Homeland Security targets Grand Marais for secret mission

Nancye Belding
True North correspondent

Tonight in Schroeder, County Commissioner Bruce Martinson said that Homeland Security plans to build a 34,176 square foot building on a 10 acre site in Grand Marais, beginning shortly, with a 2008 completion date.
Officials will arrive Thursday to look at potential sites. They want a helicoptor pad as well as a large parking lot,detached indoor parking for 25, an 8 foot fence, and plan to have 50 employees as well as visitors, and a helipad. They would not say what the employees will be doing or why such a large building is needed. Two similar sites are also planned, for Duluth and International Falls.
Martinson said the EDA was informed of the plan today. Homeland Security will not buy the land, but will lease it for 15 years. He said various developers have been looking for an appropriate site during the past month though the news became official only today. One developer has already purchased seven lots at the EDA park, though whether with this plan in mind or not, he did not know.
That's all Bruce said tonight.
But here are a couple of thoughts:
A building of that size would mean 683 square feet per employee; hello? My house is about that size. Where's the lowly cubicle?
Also, if it were two stories high the footprint would be nearly 100 feet by 100 feet. Whether this is even legal in our zoning ordinances needs to be checked out. And, even with seven business sites at Cedar Grove this gonzo footprint may not work with carefully crafted architectural plans that preserve green space. Not to mention the impact of helicopters and (presumably) large vehicle traffic near the new planned EDA residential development of 30 homes.