What Door County officials, residents, business owners, and visitors are facing this year
Here are a few of the big ones, with a couple pros and cons for each. Please add your two cents in the comments and tell me what you think.
Possible Dollar General in Egg Harbor
In Egg Harbor, there’s the expansion of Dollar General into the County. The big box retailer – hoping to build just south of the Egg Harbor Fun Park – would be a first for the peninsula.
And there’s a heated debate on both sides.
Many in Door County feel it goes against the feel of the community, and are concerned that it may negatively affect small, local business.
Those in favor of Dollar General argue that it can help create jobs, and gives residents a cheaper alternative for everyday items.
Shipwrecked Brew Pub’s Expansion
Also in Egg Harbor, there’s the expansion of Shipwrecked Brew Pub. The restaurant, which was rebuilt after a fire, is looking to expand into one of Door County’s largest restaurants with nearly 400 seats. This includes a beer garden on the site of the former Christine’s Casuals clothing store. The Egg Harbor Plan Commission recently denied a permit for the expansion.
Shipwrecked’s plan relied on a shared use agreement with neighbor, Signature Pieces.
The agreement was never sought out, so now it’s back to the drawing board for Shipwrecked if they choose to push forward with their plans.
The main concern for the planning commission is the parking ordinance, which says a restaurant needs to have a parking spot for every four seats. Right now, Shipwrecked has 22 parking spaces – too few for their proposal.
Some residents say the area in downtown Egg Harbor is already too busy, and an expanded Shipwrecked would only exacerbate the problem.
Those in favor of expansion say Shipwrecked is a Door County staple, and a beer garden is needed to stay competitive as other beer gardens continue to open in Door County (like One Barrel in Egg Harbor, and Al Johnson’s Stabbur in Sister Bay).
Condos on the Site of the Former Fred & Fuzzy’s Restaurant
In Sister Bay, there’s the proposed condominium build on the site of the old Little Sister Resort and Fred & Fuzzy’s Restaurant.
Developers Lance and Bridget Crane are hoping to develop The Cove at Pebble Beach, a complex of 18 residential condominiums. They also plan to build a private residence on the site.
The concern is that another residential condo build will take away from the character that is Door County, and overdevelopment here could lead to further builds of this kind across the peninsula.
Those in favor argue that the Crane’s are entitled to do what they want with their property, and other new builds are already going up in a number of towns, including Sister Bay.
Added Door County Resort Tax
Then there’s the proposed resort tax increase. A number of Door County communities have already adapted resolutions to raise the room tax from 5.5% to 8.0%.
Thirteen of the County’s 19 municipalities must agree for the tax to be implemented countywide.
Those in favor of the tax increase say it’s been more than a decade since the resort room tax was implemented. And since there’s yet to be an increase, it’s time.
Those against the tax increase argue this will dissuade potential visitors from staying in Door County, and all businesses will suffer due to a lack of traffic.
Keep the conversation going by telling me what you think.
