Does Iowa need this?
What kind of environmental pressures are we looking at here?
Is the DNR grabbing at anything that they think will cover their butts 
on Honey Creek development?
I do not trust Culver to do the right thing.

Charles Winterwood wrote:
> Is this development on private or public land?
>  
> Charlie Winterwood
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Dana Wade <[log in to unmask]>
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Sent:* Tuesday, April 28, 2009 2:26:25 PM
> *Subject:* FW: Iowa DNR News: Development plan announced for land 
> adjacent to Honey Creek
>
> *Iowa Department of Natural Resources*
>
> *Conservation and Recreation Division*
>
> ** 
>
> *For Immediate Release                                        
>                                         *
>
> *April 28, 2009*
>
>  
>
> *DEVELOPMENT PLAN ANNOUNCED FOR LAND ADJACENT TO HONEY CREEK*
>
>  
>
> MORAVIA – A Milwaukee, Wisc. company has announced plans to develop 
> land adjacent to the Honey Creek Resort Destination State Park that 
> will eventually bring retail construction, residential development and 
> entertainment attractions to the region.
>
>  
>
> Bentley Management Group is announcing that projects planned for them 
> or other interested partners would total $90 million and will bring a 
> variety of developments that include commercial retail, village style 
> shops, a sports activity center, condominiums and rental cabins.
>
>  
>
> “Today's announcement is great for southern Iowa, and our state as a 
> whole,” said Governor Culver. “This $90 million project will create 
> good paying jobs. And once completed, this development will attract 
> countless visitors to the shores of Rathbun Lake. Honey Creek Resort 
> was designed to transform this area into a true family destination, 
> and this new project will help turn that goal into a reality.”
>
>  
>
> Bentley Management Group plans to begin construction of the 160-acre 
> site adjacent to Honey Creek yet this summer with a target to 
> substantially complete within five years.
>
>  
>
> Additional development to solidify Rathbun Lake and the Honey Creek 
> resort as a destination spot for vacationers has always been one of 
> the goals of the state, said Richard Leopold, director of the Iowa 
> Department of Natural Resources.
>
>  
>
> “The ability to attract a development of this size so soon after 
> completion of the Honey Creek project is confirmation that the Honey 
> Creek resort is in the right place at the right time,” Leopold said.
>
>  
>
>  “We have always been confident that the Honey Creek resort would be 
> able to attract additional development to the area, but to attract a 
> project of this size less than a year after the resort has been in 
> operation exceeds our expectations,” said Leopold.
>
>  
>
> The development company was attracted to Honey Creek by the potential 
> to draw Iowa and out-of-state tourists to the area for hunting, 
> fishing, golfing and other outdoor recreational pursuits, as well as 
> recreational activities for youth and families.
>
>  
>
> Bentley was attracted to the Honey Creek project by a shared vision 
> with the state of Iowa to the potential of making Rathbun Lake a 
> destination spot.
>
>  
>
> The company has indicated it would not be pursuing this project had 
> the state of Iowa not developed the Honey Creek resort.
>
>  
>
> “We support the vision of many others in both the public and private 
> sector that a significant growth, recreation, tourist, job creation, 
> tax enhancement opportunity has been set in motion by the commitment 
> to and the investment in the Honey Creek project,” said Thomas 
> Bentley, III, of the Bentley Management Group/Foxtail Cabin.
>
>  
>
> The Bentley announcement at Honey Creek represents another success 
> story for Iowa’s goal of bolstering rural economic development through 
> efforts to increase tourism opportunities, said Mike Tramontina, 
> director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development.
>
>  
>
> “Tourism represents a great opportunity for economic development in 
> rural Iowa. The Tourism industry is typically characterized by small 
> businesses with sole proprietors or family owned businesses. The 
> Rathbun Lake Region and the charming surrounding small towns are 
> poised to receive new investments and new residents as a direct result 
> of the state and local investments in the Honey Creek Resort,” said 
> Tramontina.
>
>  
>
> “Hopefully, today’s great announcement is the first in a series. We 
> congratulate The Bentley team for a great plan and welcome them to 
> Iowa’s tourism industry,” Tramontina added.
>
>  
>
> -30-
>
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