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The next stop for the proposed $45 million Silver Rapids Lodge redevelopment will be the Lake County board.
At a meeting on Monday, the county planning commission discussed the petition for a discretionary EAW and voted unanimously to recommend to the board that it was not necessary.
On Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 2 p.m. the Lake County board of commissioners will meet in Two Harbors to discuss and vote on the recommendation made by the planning commission to not move forward with a discretionary EAW.
From there, if the EAW request is denied, the Planning Commission will meet at 5 p.m. on Sept. 4 to consider the next step for the project.
Monday’s discussion included presentations by representatives of Silver Rapids and questions from member of the Planning Commission.
Attorney Jesse Smith told the commission there are four factors to consider on whether an EAW is needed. He said the Silver Rapids Resort developers have proved the additional environmental review is not needed.
“You’re really deciding whether or not the project has the potential for significant environmental effects,” said Smith. “The potential effects at the end of the day are to modernize this property, really bring it in line, and rectify some of the ongoing issues that are present there.”
Julie Blackburn of ISG said she has 30 years of experience and explained an EAW only looks at existing information.
“It isn’t a study,” she said. “So we’re not going out and getting samples and things like that.”
Blackburn addressed issues listed in a petition filed with the state requesting an EAW be ordered. She said the proposed Tiki Lounge would need to be dealt with through a separate conditional use permit. Questions about the area housing market are “beyond the scope of an environmental assessment worksheet.”
The project will follow all of the state and local requirements, according to Blackburn, in response to other sections of the petition that was signed by over 300 people.
“I want to recognize their concern, but they need to bring forward the material evidence, that because of the nature or location of this project, there may be the potential for significant environmental effects and for you to evaluate it against those four criteria,” Blackburn told the commission members who met in Two Harbors. The meeting was broadcast on Zoom.
Developer Sandy Hoff asked for the commission to recommend the EAW request be denied. He also said the project is a commercial operation.
“It is a different commercial operation of the existing operation that is there today,” said Hoff.
Commission chair Mike Hoops said with DNR and county oversight “this will be a much better project than what is sitting there right now. “
Commission member Mike Bathke said the project will improve what is there now.
“I see it all as improving things so I’m not worried about the environmental and ecology as I would be in another hunk of shore that’s not disturbed, that’s a different situation. I see this as a good positive step in many. many ways.”
Hoops added he was glad to see the campsites by the lake would be removed as part of the redevelopment.
Commission and county board member Rich Sve addressed noise concerns, saying the conditions can include quiet hours. “This place will be staffed 24/7 to make sure it’s held to where it should be. People want to have quiet at night and fun during the day. As resort owners, you’re good stewards, and if you’re not you need to be, because that is very important here.”
The developers have other properties they own and operate including on the North Shore.
Traffic counts were discussed with a possible eight percent increase in traffic on Kawishiwi Trail.
“And eight percent increase, is it that significant?” asked Hoops.
“I don’t think it’s going to generate enough traffic to put in conditions,” said commission member Joe Ernest.
Lake County Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy said she has been dealing with these types of concerns since 1987.
“I understand all the science but there’s so many emotions attached to it and it’s the emotional part that is very, very hard,” said McCarthy.
Hoff said there is still confusion in the public about what the project includes and that his team will work to help with that.
In response to concerns over the impact to the BWCA, McCarthy said the entry points are one and two miles away from the resort.
There are several other resorts on Farm Lake that are much closer to the BWCA line.
“I don’t think there will be a lot of guests driving boats into the Boundary Waters, they’ll only do it once,” said Hoops.
Sve said, “People need to be responsible for their own actions…to put it upon the business I can’t see it.”
The motion to deny the petitioner’s request for an EAW was made by Ernest and seconded by Sve. The vote was unanimous.
