Council provisionally nominates Hawk Ridge area to Duluth Natural Areas program

The Duluth City Council provisionally approved Resolution 494, nominating the Lester Amity / Hawk Ridge area to the Duluth Natural Areas program.

Councilor Swenson moved the nomination; Councilor Auel seconded. City staff and the proposal’s nonprofit sponsors described the action as a provisional nomination that begins a one‑year process to develop a full land protection and management plan. Philby Williams, speaking for administration, told the council provisional approval does not create a permanent designation and that the final management plan will return to the Natural Resources Commission and the Planning Commission before coming back to the council for final approval.

Several public commenters raised concerns about how the nomination might affect adjacent private property access and future housing and transportation; councilors asked administration to make sure the follow‑up planning period would allow those concerns to be aired and addressed. Williams said past nominations have sometimes removed parcels between the provisional nomination and final adoption and that the city would work with affected neighbors to resolve issues.

The council voted 9–0 to approve the provisional nomination; staff said the next step is development of a detailed management plan and further public review as required by the Natural Areas Ordinance.