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Residents accuse city of failing to enforce shoreland rules, say fire hydrant obstructed for weeks
Summary
Two residents told the council that construction at 891 19th Street SE has blocked the only fire hydrant on their block for 51 days and alleged violations of Minnesota shoreland rules and state statute; they asked the city for an as‑built/topographical survey and immediate enforcement and said they have filed county and insurer notifications.
Two Forest Lake residents told the City Council during the open‑forum public comments that a private development at 891 19th Street Southeast has created a life‑safety hazard and violated state shoreland rules.
"For 51 days, this project has been allowed to obstruct the only fire hydrant on our block in direct violation of Minnesota statute 169.34," resident Jill Johnson told the council, saying she had reported the problem to dispatch and obtained a recording in which an officer acknowledged the vehicles "can't be parked in front of the hydrant because that's a state law." Johnson said she had filed a formal request for county intervention and notified the city insurer, LMCIT.
Another resident, Denise (Dee) Davis, who lives across from the site, said the house is "oversized for this lot" and urged the council to require an as‑built/topographical survey to settle questions about setbacks and impervious‑surface calculations. "That'll tell the truth about everything," she said, adding that she believes the development has altered how water drains and affects multiple homes.
Council members did not take formal enforcement action in the public comment period. A city staff member said the administration has offered to meet with the neighborhood — and that past offers had been redirected to legal counsel — but did not announce any immediate citations or remedies at the meeting.
Johnson told the council she had asked Sheriff Dan Starry and the insurer to review the matter; she said she expected the city to release requested data the council had previously withheld. The council did not provide a timeline for staff follow‑up during the open forum.
What happens next: The complaints were raised in public comment and recorded in the meeting minutes; the council has not recorded a formal enforcement vote at this meeting. Residents asked for an as‑built/topographic survey and immediate enforcement, and they said they have sought county and insurer review.
