Minutes of the Old Ski Hill Consensus Committee 7/31/2000
In attendance: Vicki Wenz , Cathi Williams, Amy Wilfahrt, George Wilkes, Bob Fenwick, Kevin Bader, Annie Debevec, Bill Hansen.
Meeting convened at 7:10 PM at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts conference room..
Consensus was reached on approval of the 7/10 minutes.
Next meeting, August 7th, we will have two presenters on affordable housing, Karen Blackburn and Erik Hoekstra.
Bill reported on his conversation with Walter Medwid, Executive Director of the International Wolf Center.
Walter emphasised that a center like the Wolf Center must be grounded in a mission. It must have a membership, an educational program, and people within the field dedicated to making it happen. The Wolf Center had driving force of researcher David Mech, along with legislative support which allowed them to receive $1.2 million from the legislature and $800,000 from private donations.
Walter offered to help with any effort to establish an animal center in Cook County.
Each committee member presented a statement of their values as they relate to the Old Ski Hill Property and then identified one or more interests that speak to those values.
Values presented:
Unique aspect as backdrop.
Wildlife and views more important than massive development.
People of Grand Marais want preservation.
Appreciate uniqueness, but don't try to re-create what you had
elsewhere.
We have the jewel.
Not opposed to development.
Some spaces exist that could be inoffensively developed.
For prosperity and existence new resources must be developed.
Highest and best use in keeping with aesthetic considerations.
Growth is inevitable.
Open to new ideas.
View from town more valuable than any development.
Do not believe in Nature Conservancy style conservation easements.
Management, not abandonment.
Use EDA and county and city land use plans.
No net loss of private lands.
Proximity to Grand Marais.
We should preserve unique character.
Opportunity for clean air and open space.
Lucky to live here now.
Sprawl and development in the rest of the state.
Lake and forests important to residents.
View things from a winter, rather than summer perspective.
Don't want a lot of development.
Low impact development for winter business.
Year 'round tourism siestination consensus.
Can have development of housing and recreation with open and green
areas.
Ski Hill Property is opportunity to "have cake and eat it
too."
There are benefits to having public land.
All land is managed.
No changes in Old Ski Hill road.
Preserve green spaces.
People as asset.
Interests:
Conserve north physical boundary of town.
Two or more distinct areas with a different plan for each.
Ski/Snowboard hill.
Chalet/Nature Center.
Indoor skating center.
Educational facility/community college.
Outdoor concert area/amphitheater.
Housing.
Keep Ski Hill Road a quiet residential road.
Why change what nature has made.
Past and future are not what exists now.
Management vs leaving alone.
No conservation easements.
Public land is eligible for development.
Development without impacting unique character of land.
Could support a million things.
Leave as is.
Can't improve on it.
Nordic trails connected to Pincuchion system.
Summer hiking trails and nature center.
Opportunity for education.
Explore ways to generate income without destroying reason we live
here.
Strong emphasis on winter.
Golf course on top of hill.
Private land is available for development.
If all private land were developed, it would destroy character
of area.
Preserve unique character of property.
Conservation easment not appropriate.
Property remains aesthetically pleasing.
Preserve and strengthen existing tourism.
Preserve small town character, open space, forest and lake.
Preserve options for future (i.e. Moose Center).
No reason to promote growth.
A growing Twin cities metro will influence development in Cook
County.
"Put on brakes" to preserve quality of life.
Preserve compact layout of Grand Marais.
Use for benefit of all, including future generations.
Land management demonstration area, piloting national policy on
land management over time (i.e. oldgrowth white pine, fen, timber
production, wildlife habitat, sustainable development, partnership
with educational resources.
Maintain undisturbed for educational purpose.
Protect wildlife population.
Keep Old Ski Hill Road quiet and residential.
Leave as is.
Don't wnat a lot of building in back yard.
Hard to recover what once was.
Protect quality of life.
Maintain traffic safety for horses and pedestrians.
Ski/Snowboard hill with night skiing.
Golf course.
Nature center.
Boreal bird center.
Planetarium/Observatory.Northern Lights.
Beautiful views.
Generate income without destroying reason we live here.
Development to supplement tax base.
Appearance should not detract from character.
Green space is beneficial to all.
Aesthetics are important.
Housing is 2nd priority.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Hansen