A New Vision for Grand Marais

Nancye Belding
True North correspondent
Dear True friends,
Last night I attended the kickoff for the Grand Marais visioning process which in six short months is intended to produce a new comprehensive plan and new ordinances for downtown development. (Of our town meeting planning group, I saw Tom Resek, Jeff Kern, Mike and Linda Bauer, and Bev Green. Hi, folks!) It's fuzzy whether the plan and ordinances include the harbor, Artist Point, and "gateways" along the Highway 61 corridor. As a resident along that gateway corridor I know the city doesn't have jurisdiction past certain limits; the county kicks in fairly soon and they don't have a vote in downtown.
In fact, a lot of stuff looks kind of fuzzy, sort of like rose-colored glasses that don't really address that near-sighted haze of shining lights and colors.
Hmm. Well, this is an objective story by a respected reporter, so, in the great tradition of 21st century media here are some highlights:
* CGI staff explain North Shore history to us North Shore residents, even though none of them live here, and inform us that global trends beyond our control impact us. Among these trends: people will move here because they can. They like it and they have Internet access and cell phones. Baby boomers are coming, with their huge multi-million-dollar lakeshore homes that drive up property taxes for the rest of us, complete with jacuzzis and personal trainers. They expect city amenities in our sweet small town OR ELSE. They love our unspoiled natural environment and that's why they want to bring city pollution so as to live here in the style to which they are accustomed. This is supposed to be a good thing.
* CGI identifies our elected leaders on the City Council as "shepherds" who guard the flock, meaning the rest of us, and protect our interests against investors and developers. They said That with a straight face.
* CGI said the tourist point of view would be represented by business owners downtown, although admitting that it might be good to actually talk to some tourists. Maybe the 500 or so who belong to Harbor Friends and write letters begging us to preserve our beautiful little harbor village? They didn't mention them and I'm not sure they know about them.
Okay, Friends, do you think this is not objective journalism? Hmm, when was the last time you watched CNN or Fox news, or read USA Today or listened to the NPR news updates on MPR classical radio?
Well, I guess you get the picture I am painting in bold strokes. But I have to add that these CGI guys mean well, they really do. There's just so much they don't understand, and there are so many of us who couldn't be there to explain it to them.
Anyway after we were educated about our situation here, we got to write post-its about the opportunities and challenges for: community, economic development, and natural resources. We had about 3 minutes per topic to write up our thoughts on these issues. Finally we got to put dots on the ones we were "passionate" about. My eyescan indicated that the top votes went to: harbor preservaton, sustainable economy and affordable housing, community decision-making, and--High-density downtown development. HUH? I am guessing that one came from the realtors, developers, investors and politicians. BUT, I could be wrong.
Well, dear absent friends, I know you all had lame excuses for not being there, like recovering from surgery, working 16 hour days, being out of town for unavoidable commitments, having lost faith that you will be heard, and similar goofball complaints. Too bad, so sad. Be there or be square. There are still public meetings to come this summer; read the fine print in your newspapers for the dates and times.
Here's my idea: bring your knitting and come, early and often. If nothing else you will have made some holiday presents.
At your house, Mickey Mouse!