Hennepin County revises North Arm landing plan
Hennepin County dropped a proposed second ‘vertical’ access at Lake Minnetonka’s North Arm public landing in Orono after resident and city pushback, revising its redesign to add a picnic area instead. The county still plans safety and sustainability upgrades — including ramp realignment, parking changes, stormwater controls, shoreline pods for anglers/paddlers, lighting and solar features — and Commissioner Heather Edelson said the controversy will spur broader coordination among 14 lakeshore cities, the county, LMCD and the DNR on commercial use of public landings.
📌 Key Facts
- Original concept’s second access (to separate commercial and recreational use) was removed; a picnic area replaced it after feedback.
- Planned upgrades include ramp realignment, angled parking changes, stormwater controls, shoreline pods for fishing and paddlecraft, lighting and solar features.
- Officials aim to create consistent rules for commercial use at public landings across Lake Minnetonka; Orono zoning bans commercial/industrial uses in residential districts.