Town OKs new location for lake weed control

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Editor

With unanimous approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission last week, the Browns Lake Sanitary District is finally going to have a place to call home for its summer weed removal operations.

The commission approved three items related to the site: a land-use waiver, a rezone of portions of the property and a conditional use plan. The small parcel on Browns Lake, which is between residential lots and abuts Hoosier Creek Dam, will fill a number of needs, according to Sanitary District Commissioner Kurt Petrie.

“It gives us a permanent solution to where to dock our pieces of equipment,” Petrie said. “We need something permanent.”

Petrie also said that the land will give the sanitary district direct access to the dam from adjacent land, as well as protect one of the last natural areas on the lake.

The land, owned by Frank Vos, was recently appraised at $500,000. Vos is going to give the district a $75,000 break/donation on the cost and sell it for $425,000.

The plan is to build a 30-foot dock and house all four boats (a flat barge, transport to pick up weeds and a shore cutter and large cutter) 20 feet apart on that pier. Currently, the Weygand family is housing the weed harvesting boats during the summer on the peninsula closest to the proposed land surface on the lake.

However, while the sanitary district stressed its need for a permanent home at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Feb. 11, there were numerous residents in attendance that had questions or concerns.

Raised during the meeting were questions about everything from how the sanitary district would pay for the land to the impact the town’s use of that land could have on property values.

Petrie clarified that the cost of the land will be paid out of a surplus currently in the sanitary district’s general fund. The district will not build on that land until the building that currently houses its boats and trucks – across from Fischer Park on Durand Avenue – is sold or rented.

The location will also allow employees to walk from the current building to the boats, versus being shuttled to work each day.

Kevin O’Brien, one of the property owners at the meeting, wanted to make sure that the district had the money and wouldn’t be hitting residents with an additional charge.

As for property values, several people raised the idea of putting the access at Fischer Park.

“I’ll be looking directly at this,” said Kevin Duffy, who lives on Marine Avenue – the street the property will be accessible from. “It makes no sense to me that you’re not over at Fischer Park.”

However, Petrie said access at Fischer Park is difficult because of lands already in use in that area. He also said that, with the sanitary district purchasing the land and vowing to conserve as much tree cover and natural space as possible, it would help protect the land.

Several people also said that if weed cutting doesn’t continue on the lake, property values would drop as water quality dropped.

“I’ve listened to the presentation, and I see it as the perfect spot for the sanitary district,” Kim Deriaz said. “It’s also the perfect use for this property.”