Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wild Willies Airboats topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves Wild Willie’s airboat annexation, approves concept plan with GPS, daylight limits
Summary
The City Council annexed 8.48 acres for Wild Willie’s Airboats and approved a mixed‑use zoning and concept plan with conditions that require GPS tracking on boats and limit tours to daylight hours (applicants asked for 9 a.m. to sunset).
The City Council of St. Cloud voted 5-0 to annex about 8.48 acres for Wild Willie’s Airboats and to approve a mixed‑use zoning and concept plan, conditioning operation on safety measures including a GPS‑based tracking system and restricted operating hours.
Councilmember Melissa Dunklin, director of community development, presented the request as an annexation, comprehensive plan amendment and zoning map amendment to bring the county‑zoned site into the city and allow a neighborhood‑center concept that includes an ecotourism operation using airboat tours on Lake Tohopekaliga. Staff recommended approval with a condition requiring GPS tracking and daylight‑only operations.
The applicant, represented by John Ryan Adams of RJ Whitney Associates, asked the council to adopt a modified condition that would set tour hours “between 9 a.m. and sunset,” saying most business currently occurs between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and that the extra flexibility in late afternoon during slower seasons helps maintain year‑round staffing. Adams read the proposed condition into the record: “Applicant shall implement a GPS‑based tracking system on all operational airboats prior to commencing operations at the subject site. The system shall be used to monitor and maintain safe distances from the shoreline in accordance with City of Saint Cloud applicable law. The applicant shall also continue operating exclusively during daylight hours with airboat tour activity occurring between 9 a.m. and sunset, except as pre‑authorized by the city manager in advance.”
Several airboat captains and employees addressed the council during public comment, describing Wild Willie’s as a long‑running, family‑owned tour operator and saying the company follows U.S. Coast Guard safety rules and already practices many safety measures. Brandon Sizemore, a captain, told the council the business operates year‑round and that a permanent facility would allow improved maintenance, guest facilities and reduced disturbance to nearby residential areas.
Deputy Mayor Fletcher moved approval of the annexation, comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances and of the concept plan with the revised conditions; Councilmember Paul seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
The council’s approval included the staff condition that GPS tracking be installed and used to monitor distance from shore, and allowed the revised operating window (9 a.m. to sunset) the applicant requested, subject to the city manager’s ability to pre‑authorize limited exceptions. The council also directed continued coordination between the applicant, staff and neighborhood stakeholders on operational details and trail/shoreline access identified in the concept plan.
