With Supervisor Marland Hansen absent on vacation and Treasurer John Groth, Fire Chief Paul Goettl, and EMS Chief Fred Schmidt at firefighter training, the March 16, 2010 Lutsen town meeting went fairly quickly. The remaining board discussed a possible zoning change, community financial donations, and the generous donation of a U.S. flag.
The primary topic of discussion was a rezoning request from Lutsen property owner John Willard. Willard asked if the town board would support the rezoning, from resort-commercial to residential, of a 40-acre parcel of land that he owns.
Willard said it doesn’t make sense that this parcel, which is a mile away from the Ski Hill Road is zoned resort commercial when there is so much unused resort commercial property closer to the ski hill road. “I’m thinking if this was rezoned as residential, it would be a better fit with what’s around it,” he told the town board.
Under the current zoning, Willard said he could build up to 40 townhomes or develop a campground. “Thisis cutting the density down,” said Willard. “In some ways, I’m dumb to ask to change this, because if I changed my mind it would be unlikely that I could change it back. But when I do stuff with my land, I like it to make sense.”
Willard said he does have plans to develop another parcel, closer to the Ski Hill Road, at some point in the future. That parcel is 7 ½ acres and with resortcommercial zoning, he could develop 12 units. “But it doesn’t make sense to carry out that kind of density on 40 acres,” said Willard.
Supervisors Diane Parker and Joe Buttweiler said the rezoning request made sense. They asked Willard if he needed a letter of support from the town board, and he said no. “I’ve talked to the staff at planning and zoning. Theythink it makes sense. I just wanted to let you guys know what is going on,” said Willard.
Lutsen Clerk Amity Goettl reported that the township had received several donations in the last month. The largest was from the Cathedral of the Pines, the church camp on the Caribou Trail, which donated $1,000 to the Lutsen Volunteer Fire Department and $1,000 to the Lutsen First Responders. Goettl said the First Responders planned to use the money to purchase a new defibrillator. Donations were also received from Lutsen Mountains, $250 to the First Responders; the Arrowhead EMS Association, $150 to assist with radio communications for First Responders; and an additional $40 in memory of former Cook County Sheriff John Lyght.
Boyd and Karen Blomberg read about the township’s need for a new flag in last month’s News-Herald
coverage of the Lutsen town meeting and donated a new flag in memory of former Sheriff John Lyght. The flag is a leather-blend material and should last longer than the previous flag.
The next meeting of the Lutsen town board has been rescheduled to avoid conflict with Tuesday night firefighter training. TheApril meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 12.
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