What’s Happening On Park Point?

Park Point Marina Hotel Seeks Expansion- note time change of meeting

FYI re. hearing on Aug. 10, 2015-TIME CHANGED TO 6:15 pm

Hotel expansion note

Marina Expansion Hearing 8.10 Notice of hearing

Response from City Planning re the letter referencing  “200 feet limit.”

“Good morning,

I can help with the question.  In this zone district, Mixed Use Waterfront (section 50-15.6 of the UDC), there is a rule that states, in part,:

To protect public views to the waterfront from the closest landward public street running approximately parallel to the water, all primary structures shall have a maximum width of 200 feet measured along the shoreline and shall be separated from other primary structures by a minimum of 50 feet. These requirements shall not apply to portions of buildings that do not block public views of Lake Superior, the harbor and the St. Louis River from the closest landward public street running approximately parallel to the water due to topography or the location;

The property owner wants to expand the hotel and add more rooms; the planning staff have informed him that in their opinion the hotel currently exceeds the maximum length of 200 feet allowed per the rules stated above.  He can expand the structure, but just not in a way that exceeds 200 feet along the public street.

He is respectfully challenging the planning staff’s interpretation of the rules and decision, and is asking the City Council to review the issue.  He had previously gone to the Planning Commission, and they affirmed the staff’s decision that the structure already exceeds the 200 feet rule.

Here is a link the zone district:

http://www.duluthmn.gov/media/362601/MU-W-District.pdf

I hope this information helps; have a good day.”

—————————————-

Steven Robertson, Senior Planner (218-730-5295)

City of Duluth, Planning Division

City Planning Department Street End Study Group Update

Subject: Park Point Study Group / Next meetings

John E. Judd, III

Senior Planner

 

218-730-5580

jjudd@duluthmn.gov

Study Group Members:

It was a close run thing, but a majority were able to meet on the August 19 & 20 dates.  Including Councilor Gardner and our Environment Rep. Stauber.We will rendezvous at t 4:30pm at the Lafayette Park parking area,  as it is roughly in the middle of the remaining length of the Point that we need to review.Please allocate at least 2 hours for this meeting(s). Any questions regarding these meetings please contact me.

John Judd

John Schmidt represents Park Point on the Parks and Recreation Commission; Chelly Townsend, David Poulin, Judy Dwyer, Bob Swanson, Lyn Clark Pegg, Kinnan Stauber are also working with the Planning Department as the process continues.

Here is the document that John Schmidt brought to the group/process as a tool for evaluating access points.

“National Neighbors Night Out” on Park Point

Thank you to everyone who worked on gatherings in our unique sand spit neighborhood; hoping you had a chance to stop in and see new and old friends & neighbors.

 

St. Andrew's Gathering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good cookies Jan, Amber and Ranger Craig, Rocky & friends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Food! The Grill Team Baker's Gathering Baker's Gathering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Park Point Rummage Sale: Love it or hate it? Consider sending in your comments.

The PPCC Executive Committee would appreciate your input on the annual rummage sale.

Please submit comments to the Breeze Editor at this address, ppbreezeeditor@gmail.com or to parkpointcc@gmail.com.

Would you consider sharing your point of view?  Check out the July and August Breeze for three neighbors’ points of view.

Happy summer!

Breeze 8-2015

Breeze 7-2015

Meeting on Thursday July 16- Meet city councilor candidate, new DSSA contact info & more

Happy Summer !

Wednesday, July 15, 2015- Free Water Safety Program at the Beach House

Water safety program this Wednesday evening from 6-8 pm at the Beach House. It’s being hosted by my volunteer group and taught by instructors from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, who are coming from Chicago to be a part of the Water Safety Expo on Thursday. It’s free and open to everyone who wants to know more about Lake Superior water safety. I hope you can make it and thanks for sharing! I’ve attached a flyer with the program info. FLYER – Duluth Water Safety Presentation

RSVP: dave.benjamin@glsrp.org or 708-903-0166

Thank you!
Bob Pokorney
Park Point Volunteer Surf Rescue

 

Hope to see you this Thursday at upper Lafayette for our monthly gathering. 6:30 chatting, 7pm short meeting

Ms. Em Westerlund, who is seeking the District 3 City Council seat, will be stopping in to meet our Park Point neighbors. Here is a link to her website.

New contact info for Duluth Superior Sailing Association from Tim Ingersoll,Waterfront Director

218-251-0560.

Email, at sailingforall@gmail.com is the best way to communicate, but please do call if there is an immediate urgent need and I’ll do my best to respond in a timely fashion.

I also thought I’d throw a reminder out to folks that our Facebook site is a great way to stay in touch with what is going on at the pier during the summer months as I update that more regularly then the web site! I’ll post events and other news there, along with photos and other items of interest. If you haven’t made it there, check us out at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/148102077597/?pnref=lhc

The summer is staying busy and we’ve had some beautiful days! Be sure to stop down and visit! Check the pier calendar for exceptions to our hours, but generally you’ll find someone down there from noon till at least 6:30 7 days a week….later if someone is out sailing!

Thank you!
Tim Ingersoll

Tour of Homes Registration– A Park Point home is on the tour, July 15 is date of the tour

Regatta News from the DNT-2015 Duluth International Regatta

kingREGATTA0712c3

 

 

Photo by Bob King, DNT

20150617_June_Breeze_2015.pdf

 

Meeting on Thursday, June 18, social at 6:30pm; meeting at 7pm

Hope to see you on Thursday!

You’ll want to pick up your Tunnel Pass to successfully navigate the weekend marathon traffic. $5 with proceeds to the Community Club and the Rowing Club

Order of Business, 7pm, Upper Lafayette 

Call to Order & Welcome

Presentation and action on the minutes of the previous meeting

Presentation and action on the treasurer’s report

Reading of all communications received- Invite from West Duluth Business Incubation Project Send ideas to gowestduluth@gmail.com, 218-591-1645, William McGiffert

Report of the Committees

Watch

  1. Officer Ethan Roe, DTA DPD officer
Ms. Buck,
My name is Ethan Roe and I’m an officer with the Duluth Police Department.  I recently took a position working with the Duluth Transit Authority.  I understand that you work with the Park Point Community Club, and I would like to attend a meeting if possible.  I would only need 5-10 minutes (or more if your club members want) to talk about my new job, and answer any questions or concerns your club members might have about the DTA and bus related safety.  If you have any questions, please let me know.  Thank you for your time!eroe@duluthmn.gov; cell: 218-269-6445

2. Update from City Planning’s Street End Study Group,Park Pointers on the group are Judy Dwyer, Bob Swanson, David Poulin, Chelly Townsend, John Schmidt, Kinnan Stauber-Next week’s meetings are cancelled – Tentative site visits in early July

3. Pontliana Woods update from Gay Hooper, please write or call city councilors and the mayor to preserve these woods as a park. This is the wooded area between Bayshore care facility and Harbor Point Circle. Watch for a resolution for city council action soon.

4. Piping Plover picture from the end, thank you to Nancy Olson for this picture.

 

Seen at the end of Park Point, Nancy Olson photographer

Seen at the end of Park Point, Nancy Olson photographer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rummage Sale– Thank you to Dave Lavamaki

Art Fair-Volunteers please call Diane Gould 727-4067, June 27-28 are the dates

Youth– Program update

Sunshine-Pam Griggs

Sympathy to Mary & Jerry Hallstan (Mary’s sister)
Sympathy to Jacobs family (Chip’s Dad)
Retirement to Bruce Potter
Get Well to Sue Brown (new hip)

 

Environmental- Monofilament collection-Pam Griggs

Program- Dave Poulin

Breeze

Hospitality

Discussion and action on unfinished business

Discussion and action on new business

  • St. Andrews By The Lake is hosting a Neighbors Night Out celebration with help from the Lafayette Community Edible Gardeners

Neighborhood Night Out at St. Andrew’s By The Lake

August 4

Who are our neighbors? The community of St. Andrew’s invite you, the community of Park Point, our neighbors, to celebrate Neighborhood Night Out with us on Tuesday, August 4th from 5:00 to 7 p.m. Hamburgers, brats and hot-dogs along with all the fixings plus side dishes, desserts and beverages will be provided. Come join us rain or shine. Optional eating inside or out.

Have you ever wondered what the inside of St. Andrew’s looks like? The Church will be open for mini tours. Musical entertainment will be provided for your enjoyment.

DSSA seeks grass trimming help and gas grill, contact Tim Ingersoll @ sailingforall@gmail.com

Waterfront Director of Duluth Superior Sailing Association

www.SailingForAll.org

Take a friend sailing……….From Tim, “Speaking of friends…..a great way to grow the organization is to personally invite someone down to go sailing with you. Any fully paid member can bring a non-member friend to the pier. Your friend will be asked to fill out a waiver and purchase a $10 daily membership. You might be surprised at how many of those friends decide they’re interested in sailing! It’s your way of sharing the joy and helping to grow our membership.”

Adjournment

Tax Meeting, Tunnel Pass, Sky Harbor Update & More

Upper Lafayette, 7pm, June 11

Cory Leinwander Assistant County Assessor will come down and explain how the new Park Point land valuation model was created and answer general taxation questions about Park Point etc.

Please contact the appraiser, Anne Sims,726-2303,SimsA@stlouiscountymn.gov with specific questions about your personal property.

LeinwanderC@stlouiscountymn.gov218-726-2307 is the contact information for the assessor. If you send your questions, he will bring the answers to the meeting or contact you if you can’t make the meeting.

Legislation re. the sale of bayside lots on Park Point down near 38th from Feb. 2014

02/07/14 REVISOR CKM/TB 14-4491
4.1 Sec. 4. SALE OF NONCOMPLIANT TAX-FORFEITED LAND ON
4.2 MINNESOTA POINT, DULUTH.
4.3 Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 282.01, subdivision 7a, tax-forfeited
4.4 land located on Minnesota Point in Duluth, which cannot be improved because of
4.5 noncompliance with local ordinances regarding minimum area, shape, frontage, or access,
4.6 may, at the discretion of the St. Louis County auditor, be offered and sold by the county
4.7 auditor to any single, specific adjoining or adjacent landowner without notifying or
4.8 offering to sell to all adjoining or adjacent landowners.
4.9 Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
4.10 Sections 1 to 4 are effective the day following final enactment.

Underwater lots on the bay, what can you do on this property? Why has the tax value gone up so high on these properties?

Underwater lots from DNR 6.2015

Plan on picking up your PP Tunnel Pass at this meeting. Tom Rauschenfels will be selling passes for $5 with proceeds to the community club and the rowing club.

Tunnel Pass 2015

Street End Study Group Next Meetings:

6/11 5:45 pm Lower Lafayette
6/ 22 4:30pm
Park Pointers working on this group facilitated by City Planning:
Judy Dwyer, Bob Swanson, David Poulin, Chelly Townsend, John Schmidt, Kinnan Stauber

Sky Harbor Runway Re-alignment Outcome

5a Short is the preferred alternative (same alternative considered the ‘preliminary’ preferred alternative last fall)

Details here.

If you would like to view these documents in hardcopy or cd form, please give me a call. 525-1764.

Here is airport planner’s contact info:

Kaci Nowicki  |  Planner
SEH  |  3535 Vadnais Center Drive  |  St. Paul, MN 55110-5196
651.490.2085 direct  | 651.894.2508 cell | 651.490.2150 fax
www.sehinc.com
SEH—Building a Better World for All of Us™

Seeking Volunteer to Deliver the Breeze in the  1600-1800 block area.

Please contact editor Natalija if you would be willing to help out.

ppbreezeeditor@gmail.com

 

Meeting on May 21, Thursday, Cookies at 6:30, Meeting 7pm

Hope to see you on May 21 at Lafayette!

Order of Business

Call to Order

 Presentation and action on the minutes of the previous meeting

Presentation and action on the treasurer’s report

Reading of all communications received

Report of the Committees

Environmental- Tree planting report

Art Fair- Diane Gould, posters and bookmarks to distribute

PPCC Street End Working Group now on City Planning’s Study Group will present update on process & meeting dates and times

Watch Committee- Officers can’t attend tonight due to training but Officer Craig Lindberg sent the numbers of calls, stats at the meeting.

Discussion and action on unfinished business

Second vote to approve Breeze Managing Editor Contract, info in Breeze

Smelt Parade- Check out this fun footage of the smelt parade

Discussion and action on new business

Tax information presentation and questions on June 11 at 7pm, Lafayette, County Tax Assessor will come down to explain the new tax evaluation model used on Park Point. Please send your questions to parkpointcc@gmail.com so the appraisers have a heads up about the information they bring down to share with us.

Bridge Lift Schedule Summer of 2015– check it out and plan accordingly.

Park Point Tunnel Pass- Al Robins and Tom Rauschenfels

Monofilament Collector- thanks to Pam Griggs as our founding volunteer

Adjournment

Smelt Parade on Sunday, May 17 & Call 727-4067 to plant trees

PPCC is a supporter of this event. Thanks to all involved and congrats to the Smelt Queen! 2pm Sunday-meet at the grassy plaza behind Maritime Museum at the Aerial Bridge

Our annual tree planting weekend is THIS WEEKEND, May 15-17. Please give a call to Dick Gould @ 727-4067 to make a plan to pick up and plant our trees.

Pontliana Woods in the Reader

Lafayette Community Edible Garden Potluck on Monday, May 18, 6-8pm
At our May 18 potluck we will welcome local celebrity gardener François Medion.
Born and raised on a small family farm in southwest France, Francois has been working in the United States for the past 30 years, transitioning from the restaurant industry to outdoor occupations as landscaper and gardener, bringing him back to his roots. Today he is the farm manager at the Duluth Grill, setting up an innovative aquaponic system that will provide the restaurant with year-round fresh vegetables and fish. Francois’ talk will focus on growing a resilient garden that is nurtured as organically as possible.
Please call Coral McDonnell at 727-6455.

Questions about your property values? 

Call the County Assessor:

Duluth Assessor’s Office
St. Louis County Courthouse
100 N 5th Ave W #212
Duluth MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2304

Office hours are 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays

Lower Duluth Appraiser is Anne Sims, 726-2303.

Water Maintenance in May, see info here. Park Point Water Maintenance

2015 Smelt Parade

Community Club Meeting on May 21; Call Dick to plant trees

Our trees will arrive on May 15 and we need volunteers to plant them.

Please call Dick Gould 727-4067 to schedule tree pick-up. Thanks to Dick for facilitating Park Point tree planting  for years!

This year we will be planting red and white pines and white cedars. 

Looking ahead- monthly meeting on May 21, the 3rd Thursday of the month. Hope to see you there.

it’s a maybe ease

20150512_May_Breeze_2015.pdf