To the Editor:
This letter is to call attention to a public discussion before the city’s planning commission on Tuesday, October 1, at 5:30 in the city council chambers.
I have lived in Lake County for over 40 years and although not a city resident, I strongly identify with Two Harbors and love walking its waterfront. As a veteran of the early-2000s era Save Lighthouse Point movement, I stepped up again more recently to help protect the Point from becoming another townhouse blight such as we are witnessing on Duluth’s London Road.
I have welcomed and followed with interest the Friends of the Waterfront (FW)’s design project (aka the CIRD project) which proposes maintaining but enhancing the natural and recreational potential of the DNR waterfront land soon to be transferred to the city. I’ve been encouraged by the city’s cooperation and engagement with the project, at no cost to city taxpayers.
The recent revelation of the possible sale of other city property for the development of a hotel and conference center didn’t come as a complete surprise, since there have been months of closed council meetings about the possible sale of those parcels. It might come as a surprise to some that I and several other waterfront enthusiasts actually welcome this proposal, at least on some scale. The reasoning is that it should relieve the pressure for commercial development on the rest of Agate Bay’s waterfront.
Certainly, the city council as well as the developers themselves can see the attraction for tourists, locals and hotel/convention visitors of a natural area with unobstructed view of the lake and active ore docks, exactly along the lines of the concept being put forth by the FW’s design team. There is plenty of room for commercial development along 1st and 2nd Avenues to attract and charm the visitors.
The public discussion next Tuesday at the planning commission is targeting the business community, although “members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend.” The FW’s design project offered months of opportunity for public input of its vision for the waterfront. The response overwhelmingly supported the DNR land remaining natural green space, improved in many ways for everyone’s benefit, but not developed commercially.
It is important for that public sentiment to be reiterated before the planning commission one more time, especially by business owners apparently, to be sure the message gets through.
Fran Kaliher
Rural Two Harbors
I am writing to express my disappointment in the person with the very small hands that cut up and destroyed the Harris for President and Schultz for 8th District Representative signs in my yard.
If you would like to discuss the merits of my support of a DECENT person running for these seats please feel free to stop by and talk to me face to face. Bring help.
Fred Tarnowski
Veteran US Army Medic
Larsmont, Mn
In regard to last week’s letter from Marlys Wisch about mailboxes on Swanson Rd. in Larsmont area, I find it very upsetting that after road work was completed, the Two Harbors Postmaster “Victoria” has refused to allow the mailboxes to be put back in the original location which was a safer place for them to be for to residents retrieve their mail. All involved including county employees who would move them back are on board except Victoria. The new location is on the opposite-side of the road in a spot subjected to speeding cars near a curve making them less visible. How would she feel if someone gets hurt in this new location?
Why would a public servant be so recalcitrant and rigidly unwilling to just allow the return move to where they more safely sat before. Why would a public servant be uncooperative in solving a problem she created? This is an opportunity to be the “good guy” and work with the people in the community she his supposed to serve. I wonder, who is she taking her marching orders from?
Doris Davidson
Two Harbors
