Development Being Proposed For South Side Of Silver Lake Drawing Controversy Among Some Lake Park Residents
Development Being Proposed For South Side Of Silver Lake Drawing Controversy Among Some Lake Park Residents
February 15, 2022Steve Schwaller
(Lake Park)– A public hearing on a developer’s request to rezone some land from Highway Commercial to a resort commercial district was held as part of Monday night’s Lake Park City Council meeting. Developer Seth Hellenga is proposing to build 63 cabins on the south side of Silver Lake. Hellenga said the development would bring a huge economic boost to Lake Park…
“My estimations are it would bring $115,000 at completion in annual property tax directly to the city; $92,000 to the school, then that would not include the portion that would go to the county, the college, sales tax collected by the city from the money spent in town. I believe the project would be very positive for main street. We have the car wash going up, we’ve got a bakery going up, we’ve got the coffee shop, banks, grocery store, gas station, convenience store, bar/restaurants. Just in general I think it would be very positive for main street Lake Park. The country club would also have a big benefit and then several other businesses that would maybe see less of a benefit but a benefit or a potential benefit nonetheless.”
Those opposed to the development argue it could have an opposite impact, however, if the lake becomes overcrowded and the water quality is degraded. Phil Hayes owns a home on Silver Lake…
“The development essentially builds on every square inch of high ground in a wetland. And it adds an unprecedented number of boat slips on the lake. It will change Lake Park and Silver Lake forever. Once a zoning change is approved there’s no turning back and unfortunately if the outcome is harmful to Silver Lake, if it’s unfavorable for the community in the long term, we own it. It will be our legacy.”
Other concerns included public safety, traffic, boat volume, drainage, an increased number of boat hoists on the lake, and possible impacts on a recreational trail.
The council took no action on the re-zoning request Monday night and adjourned the hearing. Mayor Matt Carstensen says that will give the council more time to look into some of the matters and visit more with the developer…
“We have probably not seen the scope of this project maybe never in Lake Park, and so I think it requires a close examination of how we’re going to proceed forward.”
Carstensen isn’t sure when the council will make a final decision…
“I’m not sure exactly how we’ll proceed at this point. There are some questions, you know, that I don’t think we as a council, you know, with our expertise, can answer, so we may need to do a little bit more investigation to make sure we’re making the right decision.”
Last (Monday) night’s public hearing went on for more than two hours. A near capacity crowd filled the Lake Park Community Center.
