(Spirit Lake)– A countersuit has now been filed in connection with litigation pertaining to the East Loch Estates development proposed on some 66 acres of land just north of Chalstrom Beach near East Lake Okoboji.
The owner of that land, Butch Parks, has filed a lawsuit against a group calling itself “Concerned Citizens of Dickinson County”. That group has filed two lawsuits against the proposed development. One names the Dickinson county board of supervisors as defendants; the other lists the Dickinson County Board of Adjustment and the county’s Planning and Zoning Administrator. The group contended, among other things, that the county didn’t follow proper procedures in rezoning the land and establishing a planned unit development for the proposed housing project.
The lawsuit against Concerned Citizens of Dickinson County alleges the group’s claims are “without merit, spurious and a malicious use of the legal process to unreasonably delay or frustrate the plaintiff’s sale of his real estate for development”. It also claims the group’s actions will cause the plaintiff (Parks) to suffer damages not less than $3.5 million. Parks is seeking punitive damages and is demanding a jury trial.
The suit was filed last week in Dickinson County District Court.