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Prior Lake council finds Charlie’s on Prior marina expansion does not meet mandatory EAW threshold
Summary
City staff and consultant told the council the marina expansion at Charlie’s on Prior is not subject to a mandatory environmental assessment worksheet under Minnesota rules; the council adopted a resolution that no EAW is required and the DNR may proceed with its permit review once the city makes this determination.
The Prior Lake City Council on June 23 adopted a resolution finding the recent commercial marina expansion at Charlie’s on Prior does not meet Minnesota’s mandatory environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) thresholds and that the city will not order an EAW.
Community Development Director McCabe told the council that the DNR issued prior permits for the facility under names such as JKL Docks and Captain Jack’s, and that permit documents from 2007 and 2008 show inconsistent slip counts (a DNR cover letter listed 81 slips while an Exhibit A showed 98). McCabe said Charlie’s on Prior later acquired adjacent shoreline parcels and that a reconfiguration and shoreland addition expanded the marina footprint to about 55,700 square feet in 2024 (roughly 97 watercraft) and to about 63,800 square feet after 2025 reconfiguration.
McCabe said city staff and the WSB consultant reviewed the history and applicable Minnesota Administrative Rules, including the marina subpart that triggers a mandatory EAW for new or expanded marinas exceeding 20,000 square feet. He said the three‑year look‑back rule and the timing of previous work mean staff and the consultant do not believe a mandatory EAW is required. "Staff is recommending the council as the responsible government unit approve a resolution determining the commercial marina expansion at Charlie's on Prior does not meet the threshold for environmental review, and the city will not order an environmental review or an EAW," McCabe said.
Councilor Hellyer asked how long an EAW would take if required; McCabe said an EAW generally takes six to nine months and that it is unclear what it would find in this case. McCabe also noted the DNR has indicated it will not issue the dock permit until the city makes an official environmental review determination.
The council voted to approve the resolution on a voice vote. The action does not decide the number of slips the DNR will ultimately permit; McCabe stressed the council's role was limited to the environmental review determination and not to approving the marina configuration or slip count.
(Reporting in this article is based on Community Development Director McCabe's presentation and the council's recorded motion and voice vote.)
