HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 02-25 Three-year legal struggle ends with ground breaking for Toyota dealership THE REVIEW Three-year legal struggle ends with
ground breaking for Toyota dealership , ,IV
ByMARY LEE HAGERT HELPING MCDANIELS dig the first Both agencies tried to require and then shortly,Boerboon said. He expects the
ceremonial scoops of dirt with gold deny permits for filling the property. project to be completed by mid-summer.
shovels were two high ranking Toyota The dealership will be known as
For the first time in nearly three years, corporate officials. They were Isco TILE COURTS RULED neither body Maplewood Toyota.
a Maplewood land owner and Toyota Makino of Torrance,Calif.,president of had jurisdiction, primarily because the A storm water retention plan to ac-
corporate officials were sporting wide, Toyota Motor Sales,U.S.A.,Inc.,and H. land did not fit the definition of a wetland. commodate runoff from the parking lot
confident smiles last week. Imai,assistant to Makino. Members of the Kohlman-Gervais- will be installed to protect the water
The reason for their jubilation was Although there were about 25 men at the Keller Lakes Improvement Association quality of Kohlman Lake.The pond outlet
ground breaking ceremonies for a 13,419 ground breaking,Stephen R.Boerboon of were instrumental in getting the various will be an 18-inch culvert to a county
square foot Toyota auto dealership Kraus-Anderson of St.Paul said the event agencies to examine the auto dealership ditch,which flows into the lake.
building and 252 vehicle parking lot to be was kept"pretty quiet."Boerboon,who is plans. A grease and oil skimming device will
built in northern Maplewood. McDaniels'son-in-law,explained,he and The association members still contend be installed to treat runoff leaving the
Many times during the past few years it McDaniels did not publicize the ground the McDaniels property is a wetlands and parking lot.Temporary hay bale dikes
has seemed like court battles over the breaking because "everytime we do should not be filled in.They believe runoff will be installed and maintained to control
wetland status of Ron McDaniels' something it seems like we get hit with from the dealership will adversely impact erosion during the construction period.
property near Kohlman Lake would keep another lawsuit." Kohlman Lake, which already has a
his dream of building the dealership from He was referring to three lawsuits filed pollution problem. The Ramsey Soil and Water Con-
becoming a reality. regarding the wetland status of the The members have repeatedly corn- servation District was another govern-
McDaniels now appears victorious in property. All cases were decided in plained that an environmental impact ment agency opposed to the project.it
his long struggle to receive permission McDaniels'favor. statement has not been prepared said the construction site is a"habitat for
from various government and con- In January,a Ramsey County District regarding the filling in of the property to waterfowl and mammals.
servation agencies to place fill material Court judge declared unconstitutional a construct the car dealership. "The vegetation types in the area in-
on his property at the southwest corner of state Legislature bill,which specifically McDaniels plans to construct the dude cattails,reed canary grass,wild
the intersection of Beam Avenue and designated McDaniels' property a dealership on a 3.94 acre parcel.A vacant cucumber, box elder, elderberry,
Highway 61. wetland. house presently sits on the property. weeping willow,nettles,giant ragweed,
McDaniels said he called Gov.Al Quie McDaniels also was successful in During the three years the project was Queen Anne's Lace,elm,cottonwood,ash,
on Wednesday to make "absolutely March 1980 and 1979 in suits against the delayed,Boerboon said construction costs American black currant,jewelweed and
certain"everthing was in order before U.S.Corps of Engineers and the Ramsey- have increased from$500,000 to$750,000. water hemlock,"according to a district
proceeding with the ground breaking. Washington Metro Watershed District. Initial ground preparation should begin report.