Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Conditional Use Permit for RV Park Denied (Update for Members)

10-16-2018

Dear Long Lake Area Association members, neighbors and friends,

The Hubbard County Board of Commissioners met today and DENIED the Conditional Use Permit Application for an RV Park on Long Lake.  The Commissioners deliberated and asked a number of questions regarding the proposed RV Park.

The applicant was at the meeting and presented a number of arguments as to why he felt the Conditional Use Permit should be granted.  A number of neighbors were in attendance at the meeting and spoke in opposition of the proposal.

The Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes will be out in about a month and the exact wording will be available at that time.  Four of the Commissioners voted to DENY the (CUP) Conditional Use Permit. (Note: The commissioners vote has been updated here after checking with local newspapers. The vote was misstated in the Board's original letter because hearing at these meetings can be difficult as they do not always use their microphones consistently.)  The primary reasons why they denied the CUP were the same reasons that, as a neighborhood and as a lake association, we have been concerned about this since Labor Day weekend when the entire lake became aware of the issue.
  •  The Long Lake Area Association (Hubbard County) Inc and the neighbors are NOT opposed to commercial development on Long Lake.  They are NOT opposed to the development of additional RV Parks on Long Lake.  It was felt the location of the proposed RV Park, located within a residential neighborhood, on a sensitive wetland that would be harmed by additional boat traffic was not a good use of the property.
  • The Commissioners expressed reservations about how the land would be developed and that there wasn't a clear plan of how earth would be moved, vegetation spared and the environment protected.
  • The Commissioners expressed concern over promises made by the applicant as to how the RV Park would be developed and operated, in absence of a clear construction and operating plan, given the applicant's history of violating the Shoreline Ordinance and DNR Regulations.
We want to thank ALL of you for the tremendous efforts in coming together to help the neighborhood and the lake! There were 104 people who wrote letters and emails of concern to the Board of Adjustment/Planning Commission.  There were 83 people in attendance at their meeting.  While your letters and presence at the Planning Commission meeting did not change the outcome that day, the Hubbard County Commissioners received every letter and several read them all.  Many of you sent emails or called the Commissioners too.  The team that met with the individual Commissioners helped.  Two of the Commissioners toured the island and looked at the proposed site and the Henrietta Township roads.  We know the visits, meetings, letters, phone calls and emails made an impact on our Commissioners.

The issue was complex and our Commissioners take their job seriously.   Jobs, economic progress and tourism are critically important to the area economy and our Commissioners are rightfully very sensitive to this issue and needed to balance that with the environmental and neighborhood impact.   They did their homework, talked to neighbors, listened, asked questions, read the letters, studied data, and their reasons for denying the CUP were well thought out.

Sincerely, The Long Lake Area Association (Hubbard County) Inc, Board of Directors
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Monday, October 8, 2018

October 6, 2018 Letter to LLAA Members

Dear Long Lake Area Association Members and Friends,

Here is an update on what has occurred since our last communication on 9/26/18 when we were awaiting some clarification from the Board of Adjustment & Planning Commission (BOA/PC) meeting.  We again want to make sure you have access to the important information.

Sincerely,
Long Lake Area Association (Hubbard County) Inc, Board of Directors

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   1. Please attend the Hubbard County Board of Commissioners Meeting on Tuesday, 10/16/18, at 9AM in Room 324 at the Hubbard County Government Center, 301 Court Ave, Park Rapids, MN.  We expect the Conditional Use Permit 2-CU-18 will be on the agenda for the proposed RV Park.  We will be able to listen and support our special Long Lake.  One representative of Neighborhood 6 will speak during the very short public comment period.
✔️Check agenda on 10/12/2018:  Hubbard County Commissoners_Board Meeting Documents

    2.  A small team from Neighborhood 6 will be meeting with individual commissioners next week in separate meetings.  We will focus on 4 areas:  environmental, neighborhood,  development concerns, and economic impact.  This will help the commissioners understand our perspective.

    3.    You can help now by sending an email to the County Commissioners regarding CUP 2-CU-18.  Use the same areas of concern above:  environmental, neighborhood and development concerns.  Address your comments to all 5 Commissioners – see email addresses below.  Note that they already have your comments through 9/19 and oral comments from 9/24.  So write about something different. As you write your email please tailor it with your own thoughts/words or personal examples. For the map of commissioners districts with full contact info Click Here.
        4.    Some other interesting information is contained in these attachments/links in         reference to the 9/24/2018 Board of Adjustment/Planning Commission meeting:
       5.  The LLAA Foundation granted funds for Attorney Peters who has shoreland ordinance expertise.

       6.   The video link of the 10/4/2018 Hubbard County Commissioner District 1 & 3 Candidate Forum sponsored by the Park Rapids League of Women Voters is available at the following link.  Long Lake spans these two Districts. 

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