Another rezoning considered for Meatcutters property

Submitted by star on Fri, 05/16/2008 - 10:23am

Whether to change the zoning designation of a union-owned property on Lake Superior at the request of its neighbors' attorney produced considerable discussion at the May 13 meeting of the Cook County Commissioners.  Attorney Dick Swanson is representing neighbors of the Minneapolis Meat Cutters, a union that operates a retreat for its members on a parcel of Lake Superior shoreline just east of the Poplar River. The property, known as OURS Resort was rezoned last year from residential to resort-commercial.  Swanson maintains that there was no justifiable reason for designating the property resort-commercial and asked the board to rezone it back to residential. 

In 2007, the union applied for permits to allow them to remodel two older cabins.  Cook County Planning and Zoning staff reportedly told the union that permission for this remodeling could not be granted because of the way the property was being used.  Swanson contends that neither the planning and zoning commission nor the county board realized that a variance could have been granted rather than rezoning the property.
Swanson said his clients are concerned that a variance could now be given in the future allowing the property to be used as a public, commercial resort.  Commissioner Bob Fenwick suggested making an ordinance that differentiates between commercial and noncommercial resorts. 
The board agreed with Commissioner Bruce Martinson's suggestion to create a subcommittee to consider the matter further.  It will consist of Bruce Martinson, Jim Johnson, Tim Nelson, and two representatives from the planning and zoning board.  Dick Swanson will be allowed to attend the meetings.