Marina wants to add 46 slips to Prior Lake Bay

A local marina’s expansion plan is creating ripples in the Boudin Street neighborhood in Prior Lake.

The city’s Planning Commission will have a public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21 at Prior Lake City Hall for Dan and Renee Schmid’s request to add 46 slips to their existing 50-slip Waters Edge Marina, off Highway 13 and Boudin Street on Lower Prior Lake. To accommodate the additional slips, the marina’s dock would be extended 285 feet further into Boudin’s Bay.

The Boudin’s Association, which maintains deeded access for 32 boat slips, met on Tuesday night to discuss the proposal. The city notified property owners of the marina’s proposal by mail the previous Friday.

Association President Jason Bruestle said residents are worried about the expanded marina’s impact on parking, navigation of the bay, water pollution and erosion.

“Anyone who cares about the lake should be concerned about it,” Bruestle said.

“There’s no room for parking as it is,” said association member Dave Dennig. “If they put in another 46 slips, those cars will park on my street. It’s already too busy.”

Dan Schmid said the additional slips will accommodate more boater demand. Of his 50 boat slips, 18 are leased by Your Boat Club, a private company that sells memberships to boaters.

So far, Schmid said, he hasn’t heard a single complaint from anyone about his proposal. That could change at Monday’s hearing, though. Bruestle and Dennig said residents are “angry” and “frustrated” about the proposal — and what they say was very short notice about the upcoming public hearing.

“The mood is that this is going to ruin the neighborhood and bring in people who are not invested or care about our neighborhood,” Dennig said.

Schmid had submitted his expansion request to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), but in August, the DNR sent him a letter stating that no DNR permit is required for the expanded facility as long as the expansion doesn’t impede navigation within the bay and allows for the free flow of water beneath the dock. The marina still must comply with local, state and federal regulations, the DNR letter stated.

The city of Prior Lake will handle the request as a conditional-use permit, said Community and Economic Development Director Dan Rogness.

Monday’s public hearing will offer a chance for residents and others to speak about the marina proposal before the Planning Commission makes its recommendation to the City Council.

Source: http://www.plamerican.com, http://www.cityofpriorlake.com