News

Twin Oaks to sell several lots on the lake

By Tyler Ohmann

07/23/2013

Due to a number of factors Twin Oaks Resort on Lake Metigoshe has decided to sell a number of lots on their property near the lake.

The problems stemmed from a huge demand in seasonal Recreation Vehicles (RV) requests and a lack of space to put them as per Roland Township zoning regulations and Lake Metigoshe Recreation Service District sewer regulations.

“We’re kind of in a major dilemma between what has happened between the township board and the recreation and service district,” said Andrew Rennich, assistant general manager of Twin Oaks. “What we wanted to do basically is that we have such a huge waiting list for these seasonal RV spots that we have, we have about 70 people on the waiting list, so we purchased more land near our marina that we wanted to put more RV spots, and putting more RV spots where our cabins are.”

According to Section III part D of the Roland Township zoning ordinance, “No more than one RV per land parcel allowed under RE-1 zoning (in keeping with the principal of RE-1 being Single-Family). If, however, there were instances where two (2) RVs were located on an otherwise vacant RE-1 zoned land parcel (where no other permanent dwelling structure existed), and those RVs had been issued and were in compliance with provisions of a valid RV Conditional Use Permit prior to the adoption of this provision to the Roland Township Zoning Ordinance – they shall be allowed to continue in existence as long as they have a current RV Conditional Use Permit, or until property is transferred by deed or contract for deed.”

Basically what that means is that only one RV is allowed on a lot unless they were grandfathered in for already having two existing structures.

Another issue was that adding more RVs on currently empty lots would require Twin Oaks to add another sewage basin. Since most of the land that Twin Oaks owns is classified RE-2, it doesn’t fall under that RE-1 rule, unless it is split into lots, which it is. One way to bypass that would be to replot the land into one piece and start an RV park there.

What Twin Oaks feels it was forced to do then if they wanted to keep the properties that they purchased for this and other properties that included cabins was to hike rent rates.

“Obviously we can’t make any of that work, that coupled with we didn’t want to basically triple peoples lot rent per year, which is what would have had to happen to make everything work properly,” Rennich said. “Also we’d have to raise the rates on our cabins, and that just wouldn’t work, and the whole thing needed to work because we’ve had an unbelievable tax increase that we’ve had in the past three years.”

Not wanting to do that to loyal customers gave what Twin Oaks felt was their only option—sell the properties.

“All of that mixed with that there is no doubt that it is a phenomenal time to be selling up on Lake Metigoshe right now,” Rennich said. “People are paying a premium and we have some absolutely gorgeous lots for sale right now.”

However, the decision didn’t come easy Rennich said.

“It’s a really tough thing to have to come to a decision to do, because the people who rent our RV lots every year have put a lot of work into making their places just beautiful down there,” Rennich said. “People are putting permanent decks down and patios down, it was unfortunate, but it was kind of the only way we could make it work.”

Twin Oaks has heard a lot of feedback already on the decision to sell, a lot of it negative, but also a lot that understands what the situation is.

“We didn’t want to do have to do that because all these people have been phenomenal customers to us,” Rennich said. “There is some anger and some sadness, and we’ve heard a lot of feedback from it, and I can completely understand where they are coming from.”

“I think a lot of them understand and realize kind of the position we’re in too, because they obviously didn’t want to have their lot rent tripled either, but it was about the only way we could make it work,” Rennich added.

One lot has already been sold, but information on the lots and prices of them is available at Twin Oaks or can be e-mailed by request. To contact Twin Oaks call (701) 263-4295.