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New lodge with restaurant and bar, swimming pool, condos
A proposed $45 million renovation project at Silver Rapids Lodge ran into opposition at a public hearing on July 18.
The Fall Lake town hall holds 60 people and Lake County Planning Commission chair Mike Hoops said he counted 90 people inside.
With that, around 30 people stood outside the building by open windows or in the doorway.
An hour’s worth of public testimony ensued, several of which also submitted written letters opposing the project.
Hoops said the hearing was to consider Silver Rapids Resort’s permit to expand the existing Silver Rapids Lodge by 49 one-fourth fractional units for a total of 62 units, along with a new main lodge facility, bar, restaurant and resort amenities.
Christine McCarthy, Lake County Environmental Services Director, said 25 items of correspondence from the community were received. She said they were all either against or had serious concerns, including density, aquatic invasive species, boat traffic and jet skis along with traffic on Kawishiwi Trail.
Owners Sandy Hoff and Jamie Tatge pitched the project.
“We have an exciting project to present to you this evening, and we’re excited and frankly, we feel privileged to be able to evolve the history of Silver Rapids Lodge, just a beautiful, beautiful spot in a great area of our world,” said Hoff.
While a computer generated video of what the site would look like played, Tatge said the 49 new housing units would be sold in one-fourth ownerships and that six of the cabins that are staying would be redeveloped along with the motel.
The camping sites by the lake would be removed and replaced with a tiki bar.
Tatge said the current lodge would be removed and replaced with a new lodge with a restaurant, bar, supper club, outdoor hot tub, sauna, indoor pool and other resort amenities.
“Our goal is to remove the least amount of trees we possibly can,” said Tatge.
The project does not require an environmental assessment worksheet since there are fewer than 50 units.
First to speak from the audience was Edward Seliskar of 504 Kawishiwi Trail. He said he has lived here 70 years and that his grandfather built Pine Point Lodge and his grandfather’s sister, Frances, built Silver Rapids Lodge.
Seliskar asked that the speed limit on Kawishiwi Trail be reduced to 30 mile per hour and suggested a crosswalk be built under the road so people don’t have to walk across the road from the resort down to the beach amenities.
Seliskar also suggested the boat landing be moved to the Farm Lake side.
Mary Zimmerman of 13446 Hickory Road said there is one property between her and the end of the campground. She said she purchased her property 25 years ago.
“We first had to remove five trashed out rotting cabins right along the shoreline because I wanted to return it to the natural beauty of the environment,” said Zimmerman.
“I cannot imagine so much traffic, so many people, boat traffic, people,” said Zimmerman. “Your picture is gorgeous of the scene. There are no people in it. There are no boats in it.
Zimmerman said she was also concerned about light pollution and the impact of the development on lake life, fishing and “on the people who are canoeing into the Boundary Waters.”
She said people have come to the area for the natural beauty, the quiet, the silence, the darkness, the birds and the animals.
“I will never hear another loon after this project has been completed,” said Zimmerman.
Sharon Friedler said she was an owner at Pine Road Retreats on White Iron Lake.
“I’ve been coming to this area since 1976, I couldn’t afford to purchase anything until 2008. But when I purchased something, it was with the understanding that it would contribute to preserving the beauty and the natural environment. Everything that is done in our community is an effort to do that,” said Friedler.
Lauren Murchison of 386 Garden Lake Road said she moved here 18 months ago.
“We moved from a western town where over the last 10 years of living there I have seen towns just like Ely turn into corporate greed coming in and pushing out locals and not carrying about the environment.
“So the town that I used to live in is completely gentrified. The locals can no longer afford to live there. The median home price is almost a million dollars.”
She questioned the need and benefit of the project and said there are plenty of jobs in Ely already.
Robin Vora of 1181 Ring Rock Road in the Town of Morse said although a new restaurant would be nice “it’s a little too much for this area.”
Vora cited AIS and said, “We need to require people to use resort watercraft to stay here so you don’t have to worry about that.”
Vora also questioned the 90 dock slips, saying “all of those docks seem like too many” and that the “project seems too large for this area, not the character of the area. We want to keep it to the north woods. As the lady mentioned, we really at this point don’t need new jobs.”
Dea Whitten, a 43-year resident said, “There’s approximately 60 people in here right now. If those 60 condos go in, 60? That’s twice as many people. That’s only two to every condo. And you take all these people and you’re going to put them in within a mile of me right now? Kind of crazy. I’m against it. I’m against it because I don’t want Lake Minnetonka here.”
Hudson Kingston, a Garden Lake resident, said “I have fond memories of the lodge and its heyday. I understand that places have to evolve, but I’m going to miss it as other people have said. Now my concerns as a third generation in my house is the impacts on the lives we live now.”
Kingston said additional law enforcement will be needed and that “these cabins are not housing what we need in this county is housing.
“My concern is large power boats eroding the shoreline and killing loons. If we are talking about conditions, I would like them to only be servicing electric ATVs. I would like them to only be servicing electric boats. I would very much like a limit on the engine size of the boats. Because as some people will have said, through Farm Lake, people who are coming in might not know that they’re going straight into a Boundary Waters entry point.
Amy Stewart of 13487 Bay Road said, “I have concerns, a lot of concerns. First of all, the scale of this project is huge. I have no problem, like many others I had said, with Silver Rapids restoring themselves.
“They have yet to have enough staff to stay open seven days a week or serve food and that thing. So that type of thing right now, I don’t see that getting any better with the housing development in this area being what it is.”
Stewart said she was concerned about light pollution and a “bar and a party place.”
Christopher Ender of 13444 Bear Paw Trail said he was concerned about increased boat traffic.
“And I do not see the need for so many docks here. I think these people, if they have timeshare, they could also limit this. I mean visually it looks bad.”
Linda Gannister said her question was about the bed tax generated for the project.
“So what is the plan for that? Would it all be budgeted to be spent up here in Fall Lake Township? It could be tens of thousands of dollars.”
Charles Marsden of 13478 Bay Road said he bought a home here for quiet and lakes that are not crowded.
“And I see this project changing the character of the area. I see no benefit of this project to anybody in this room,” he said.
Larry Zelenz said he lives in Brainerd but has a place at 467 Ernie’s Road And I really love it because they don’t have to be in Brainerd during the summer.
“I am not totally opposed to development, but at this scale, I am behind all the people who have talked about noise pollution, air pollution, water pollution, light pollution, all the things that we would experience here that I have come here to avoid.
“I think further development here is going to be wonderful. I’d love to see a vibrant Silver Rapids Lodge here. I don’t think I’d like to see it at the scale it is right now.”
He said he also has concerns about increases in ATV and snowmobile traffic.
Marilyn Marsden asked if Silver Rapids would have a commercial marina.
Jodi Tower said her concerns had to do with the “drain on law enforcement, fire and ambulance crews… what will the impact be on those of us needing stuff and not being able to get it.”
Larry Lozar said he is an 80-year resident of White Iron Lake and the Lake County has been promoting and protecting the health, safety, general welfare of the public and environment.
“Please protect us from this project,” said Lozar.
Mary Kay Fortier told the board her grandfather built the original White Iron Lake bridge at the turn of the last century.
“I have a lot of emotional investment here. I love the city. I love the community. I love what we do in terms of having an opportunity to speak our points of view.
“My problem is representation and the fact that there’s a room filled here with people and out there in the White Iron chain of lakes, there are thousands of people that have not either heard about this project, nor have they had a voice or an opportunity to speak to this project.
Willie Wagner of 469 Sunset Road said, “When I hear about this development, I keep thinking about what is next. Because what is next isn’t just Silver Rapids, it’s other developments that will happen.
“What you’re doing is you’re also pushing out the mom-and-pop people who have their own lodges that they’ve been running for many years.
“The people who are going to buy fractional ownerships do two things. Maximum pure enjoyment while they’re here. So that means the jet skis go as fast as you can on the lakes, let the trash fly out, urinate in the water. You know it, they do it.
“But the bottom line is you’re going to see a push for a Target. You’re going to see a push for a Walmart. You’re going to see these things hit the inside Ely community. And to me, that is why this project should not move forward.
Tony Porthan said he has a cabin on White Iron Lake.
“I think what’s being missed here too is not talking about, we’re talking about loons and water, but we’re talking about blue-collar people that are going to be taxed off this lake. You have 60 $1 million places at $250,000 for a quarter share.
“I want to know what that’s going to do to all of us in this room. I see the Horvat family, Seliskar family, Buccawich family. These are all people that were miners and loggers in this area and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty for them because we’re going to be taxed out of our places and they’ve worked their butts off their entire careers to enjoy this lake.”
Karen Eilrich of 514 loop Road said, “I second exactly what he just said.”
One hour after the meeting started, Hoops called for any further public testimony from anyone inside or outside the building. Hearing none, he closed public comment.
He then asked the developers to respond to some of the questions raised.
On the number of units, there are a total of 36 cabins being used including cabins, park models and motel sites plus 21 RV sites.
“The density we are proposing is very similar to what is there. We are proposing to remove all RV sites off White Iron Lake and remove cabins on Farm Lake inside the setback.”
On the number of sites, the developers said Lake County required them to provide a full scale request where they are planning to build as needed in three phases.
“This will be phased and it could take 10 years. This is something that’s going to evolve, not happen overnight. On the docks there is no intent put all of them in on day one, we will put them in as we need them.”
The project will also create vegetative buffers and treat stormwater versus the current situation where it runs into the lake.
There will be one entrance to the resort instead of three with one way traffic.
The project will narrow the width of the boat landing and since the camper sites will go away it will be easier for traffic.
Underground storage tanks, including one for gasoline that will be removed and replaced with a state-of-the-art above-ground tank.
While the project is a phased development that could take three, five or 10 years, the clean ups will be done in phase one along with the new lodge and 15 units.
“This isn’t a fly-by-night operation, we’ve assembled a great team to get there.”
The facility would be dark sky compliant and use low power non-white lights.
Hoff said the density and number of cabins will be very similar to what is there now.
“We’re spreading the density out, we’re cleaning up the shoreline, taking out a campground along shoreline and restoring beach front. When we get done it will be far better than what this community has now.”
There will not be a commercial marina and the boat launch will be reconfigured so it’s safer. Docks are for guests with a total of 90 proposed dock spaces which includes 30 “for customers on lake to come enjoy dinner.”
Tatge said the company plans to continue using Your Boat Club to provide boats for guests.
“Our goal is the strong relationship with Your Boat Club so we’re not putting boats in and out of water. And as far as jet skis, we’re not renting jet skis. We will respect whatever ordinance is on the lake. We’re not in the jet ski rental business.”
There was also discussion on the resort’s future water usage which McCarthy estimated could be as high as one million gallons a year.
Lake County Commissioner Rich Sve, also a Planning Commission member, addressed the property tax issue. He said while it is complicated, additional tax value increases the size of the pie and can actually lower taxes for other property owners.
“We are fortunate with law enforcement that have a deputy residing in this area so response is better than what it was in the past,” said Sve.
The plan for the project’s septic needs was also discussed with developers saying four new systems have already been installed.
Sve said he will talk to the sheriff about speed limits but a change would take an evaluation by the state.
“I’ll touch base with the sheriff even if the project doesn’t move forward I’ll look into that,” said Sve.
Tatge explained with the fractional interest an owner would own 13 weeks but the lodging will operate like a resort.
“When the owner is not there or they have friends and family use it, it is a revenue share when the owner is not using it.”
Buyers can also purchase an entire year but they can’t live there.
Employee housing is also part of the project with five units proposed with two people per unit.
There was discussion on the future replacement of the Silver Rapids bridge with McCarthy saying there isn’t a timeline for that but that the developer should be aware of the potential impacts.
The number of dock slips was also discussed with the current facility having 32 and the request being 90 spots over 3,000 feet of shoreline.
Tatge addressed noise concerns by saying they will have onsite staff to keep noise levels down and no wedding receptions will be allowed.
“With all due respect, working with brides and mothers of brides, we don’t do weddings,” said Tatge.
It became apparent the board wasn’t ready to make any decisions and McCarthy said the staff has more work to do on the proposal including an alternate location for the tiki bar, more feedback from the county highway engineer and water supply questions.
Sve said he wanted to see a more refined plan on docks.
The decision was to table the project until a meeting back at Fall Lake on Aug. 8 at 4 p.m. after McCarthy initially pushed for it to be held in Two Harbors.
