A lawsuit related to the site of a proposed Sturgeon Bay waterfront hotel will play out over two days in February in Door County Circuit Court as a result of court action Tuesday. After hearing oral arguments, Waupaca Judge Raymond Huber refused to grant a summary judgment, essentially providing for a permanent injunction against the hotel proposed by developer Robert Papke. However, Judge Huber also denied a motion to dismiss the case altogether. Instead, the litigation will move forward on February 9th and 10th. The group “Friends of the Sturgeon Bay Public Waterfront,” has contended that some of the land intended for the Lindgren Hotel was filled in over the years, was, as such, public property and it’s sale was in violation of the public trust doctrine of the Wisconsin constitution. The suit was first dismissed in federal court early last year when Judge William Griesbach ruled that a decision should really come from a state court. The friends group was represented by attorney Remzy Bitar and the city by attorney Maribeth Peranteau. Sturgeon Bay City Attorney Randy Nesbitt was also on hand for the proceedings Tuesday.
