Posted: 6/11/03

Forest Laker role puts downtown restaurant plan in limbo

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Is it in or is it out? City of Forest Lake Economic Development Authority board members were met with this question Monday in a review of a site plan for a proposed downtown restaurant.

Architect Jerry Anderson went before the board with a plan as requested site by the EDA for a scaled-back Lake Park restaurant. The facility is proposed on what is now municipal parking lot area on the north end of Lakeside Memorial Park.

At its meeting May 27, the EDA encouraged the developers to move forward with its site plan and parking layout for the two-story business that would offer lakeside dining and a banquet facility.

With a site plan to review Monday, the EDA cut short the discussion when that plan did not include the removal of the Forest Laker building. Forest Laker owner Peter Paidar is a partner in the development group for the new business.

ìThatís a part of the project ó thatís a part of the agreement,î said EDA President Ray Daninger upon seeing the exclusion of the Forest Laker building from the site plan parking area. If this is the intent of the developers, the plan has some ìreal glitches,î Daninger said.

This new twist offered the EDA pushed frustrations over the edge. After numerous extensions of time given the developers to put forth a building plan, the EDA said this week a firm deadline was required.

Chip Robinson, executive director, agreed that a 30-day window be set in which the developers must demonstrate significant progress on the plan.

Ron Vannelli, one of the four partners in the venture, was the only developer at the meeting. Mike Muske, a frequent spokesperson for the developers, and Paidar, were out of town this week.

Vannelli and Anderson were left to field EDA questions as to why the Forest Laker building was no longer earmarked for removal as part of the redevelopment plan.

Why it changed?

Anderson and Vannelli said the group was proceeding with information that may indicate a second development front for the downtown block. That may plan would move north to south.

If it took shape, Vannelli said the Forest Laker building could be considered part of a new development effort. Vannelli qualified his comments to say the developers were acting on information that may be second hand.

ìI donít know where that thinking is coming from,î EDA member Tom Lynch said.

At the May 27 meeting, the EDA fielded questions on the downtown development. Minutes from that meeting indicate the Forest Laker building will be removed, according to Robinson.

Member Judy Bull also expressed frustration Monday. ìWe are going on good faith and that is our understanding,î she said of the Forest Laker status.

Parking is at the center of the issue because of the Lake Park developers inability to strike a deal to purchase the Forest Theater building.

Andersonís new site plan reviewed briefly Monday indicated a net loss of 40 parking spaces without the theater building being acquired.

The plan did call for removal of the American Family Insurance building that has been acquired by the developers. With the plan short on parking, EDA members said they were puzzled why the Forest Laker building would not be part of the future parking scheme.

Deadline details

In setting a 30-day deadline Monday, the EDA specified several steps be taken. They include:

ïA signed agreement by the developers releasing Dwayne and Jackie Fladland, owners of the Forest Lake Theater building, from the exclusive development rights agreement. The EDA approved the release on May 27.

ïA preliminary draft of a formal development agreement that includes the removal of the Forest Laker building.

ïA determination on acquisition of the current municipal parking area owned by Jim Garrison, an owner of Rolseth Drug in Forest Lake. Garrison owns some of the land where the restaurant would be sited. The city has a parking easement with the fee owner for use of the property.

With the original 18-month development rights agreement long expired and numerous extension OKíd, Daninger said it was time to see progress.

ìWeíre trying to get this off dead center,î he said.

Vannelli said after considerable investment of time and money, the developers have the same goal. ìTo say we donít want to do this is ludicrous,î Vannelli said.

But the unanswered question still left in the lurch Monday is the status of the Forest Laker property. With Paidar out of town this week, that question may not get answered until the next meeting on Monday, June 23.

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