Two Harbors Council Weighs Airport Oversight, Height Limit Change

A large turnout at the Two Harbors City Council meeting put a spotlight on two issues that reach beyond City Hall, how the city oversees Two Harbors Airport and whether it will allow taller multifamily buildings in the R-3 district. The proposed Chapter 11 amendment would raise the height limit for apartment buildings with more than eight units from 45 feet to 55 feet, a change that could affect how much higher-density housing fits into the city’s land-use rules and North Shore overlay standards. Even with the room full, no one spoke publicly on the height proposal.

The sharper debate centered on the airport, where the Two Harbors Pilots Association asked the city to tighten expectations for the airport manager contract. The pilots wanted the manager on the airfield an average of 25 hours a week, with exceptions for extreme weather, daily operational inspections, and full enforcement of the existing 2019 contract. Their message was that the airport is not just a convenience for pilots, but a piece of public-safety infrastructure. That argument carried added weight after last year’s fires, when 15 helicopters used the field for support operations.

The city already points to steady airport operations, with staff on site from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday and the manager, Casey Komarek, reachable by phone 24 hours a day. The airport also offers 24-hour fueling by credit card for 100LL, 91 octane and Jet Fuel. The facility has been in the middle of a broader upgrade cycle, including the new Richard B. Helgeson terminal building, which replaced the original 1976 terminal, and earlier work that included beacon replacement costing $78,401 and tarmac repairs. Those investments make the oversight fight more than a staffing issue, because the city and state have already put real money into keeping the airport functional.

The meeting also tied airport policy to the city’s larger public-works schedule. The unfinished section of 6th Avenue is expected to be done by the end of June, while Lighthouse Point Road is running a little behind because it depends on state grant approvals. Highway 61 remains under MNDOT review and is still aimed at a 2027 construction start. City staff also continued coordination with THEDA and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, underscoring how tightly economic development, transportation and infrastructure are linked in Two Harbors.

Council members also heard a reminder about emergency readiness. Survive This! Lake County Emergency Resilience was set for April 26 at Two Harbors High School, from 1 to 3 p.m., with booths, speaker presentations, free food and a NOAA radio giveaway. Lake County Emergency Management, which handles preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation for natural and man-made hazards, has framed that event as part of a wider effort to prepare residents for wildfires, severe weather, power outages and medical emergencies.