Benson County rejects proposed island project

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Benson County officials have narrowly rejected a proposal for a housing development next to Grahams Island State Park.

The County Board voted 3-2 against a zoning change that would have allowed the development.

Grahams Island State Park covers about 1,100 acres, some 16 miles southwest of Devils Lake.

The development was proposed by Alex Kowal and Al Freidig. Kowal, who lives in Melita, Manitoba, said his family owned land on Grahams Island when he was young and he spent a lot of time there. Freidig is a real estate agent in Devils Lake and is listed as the project manager.

The proposal called for a two-stage development named Bernie's Bay, with eight lakefront lots in the first phase and 10 lots in the second phase.

Opponents said it would allow primitive camping sites and invite a "ghetto"-like scenario with congestion, traffic, noise and pollution.

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