Concerns over Kootenai Lodge development
To the Lake County Planning Department:
As residents of Swan Sites, approximately half mile south of the Kootenai Lodge, we are very concerned about the proposed Kootenai Lodge condominium project.
Our specific concerns deal with the density of the development: the environmental impact, the sewage system, the increased traffic on the roads, and the impact on the quality of life.
With 65 units feeding into the proposed sewage system, there will be an inevitable impact on the quality of the groundwater, quite possibly affecting the ability of the abundant waterfowl and fish to survive. Evidently the developers do not want the system on their property, so they are piping it, along Sunburst Drive, to a lot a mile away from their property, putting the problem next to others rather than themselves. Laying the pipe to carry the effluent will also tear up Sunburst Drive, the only access to many homes in the area.
Many of our residents walk Sunburst Drive daily, and the 35-mph speed limit is observed by nearly all drivers. We are not sure that the condominium owners and their guests would share this same respect for our roadways.
The Kootenai property has always been a beautiful refuge for much of our wildlife. With 65 condominiums and the dramatic increase in people, that refuge will be gone. The increase in people and boats on the lake will also affect the ducks, geese, loons, turtles, and fish, which we all enjoy in the water as well as the deer and other land animals which browse in our forests and drink from our lake.
On the north end of the lake there is little commercial activity. With 65 condominiums, it is probable that restaurants, bars, boat rentals, and other commercial activity will follow to support this development.
The proposed 24 boat slips indicate that there will be many more motorboats and jet skis in our area of the lake. The increased traffic and noise on the lake will definitely affect the animals, and it will also affect the current residents. We treasure the abundant wildlife and the tranquility which currently exist in the north end of Swan Lake.
The proposed docks extend 60 feet into the lake. The lake narrows down very quickly in that area and becomes a river. Docks extending into the lake that far will make it difficult for people to access the river from the lake as well as impeding other boating activity in that area.
Putting condominiums on a property in an existing rural neighborhood is indicative of urban sprawl and poor planning. It will disturb all that we, and our neighbors, treasure about the lake.
We strongly object to allowing this kind of development on the Kootenai Lodge property.