County considers gated community

By MaryHelen Swanson
People who like to water ski ñ who really get into water skiing ñ may now have the opportunity to live on a lake created solely for the purpose of water skiing.
A proposal by Grant Hustad went to the Chisago County Planning Commission (PC) calling for a development of 40 homes on 166 acres in Chisago Lake Township.
Twenty-five of the houses, according to Hustad, will front on one of two man-made lakes designed for water skiing.
The lakes will be self-sustaining as required by Department of Natural Resources regulations.
The development is being planned with community sewer and water, commonly-owned streets and green spaces.
It is planned as a ìgatedî community.
Hustad told the planning commission Sept. 4, that this would be the third such development he has created, one is in Glenwood, Minn., and another is being planned for Pine Island.
An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) will be required.
Chisago Lake Township has approved the development contingent upon widening of the road into the gated community to township specifications. Homes are expected to range in the $300,000 range in the development.
There was discussion at the planning commission meeting, and also at the board meeting last week, about possible issues with noise from the large boat motors.
Hustad had told the PC members that the property ownersí association would address such things as noise as they would wish to be good neighbors.
Environmental Services Director Marion Heemsbergen had questioned how emergency services enter a gated community.
He was told that fire departments are given keys for these kind of communities and if the keys are lost, the policy is to drive through the gate.
Heemsbergen told Hustad that he would prefer two roads into the community in case of an emergency and Hustad said he would consider the suggestion.
The PC will tour the Glenwood development and members of the board showed interest in the tour also. Heemsbergen was told to videotape the tour for commissioners to view.
Gated community
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