TOWER— A proposal for a planned mixed-use development at the city’s harbor here drew no public comment during a public hearing on Tuesday held by the Tower Planning and Zoning Commission. After a brief discussion of the proposed project and the needed process to facilitate what would be the largest development in decades in the city, the commission unanimously gave its blessing to a conditional use permit application submitted back in March.
Zoning administrator Cliff Koski said he had reviewed the proposal with project architect Ron Hommerding, of RHA Architects, and agreed that the proposal easily meets the density requirements of the city’s planned unit development ordinance. City Clerk-Treasurer Michael Schultz said the city and the Tower Economic Development Authority, which owns the site, have begun the wetland impact process with an updated delineation completed last year. The rest of that process will get underway shortly, he said.
The city council, on Monday, approved soliciting bids for the utility extension needed for the project. The site is expected to be served by a utility extension that will connect from Pine St. along the platted Harbor Drive before heading under Hwy. 169 to the Marjo RE property currently under development. The extension will provide a sewer connection for the six residential units currently under construction on that site. A portion of the funding for the utility extension has already been secured, but some additional funding may be needed depending on the bids that come in.
The proposal by Pine City-based Eagle Ridge Developers, will include the construction of 7,500-square-feet of first floor commercial space with 14 apartments on two floors above. Fourteen town homes are also slated for construction adjacent to the apartments.
The developers had previously proposed a residential development at the site, but the Tower Economic Development Authority, which owns the harbor site, had opted for a proposed hotel project instead. But as that project was slow to develop, Eagle Ridge came back earlier this winter with its current proposal, prompting TEDA to switch gears. TEDA and Eagle Ridge signed a development agreement last month and the two parties have been working closely together ever since to get the site ready for the project. The developers hope to break ground by mid-July, which is a tight timeline.
The developers are currently looking to identify business tenants interested in the property. TEDA is assisting in that effort through its posting of a Request for Proposals seeking interested businesses, particularly service-oriented businesses. A mid-level restaurant with some outdoor summer seating along the harbor is another high priority for TEDA as an addition to the harbor area.
The apartments will be offered in 690 square-foot one-bedroom units and 973 square-foot two-bedroom units, each with an attached garage on the building’s back side. The two-story, three-bedroom town homes will be approximately 1,800 square-feet and will come with attached two-car garages and boat slips on the harbor, providing direct access to Lake Vermilion.