Abby Nadeau
Staff Writer

After the rain slows, flowers won’t be the only thing growing out of the ground in Forest Lake.

Several new commercial and small business projects will start building and many existing buildings will begin remodeling, some in new locations.

Projects

in progress

Among the businesses that will be building in 2007 is the Kwik Trip Store and gas station located within the Spring Brook Plaza.

The station will be located off TH-97 and Everton Ave., just west of the Forest Lake airport. It will feature a large convenience store along with a car wash.

Sitting just behind the Kwik Trip Store and Station will be the Spring Brook Plaza.

The 62,757 square foot plaza will sit on 1.4 acres just north of the Landings at Summerfield and south of the Kwik Trip.

Moving northeast to the corner of West Broadway and Lake Street, Lake Area Bank has made plans for a new building.

City Administrator Chip Robinson confirmed that the bank has bought both the Forest Lake Gas Mart property on the corner and the Taco John’s property on South Lake Street, next to Kodiak Coffee and City Looks Salon.

He said the bank will rebuild within the two lots, but building plans have yet to be finalized.

Robinson said Taco John’s has plans to relocate in For-

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est Lake, but where the fast-food restaurant will move is still uncertain.

Another Forest Lake project that has just received a conditional use permit is The Lake House.

Many residents might know The Lake House by the building’s former name of Willows on the Water, which has not been open for two years.

The Lake House, owned by North Shore Real Estate, LLC and Keith and Kim Warner, is a restaurant that will be open seven days a week.

The restaurant, located on the north side of second lake, sits on 1.4 acres and will offer approximately 7473 square feet of room.

Besides the restaurant building, there are five smaller cabins on the property, four of which will be removed from the property. The remaining cabin will be converted to offer food and beverages.

The Lake House will continue offering seasonal opportunities for all of their customers.

In the summer, patrons on the lake can dock their boats and walk onto “the porch” and enjoy a nice family friendly meal.

During the winter months, snowmobilers can leave their sleds in a designated area and warm up inside the restaurant.

Kim and Keith Warner attended several of the Forest Lake Council meetings prior to their CUP being approved and the couple has big plans for the entire property.

In the past, the restaurant has had several run ins with the city of Forest Lake for noise violations and other complaints. However, the Warners are confident those problems will no longer be an issue. In fact, they hope to work closely with the neighbors.

Prior to the CUP making it to the council, the couple held three neighborhood meetings where the public could learn what the new restaurant has to offer.

Kim Warner, who has spent the last 25 years as a chef, said her concept for the restaurant was to have the customers feel like they were being invited into someone’s home for dinner.

She said the restaurant will have a very casual feel where people can come off the lake in their flip-flops and feel comfortable or they can come in a sun dress and enjoy a nice meal.

The Lake House is expected to open, if the project continues on schedule, by late summer or early fall.

Community Development Director Doug Borglund said that the group has invested between $2 and $3 million in the project.

“This is the real deal,” Borglund said.

New possibilities

During the Monday, March 26 Forest Lake City Council meeting, a group representing Walker Methodist Elder Care Services made a presentation to the council.

The group is currently working with Len Pratt, from Pratt Homes and creator of the Headwaters Development, to potentially include a variety of senior living possibilities within the Headwaters Development, located just south of the Forest Lake airport on US-61.

The $50 million project could include 176 units spread over four different buildings.

Of the 176 units, 110 of them would be independent units with services available, 46 units of assisted living and 20 units for memory care patients.

“We are encouraging a variety of housing,” said Borglund.

No action was taken on the potential project since it was simply a presentation. However, if Walker Methodist decides to pursue the land available in the Headwaters development, the project would be brought back to the council at a later date.

A Quiet Market

While the commercial businesses in Forest Lake are holding steady the housing market continues to be steadily quiet.

Forest Lake Building Official Keith Willie said the numbers are about equal to last year.

In January of 2006 five permits were issued for new single-family detached homes and three permits were issued for attached town homes. And in January of 2007 permits were issued for two single-family detached homes and six attached town homes.

The permits issued in February are much the same. In February of 2006 two permits were issued for single-family detached homes and no permits were issued for town homes. In February of 2007 permits were issued for three single-family detached homes and no permits were issued for the town homes.

Over all, in January and February of 2006, 67 permits were issued at a value of $3,324,846. In January and February of 2007, 54 permits will issues at a value of $2,788,926.

The March numbers are currently being processed and a first quarter report will be given at the April 23 city council meeting.

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