May 2023

At a public hearing during a Lake County planning commission meeting last week the gamut of support for no restrictions on short term rentals (STRs, also known as vacation rentals) in greater Lake County, to far more restrictive measures on STRs were expressed. Following the public hearing the Planning commission discussed their options at length, considering putting off making a recommendation until they were able to gather more information on several items raised, including, density/ spacing, transfer/ownership changes, exempt commercial zoning districts, and a process to adjust cap limits as new housing units are added throughout the county.

The Forest Service Eastern Region completed its review of the information and concerns provided by the counties regarding the initial results of the second appraisal. The information and documents associated with this review, as well as the first appraisal and the second appraisal, have been transmitted to the Forest Service’s Chief Appraiser in Washington D.C. for final review. The Chief Appraiser will reconcile both sets of appraisals and make a recommendation to the Secretary of Agriculture on the “fair appraised value” to be used as the basis for payments to the State.”

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting comments through May 18 on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a proposed project at Northshore Mining’s Mile Post 7 tailings basin. According to an article published in the Duluth News Tribune by Jimmy Lovrien April 23, some environmental groups are calling for a more comprehensive review, particularly of dam safety.