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EXPANSION OPPOSITION: Larger drug treatment facility proposed PAGE 9A
Airport safety zone fears thwart townhome plans BY LOUISE ERNEWEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP — Recent debate over a townhome development reached new heights for a planning application. Quite literally. A representative from Southwind Builders came to the township meeting on Oct. 5, hoping to hear Town Board supervisors give the green light to the Wyldridge Preserve South development. Instead of focusing on the planned 19-lot development at 5685 Portland Ave., the discussion shifted northwest and centered instead on 5860 Highway 61 N. — better known as Benson Airport. The submission for the seven-townhome, six-twin home development came in three parts. It was on the first part — an ordinance amendment to alter the airport safety zones — that progress stalled at 1,500 feet. A significant portion of the 22-acre Wyldridge Preserve South parcel is designated wetland, leaving just over six acres available for building. Because that land currently falls within an area designated as an airport safety zone — the approach to the runway at Benson Airport — additional restrictions apply to the property, limiting the development to one home per 3-acre lot. To maximize profitability on the 22 acres, Southwind Builders requested White Bear Township eliminate or modify the airport safety zone around Benson Airport, a move that would be permitted under state law since the airport is no longer classified as a public facility. Without the safety zones to contend with, the developer could construct three homes per acre.
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White Bear Lake celebrates Homecoming White Bear Lake Area High School Homecoming King Tim Rockford and Queen Maddie DeBilzan greet the crowd lining the streets in downtown White Bear Lake during the annual homecoming parade Friday, Oct. 9. Find more homecoming photos online in the gallery at presspubs. com.
SEE TOWNHOUSES, PAGE 8A
Serial litigator suing businesses over disability access BY KRISTINE GOODRICH EDITOR
Several area business and property owners are being targeted by a serial lawsuit filer alleging their buildings aren't adequately accessible to people with disabilities. Among the approximately 100 lawsuits now filed by an organization fronted by a Minneapolis attorney, there are at least five involving White Bear area businesses. The owner of a pizza chain franchise in downtown White Bear Lake is being sued because of a step up to its front door. A White Bear Lake restaurant is facing a suit claiming it doesn't have enough handicapped parking spaces. Two property owners and a liquor store owner in Willernie and a restaurant and property owner in Mahtomedi are being sued because they don't have a handicap parking space marked with a sign and paint in front of their buildings.
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The local and state chambers of commerce meanwhile are working to educate local business owners about accessibility laws and are lobbying to change the laws to protect business and property owners from lawsuits if they promptly correct any violations. A Minneapolis attorney named Paul Hansmeier is behind the flurry of lawsuits across Minnesota. The suits, filed in both federal court and district courts, all claim lack of building accessibility violates the American Disabilities Act as well Minnesota human rights and anti-bias laws. The suits ask the court to award punitive damages and mandate that the access barrier be corrected. According to multiple news reports from across the state, Hansmeier offers business and property owners the option to pay a cash settlement instead of going to court. According to the response filed by the attorney representing Bill Rust, Hansmeier demanded $3,500 from Rust to settle.
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The owner of the Domino’s on Second Street in White Bear Lake is being sued because of the step in front of the door to the business.
SEE LAWSUITS, PAGE 8A
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