So You Want to Fight? Developer Threatens to Sue City, Residents Fire Back

In an stunning escalation into outright hostility by developer Audrius Asakenas against the City of Shorewood, a lawyer for Mr. Asakenas threatened to sue the City of Shorewood over the City Council's decision to require an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) for Asakenas' Watten Ponds development. An EAW is a short worksheet that gathers facts to determine if a project has potential for significant environmental effects, informs the public, and helps identify ways to protect the environment. The EAW was initiated by a petition signed by almost 400 people. Seems reasonable, right? The City Council thought so - because of the highly unique character of the Watten Ponds area and its impact on Lake Minnetonka, the City Council voted 4-1 to require an EAW.

Mr. Asakenas, apparently very keen on avoiding environmental review, threatened to sue to overturn the City Council's decision. Not to be intimidated, a group of local residents fired back and stood up for the thorough work of the City Council and City Attorney. It's up to the City Council now. Do they stand by their decision or will they run at the threat of a fight?

Reach out to the City Council and urge them to stand firm and not to be bullied by a rich developer and his expensive lawyers! Here's how to reach the City Council.

In our Council Meeting Recap, we talked about a disagreement on the Council and between some Council members and City staff over whether the job of the City is to protect residents from developers or to protect developers from meddling residents. The Planning Department is a straight-up advocate for developers. Attend a meeting and you'd be hard pressed to know that the Planning Director works for the City and not the developer.

But at the last meeting, the Council struck a blow to protect residents. The question is, will the Council stand by that decision when the going gets tough and the Planning Director has a week to get in their ear in support of the developer? Reach out to the Council and tell them to stand strong and not be bullied by big money developers asking for special rules to avoid environmental review that protects residents!

Here's how to reach the City Council.

Read Residents' response here.

Read the letter from Asakenas' lawyer here.

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Read about the unique environment of Watten Ponds.

Learn more about the Watten Ponds development.