HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-06-03 Kristin & Jeffrey Klemestrud Public Comment Mayor McComber and Members of the City Council: June 3,d,2016
Please accept this letter of support in favor of the Scenic Overlook Cottage,a home based
business several doors from our home. The Fenner family has been a part of our
immediate neighborhood for several decades. Martin&Louise fell in love with their house
and its wonderful view and have been part of the fabric of our warm,supportive
neighborhood. During this time they've made many improvements,working diligently to
renovate their property and surrounding grounds. Their efforts benefit not only their own
home;all nearby properties see increased values when residents upgrade their homes in
this fashion.
As former Stillwater business owners who continue to work closely with local shop boutique
owners we're aware of the scarcity of rooms in our area;especially of this top tier quality.
The local tourism organization was recently quoted as having decreased their solicitation
for local wedding business as part of their tourism marketing for Stillwater- largely due to
a serious lack of room availability throughout the valley. We have no over-supply of Hotel
or Bed&Breakfast rooms; in fact quite the opposite.
In our opinion the Scenic Overlook Cottage is a superb addition to the local lodging options.
The Fenners are enthusiastic St.Croix Valley ambassadors;promoting our wonderful cities
to visitors. In-home rentals are a long-standing and traditional way for many families to
bring In a bit of income while sharing their lives and their hometowns with tourists. This is a
boon to our local businesses-especially considering the over-crowding of nearby hotels.
Travelers are always looking for a knowledgeable resident to share local secrets and"best-
of"
bestof"attractions. Martin&Louise are always eager to share information about where to
shop,dine and be entertained here in the valley.
We ask you to consider The Scenic Overlook Cottage as having fulfilled any requested
regulatory requirements;they are an established and successful business concern with no
record of complaints and offer a service in an underserved segment. We sincerely hope
that the city will allow them to continue serving their community with their authentic brand
of hospitality.
Kristin &Jeffrey Klemetsrud
6260 Lookout Trail
Oak Park Heights
612. 709. 5511