FALL LAKE TWP - A conditional use permit for 49 additional RV campsites and support buildings to be added to Silver Rapids Lodge outside of Ely was approved last month by the Lake County Planning and Zoning Commission.
The resort, located at 459 Kawishiwi Trail, is in negotiations for a sale to a new owner who is looking to expand on the 12 cabins, 11 motel units and 36 existing campsites and associated buildings, including a lodge and restaurant.
Following a Nov. 15 public hearing in Two Harbors, the commission granted the conditional use permit. According to Lake County Environmental Services Specialist Tanya Feldkamp, the following conditions must be met:
• Wetland delineation is required. 

• Demarcation of property line on the northern border. 

• Quiet hours of 10 p.m.- 7 a.m. must be enforced. 

• No discharge of fireworks. 

• All outdoor fires must be limited to use at a designated fire ring. 

Some local residents and Fall Lake Town Board members expressed safety concerns over increased traffic in the area if the campground was expanded, and may look at lowering speed limits in the area. Increased tourism opportunity was seen as beneficial for the area.
In a follow-up memo to the hearing provided to the Timberjay, Feldkamp said the State Department of Transportation sets the speed limit on all county roads, including Kawishiwi Trail.
“The (Lake County) Highway Engineer made no comments on this issue,” she said. “Ernie’s Road (a nearby access road for the expanded campground) is a township road, and Fall Lake Township has jurisdiction to make any changes.” 

The size of this project and construction will require storm water plans through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, according to Feldkamp.
“The ordinance has impervious surface requirements which will be reviewed when land use permits are issued,” she said. “A condition has been set to require a wetland delineation. The earthwork involved will require storm water plans through the MPCA for long-term as well as during construction,” she said. 

The Planning Commission recommended that the permit applicant follow the recommendations that SWCD outlined regarding vegetation buffers along the shoreline. “All structures will comply with setback requirements unless they have grandfather rights,” she said. “Wetland delineation is conditioned to identify sensitive areas which will dictate the placement of roads and development on the site.”
All but one of the septic systems failed a compliance inspection. The applicant has plans for installing a small wastewater plant as recommended by several certified septic professionals.
“The size of the system will require permitting through MPCA,” Feldkamp said in the memo. “The two existing non-compliant privies must be removed. The existing resort has a well and there are plans to put in an additional one.” 

The resort’s expanded campsites must meet safety requirements set by the Minnesota Department of Health for campgrounds.
“The ordinance has requirements for lighting, signage, and visual problems. These campsites will have leases that have requirements regarding typical nuisance issues. Quiet hours have been conditioned,” she added.

A condition has been set to demarcate boundaries to prevent trespassing into or out of the resort property, and the proposed expansion of the campground meets density and setback requirements set by MDH and the ordinance.
“There was discussion that RV sites could be clustered in the north loop to maximize the buffer between the campground and adjacent properties,” Feldkamp said. “Most of the RV sites would be seasonal rentals, which are less disruptive than daily sites. Seasonal RV campers are at the resort occasionally and they don’t always bring boats. White Iron and Farm lakes are not congested, and increased boat traffic cannot be solely attributed to the resort. There has been no evidence that property values near resorts have diminished in Lake County.” 

According to the memo, Silver Rapids Lodge has been operating as a resort since before zoning requirements.
“Resorts are appropriate for the RR/ Residential Recreational district with a Conditional Use Permit,” she said. “All existing unpermitted/non-compliant structures must be removed or permitted.”