Public access plan gets boost by decision

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• Supreme Court denies Cave case

The Same Cave decision likely means one sure thing for development in Agate Bay: a new, albeit temporary, public access.

At its October meeting, the Two Harbors Harbor Advisory Committee was told that access near the Edna G, through Van Hoven Park, would be available after the city prevailed in its lawsuit with Cave. The public access would be a temporary one while work is done with the small craft harbor project. It was also suggested that a temporary public access be put in Burlington Bay in case the Edna G. site gets busy.

Design work on the marina by the Minnesota DNR continues. Part of the project is a reconstruction of the current public access near the lighthouse. It would be closed for the 2010 season and reopen in 2011. Work will be done to the parking lot configuration to deal with storm water, construction of a jetty to protect the launch area, a re-alignment of the ramps, and permanent toilets. Funding is in place for the project through 2009 state bonding money.

As for the marina project, it will get started “whenever the money shows up,” said Cheryl Erickson of North Shore Harbors Planning for the DNR. She said the city is working hard on securing funding and that the big prize now will be landing federal dollars. The detailed plans for the site came courtesy of state funds that needed to be used before 2010.

While an archeological dig continues in the area that would be blasted out for a marina, it isn’t holding up any plans, Erickson said. The advisory committee is looking at ways to speed up the work there, demanding a report from state offices on the money being spent on the dig and the plan for the future. The Minnesota Historical Society is in charge of the site and is working under state law when it comes to historic finds in planned construction areas. It expects to finish field work next summer and have findings out by early 2011.

Once work begins on a marina, it is expected it would be two years before it is finished.

Tags: two harbors, sam cave, news, marina