Zorbaz request turned down

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published 03:22 p.m., October 20, 2009

A request by Zorbaz owner Thomas Hanson to expand his business, at least temporarily, on the west side of Otter Tail Lake was denied Tuesday by the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners.

Hanson had planned to use a house across from the current Zorbaz establishment, adjacent to the current Zorbaz parking lot, for use as an ice cream parlor and a place to sell Zorbaz clothing. The site also was planned for additional parking. However, those lots would likely have eventually been disallowed in view of impervious surface regulations, tied to lakeshore runoff.

Traffic safety was a major factor in the county board’s decision. The board said that Hanson can reapply for a conditional use permit application with the Otter Tail County Planning Commission which will hold its next meeting in November.

Each of the county board members say they have nothing against Zorbaz operating on the west side of Otter Tail Lake. They are, however, concerned about safety and traffic flow along Highway 72.

Property owners who voiced opposition to the latest request said they also have nothing against Zorbaz operating as a business. However, they urged Hanson to come up with alternative methods for expansion. One, they said, would be to expand at or near the current structure alongside the lake. This, they said, would preclude more traffic problems.

Property owners Rick Bleishner, Marsha Williams and Tim Chisholm expressed concern about youngsters and others crossing Highway 72 from the current Zorbaz to the proposed ice cream parlor/clothing store.

“Parking has been a major concern for several years near Zorbaz, and the latest proposal would make things worse,” said Marlyn Kruschke, a member of the Everts Township board.

Also expressing concerns about traffic and pedestrian safety issues was Karen Zell, former owner of the Graystone restaurant which is now Prante’s on the Lake.

For his part, Zorbaz owner Hanson said the proposed structure to be used for ice cream and clothing sales would not be used as a place for alcohol sales or consumption. The hours of operation would be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Hanson was willing to install a vision obstructing fence next to a property owner who had expressed opposition during the Oct. 14 planning commission meeting. The planning commission determined that the fence and other changes would “slightly reduce the impact the current restaurant operation has on the residential neighborhood.”

In other action, the county board approved the recommendation on other conditional use permit applications decided upon by the County Planning Commission on Oct. 14.

Landscaping modifications to existing lots for construction of a new house and yard for Allen and Carmen Arvig were approved. The property is along Oakland Beach of Perham Township, at Little Pine Lake.

An application by Joann and Bernie Piotrowski and Stacy Rindy (Otter Tail Beach Club) to cover an existing roof with purlings and steel sheeting received county board approval. The property is in Amor Township, at Otter Tail Lake.

Gary Fluto and Stacy Rindy (Otter Tail Beach Club) received approval for removal of a mobile home and wooden deck in Amor Township at Otter Tail Lake. They plan to build a wooden structure on a cement slab.

The county board approved a request from John Young of Bal-View Estates for the construction of a 70-foot radius cul-de-sac, half of which would lie within 1,000 feet of Otter Tail Lake. Construction is part of a preliminary plat application for Bal-View Estates.

Approved with conditions was a driveway construction application by Phillip and Patsi Douglas of Friberg Township, at High Island Lake. Also approved with a condition was an application by James and Pamela Haugen to construct a 2,580-foot road in Eagle Lake Township at Jolly Ann Lake.

The county board okayed an access road to property on the west side of Mason Lake in Elizabeth Township. Richard Field and Don Eisenhuth represented the application.

Following the recommendation of the planning commission, the county board tabled an application from Richard Risbrudt. The motion allows time for Risbrudt to provide a plan to show the relocation of an approach prior to construction of a St. Olaf Township road access near Long Lake. The project also would include installing culverts to maintain existing drainage patterns.

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