camp, Terrence Scholz from St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, appeared before the planning commission via zoom on December 7. Scholz had been before the planning commission at a previous meetings and was asked to submit more information about how the project could be built off-grid and be sustainable.
Scholtz submitted more than 50 diagrams showing where and how the camp could be run off-grid.
“In an effort to be truly off-grid and promote an eco-friendly lifestyle, the project will incorporate solar energy, solids and dark water composting, grey water filtration along with other LEED guidelines,” wrote Scholz in his application for a conditional use permit.
Windmills would also be used to create electricity.
When discussing the project, commissioner Anton Moody said while he thought the concepts were cool, as a building contractor, he had a hard time figuring out how all of the systems would work. “I’m trying to understand how in the world you could produce—just electrical production—116,000-kilowatt hours to satisfy the daily output for a year,” said Moody, who said he did some “dirty math” in his calculations. Next, Moody asked if it was the planning commission’s job to determine if a project would be sustainable.
Grand Marais Administrator Mike Roth replied, “Are they (Moody’s questions) relevant issues? Absolutely. Are you supposed to do the math? No.”
Moody also questioned Scholz about his proposal to limit all structures to one level. But also, said Moody, attached to the plans were drawings of multiple-story units. Scholz replied, yes, some structures would be 22 feet high.
Board Chair Michael Garry asked Moody if he was feeling more satisfied with questions about the water. Previously Moody wondered how the water lines could be maintained so they wouldn’t freeze in the winter.
Yes, said Moody. “On-demand hot water heaters are fantastic… I think it is a really super cool idea. But… how…just knowing its complexity, is it our job to say go ahead and do this? But we don’t want you to be a failure.”
Garry said that the buildings would be prominent from town, adding, “It is important that whatever happens in that space, we can back it. In another space, yeah, go for it. I still come back to the water issue.”
“It’s an important piece of land,” said commissioner Ben Peters. “Terrence has done everything we have asked him to do.”
However, Peters noted, “We have to protect that natural resource. That’s the backdrop for the city. I like the project, just not where it is.”
Stacey Hawkins agreed with Peters, saying the “bluff is important. We have already had a failed project there, and we don’t want that to happen again. I don’t feel confident that the wind, solar, the water can all work together and it will fail. I can’t picture everything because I am not an engineer. That bluff is too important to do something like this right now.”
Administrator Roth pointed out that permits are required for windmills, and there needed to be locations for windmills on the plans submitted. “Do we really know what we are being asked to approve? He asked. Noting the commission had received “a plan that is a concept, not a plan.”
He also asked the commission to consider whether this series of structures was compatible with the neighborhood, “does it impede the ordinary development of the area? It definitely needs a lot more work to go into it before you can be sure of that.”
Michael Garry said he would deny, with Stacey Hawkins seconding and the board voting for Garry’s motion.
“Sorry, Terry. I think you understand where we are at with this,” said Garry.
Terry, who would only purchase the property if his development was approved, said he understood.
Next, the planning commission’s recommendation to deny the permit will be voted on by the Grand Marais City Council at the council’s December 14 meeting.
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