MADELINE ISLAND
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TOWN BOARD APPROVES TOWN PARK IMPROVEMENTS
Posted: June 11, 2011
A little over 40 people showed up for Friday afternoon's special town meeting to voice concerns over proposed "improvements" to Big Bay Town Park. Almost 2/3 of the residents present voted in favor of the Town Board considering the Conditional Use Permit and amending it to allow it to include provisions of the Park Master Plan.
The Town Board of Supervisors took up the matter after the meeting for a vote with the 3 of its 5 members voting in favor of approving the C.U.P.. Supervisors Greg Nelson, Beth Fischlowitz, and Jim Patterson voted in favor of the plan while Ham Ross and Larry Whalen voted against it.
At this time, it is uncertain exactly how much the improvements to the park will cost taxpayers. Costs for the initial plan were projected to be between somewhere 2 - 3 million dollars, however the restrictions placed on the project by the Town Plan Commission may significantly reduce the final costs of the project.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING CONCERNING PROPOSED TOWN PARK EXPANSION
Updated: June 10, 2011
Posted: June 8, 2011
La Pointe residents will get the opportunity to voice their opinions once again for a proposed expansion of Big Bay Town Park by the Town of La Pointe at a Special Town Meeting scheduled for this Friday afternoon at 5pm. Last month, the Town Plan Commission recommended that the Town Board approve the application for Conditional Use Permit submitted by the Town of La Pointe with certain conditions.
Plans submitted to the Town of La Pointe earlier this year by Chequamegon Bay Engineering, hired by Town Foreman Keith Sowl, include upgrading of the existing restroom facilities, the addition of showering facilities and primitive camp sites, as well as the creation of an RV park capable of accommodating 22 RVs across the road from the existing park.
Plans for project can be found on the Town's websites.
Big Bay Town Park Master Plan of Improvements 02-2011
Maps of Proposed Big Bay Town Park Improvements
Proposed Improvements to Big Bay Town Park Phase I
Proposed Improvements to Big Bay Town Park Phase II
Proposed Improvements to Big Bay Town Park Phase III
Plans to expand the park have drawn opposition from owners of neighboring properties as well as citizens who attended two Public Hearings in March and April of this year.
The Town Plan Commission's recommendation rejects parts of the plan and instead, recommends that the creation of any RV sites be located on the same side of the road as the current park. They also recommend a new restroom facility with running water (which could be located on the opposite side of the road only if it was not feasible to locate it within the existing park), however rejected plans to include showering facilities and did not include them in their C.U.P. approval. Currently, there is running water at the park, but no flush toilets or showers.
Most residents agree that improvements need to be made to the park, however many are opposed to its expansion citing various reasons including environmental, safety, and financial issues. Creation of the RV park in the original plans submitted include clearing several acres of forest land in a large wetland area.
The costs of the current expansion project is estimated to be between 2-3 million dollars. Proponents of the project believe that an RV park would attract more tourists to the island, benefiting local businesses as well as offsetting the cost of improvements to the park.
However, some residents are concerned that the perceived benefits of expanding the park may not be worth the increase in property taxes while others believe that today's ever increasing gasoline prices combined with cost of a roundtrip ferry ticket for a large vehicle may deter most RV owners from wanting to bring their vehicles to the island. Many believe that developing an RV sites at the park would drastically change the character of the neighborhood and create a demand for additional services, including sanitary, police, fire and EMTs.
The T.P.C.'s recommendation to the Town Board is non-binding, and the final decision on moving forward with the plan is Town of La Point Board of Supervisors. Opponents of this plan have called this meeting in hopes to giving residents the opportunity for additional discussion and to possibly vote down the plan before it goes to the Town Board as allowed by Wisconsin law, under Statute 60.12.
A special meeting of the Town Board is scheduled immediately after this meeting.
Click here for a copy of the Special Town Meeting Notice
Click here for a copy of the Special Town Board Meeting Notice
Click here for a copy of the recommendation posted on May 13, 2011
Click here for a copy of the minutes from the Public Hearing held on March 15, 2011 (Includes comments from various residents)
Click here for a copy of the minutes from the Public Hearing held on April 13, 2011 (Includes comments from various residents)