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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 02/01/1999 i v� FEBRUARY 1,1999 MINUTES I' PARKS RECREATION & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION i I 1 AGENDA PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,FEBRUARY 1,1999 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMISSION MEMBERS: Richard Brown, Chair; Frantz Corneille, Claire Hilgennan, Don Jacobson,Vicki Koenig,Glenn Stolar,John Wilson STUDENT MEMBER: Ben Christian COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A. Lambert, Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources;Stuart A.Fox,Manager of Parks and Natural Resources; Laurie Helling,Manager of Recreation Services I. ROI.I,CALL IL APPROVAL OF AGENDA III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-December 21, 1998 IV. PETITIONS.REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. Request from Eden Prairie Hockey Association to Consider the Use of Revenue Bonds for a Third Indoor Skating Rink B. letter to Commission Rci;ardine Fitncss Center C. Letter from Minnesota Mako Swim Tcam V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS A. Flaighip Comoratc Center B. Perkins Subdivision C. Eden Orchard V1, 01.13 BUSINESS V11. NEW BUSINESS l Vill. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF f A. Reports of Director of Parks and Recreation Services I. Council lntcryovernmental Boards and Commisslons Rrnort 2. 1999 Outdoor Recreation Grant App)ic tons / B. Reports of Mager of Recreation Services ` 1. Sumnmary of A�pecial Events for 1998 IX. ADJOURNMENT I APPROVED MINUTES PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAV, FEBRUARV 1, 1999 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMISSION MEMBERS: Richard Brown,Chair,Frantz Corneille,Clairc Hilgeman,Don Jacobson,Vicki Koenig,Glenn Stolar,John Wilson STUDENT MENIBER: Ben Christian COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A. Lambert, Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, Stuart A. Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources, Lyndell Frey, Community Centel- Manager, and Barbara Anderson, City Recorder 1. ROLL CALL i Chair Brown called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. i 11. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Koenig moved, seconded by Corneille, to approve the Agenda as published, I Motion carried 7-0. i 111. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-December 21, 1998 i MOTION: Wilson moved, seconded by Jacobson, to approve the December 21, 1998 Minutes ofthe Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission as published. Motion pj � carried 5-0-2. Commissioners Kocnig and Stolar abstained, T' s IV. PETITIONS,REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. Request front Eden Prairie Ilockey Association to Consider file Use of Revenue Bonds for a Third Indoor Skallne Rink Lambert reviewed the staffreport and recommended the Commission authorize staff to take the actions outlined in the report items 1,2,3 and A. They propose to add a practice rink only with no seating capacity. The School District should be given the opportunity to determine if it will need something beyond what is being proposed. i '1 #�I I PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 1, 1999 Page 2 Stolar asked if staff'should include some sort of revenue figures that could be projected at this time and Lambert responded staff will do this if the City Council wants to pursue it. Discussion ensued regarding the revenue bonds and how they are valued and the interest rates at which they are sold. These bonds are paid off from the revenues generated by the rink with extra revenues used for operating costs. Lambert discussed how sports are subsidized in Eden Prairie and noted that it was not something that could be compared because skaters paid more of the costs of their sport than any other sport in Eden Prairie Jacobson asked how many privately owned skating rinks there were in the metro area and Lambert responded probably less than five in the entire state. Jacobson noted that private enterprise evidently did not sec this as a profitable business so the public sector has to step in and provide the rinks. When Eden Prairie kids go outside of Eden Prairie, it results in lost revenues for the City. MOTION: Corneille moved, seconded by Stolar, to authorize staff to take the actions specified in the staff report dated January 25, 1999. Motion carried 7-0. s �. B. letter to Commission Reeardinr Fitness Center Lambert noted this was an informational item for the Commission. C. Letter from Minnesota Mako Swim Team Lambert stated that evidently Eden Prairie now has two swim teams that meet the criteria to be recognized as official Eden Prairie Swim Tcams which will need pool time,however,the team that serves the most Eden Prairie kids will have priority use i for reservation purposes. Peg Sorenson,coach for the Minnesota Mako Swim Team,reviewed how the team evolved into the satellite team from Apple Valley which turned into a chartered Eden Prairie team. They use mostly Wayzata pool time so they have about half Eden Prairie kids and half Wayzata kids. The Foxjcts are a Prior Lake chartered team which is something not commonly known. 'rhe Minnesota Mako are asking for any leftover pool time to be offered to them in a timely manner to allow them to make use of it so they don't have to go out of town all the time. Jacobson asked what the pool schedules were and Frey responded that the pools were scheduled for about three months at a time. He discussed the time frames allocated to the Foxjcts and the high school and most of the pool tine is used. Discussion 4 t 1 i I PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 1, 1999 Page 3 ensued regarding pool usage during various times of the year. Hilgeman commented when multiple teams are formed within a community they have to understand that time may not be available for all the separate teams. Sorenson commented that they had rented the Oak Point pool on Tuesday nights from 7-9 p.m.and they had that time taken away because the Foxjcts had not been offered it first. They would like to be offered any time that the Foxjcts don't want and they are only asking for time that isn't already being used. Lambert requested that Sorenson contact Bob Lanzi to provide the required information to obtain official recognition as an Eden Prairie team. V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS A. Flagship Corporate Ccntcr i Dan Quccnan reviewed the project which was reviewed by the Planning Commission on 1/24/99. He discussed the access to the site and the traffic Flow pattern from the site to Technology Drive and Prairie Center Drive. He described the building and it's appearance. They propose to construct a trail along the back of the site 25 feet from the no fill line and a minimum of one foot above the flood elevation. If they do this, it would snake the trail so close to the building that pedestrians would be uncomfortable using it. The amount of fill needed to till the wetland for the road would be less than I/10 often acre. Pox reviewed the staff report and noted the trail elevation should be at the same elevation as the top of the regulatory structure and a trail casement should be filed with the plat. The outlot should be dedicated to the City. ' i Kocnig asked if the wetland area that would be filled would be mitigated in any way and Quccnan responded this was not discussed with the Corps of Engineers and it was r1. not required by stair. Lambert commented this entire area will be required to be filled in by the City later on this year and the ditch area will be filled in. This will facilitate the completion of the entire plan for the area. There will be cross-access casements across both properties to allow the City-owned parcel to be developed and facilitate traffic flow for the area. Koenig asked about the landscape plan and Quccnan responded that a landscape plan was submitted which was approved by staff. Fox read the list ofphmt materials which the proponent is planning to use. They will be continuing the landscaping theme which was developed for the Eden Prairie Market Center area. f t - PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 1, 1999 Page 4 Brown asked about access across from Bachman's and this site has come in with a different main access point. Fox responded that Bachman's can still create a median cut with a left turn lane which will provide that access point for them as they requested. I-filgeman asked about the floodplain encroachment and Lambert responded that it was approved for 20%encroachment for all the development in the area. The City and Watershed District are spending$4 million to make this a better and more viable wetland. MOTION:Wilson moved,seconded by Corneille,to recommend to the City Council approval of the Flagship Corporate Center based on the information contained in the January 22, 1999-staff report and the supplemental staff report dated January 27, 1999. Motion carried 7-0. B. Perkins Subdivision Jim Perkins, 7010 Willow Creek Road, reviewed the plat and noted they have reconfigured the lot lines to save more trees. Fox reviewed the staff report and noted there were 55 trees declared to be significant which is 1,051 caliper inches or 34% and mitigation should be done with oak,basswood,and maple trees. Brown asked about the building setback from the lake and the variations in both alternatives. Fox responded that the approved plan in 1989 had two lots with setbacks at 45 feet. If Alternate B were used, it would take out more trees while increasing the setbacks. Stolar asked about the tree loss figures and which were correct. Fox responded the 1/27/99 staffreport figures were the most current. This changes the percentage of tree loss from 33% to 34'1/o, which changes the replacement figures slightly. Discussion ensued regarding the types of replacement trees which should be planted. rti Koenig asked about the variance within 40 feet and Fox responded they would have 1' to get approval from the Board of Adjustments for this. Discussion ensued regarding the grading which would be done on the lots. MOTION: I lilgcmam moved,seconded by Wilson,to recommend to the City Council approval of the Perkins Subdivision based on alternate one of the Planning Staff Report daacd January 22, 1999,and subject to the recommendations contained in the November 6, 1999 and January 22. 1999 staff reports and the supplemental staff report dated January 27, 1999. Motion carried 6-0-1. Stolar abstained. PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 1, 1999 Page 5 i C. Eden Orchard i Lce Johnson,representing Orrin Thompson Homes,reviewed the project with all the components of the plan. Ile described the housing types which will be included in the development. He discussed the southeast corner of the site which was the area of greatest concern and discussed the changes they made to the plans to address those concerns. They are trying to be sensitive to the topography and existing trees in the ? area. The tree loss will fall to 31% which is well within the guidelines for Eden Prairie. In the area abutting the woods,they are proposing to plant a transition zone to buffer the park land from the development. They are proposing to dedicate 10.4 acres to the City as well as a portion adjacent to the park for a parking lot. They will j also address the erosion on the site. They arc willing to put the conservation casement of the 3.5 acre wooded parcel as requested by the City. He discussed the ponding and the drainage on the site. Ile showed a plan for the parking lot on Outlot B. The engineer has changed the order of the streets and they will be able to provide sidewalks on streets that are now identified as F&G which should be noted. They also propose to create an casement to allow access to the Cedarcrest neighborhood, ! even though the roadway would not be connected. t Fox reviewed the staff report and noted that there was a total of 14,282 diameter , inches of trees on the site which is a 31.7%tree loss and tree replacement is 1,107 caliper inches as verified by staff. There are some problem trees on the site and there may be more than staff has identified at this time. He reviewed the landscape plan which meets the required tree loss mitigation requirements. The trail should be put in prior to construction of the twin homes to allow Cedar Forest access to the neighborhood park which is not yet developed. Lambert discussed the park dedication requirements and staff recommends that a Homeowners Association maintain the 3.5 acres and place a conservation casement over this area. The Riley Creek Valley will be difficult to preserve even though this area has land which is not technically a bluff according to the definition. Staff would like to have a trail along the creek all the way to Miller Spring eventually. Lambert noted that Commissioners or Council Members may have reservations and concerns about a development but those are not legal reasons to deny a project. There is no legal reason to deny where the developer is grading and there is no designated funding available to purchase this land. Wilson Icff the meeting at 9:10 p.m. i i PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 1, 1999 Page 6 Discussion ensued regarding erosion along the crcck and what were the proponent's responsibilities in regard to mitigation of the erosion on both the proponent's land and the area being dedicated to the City. Stolar asked about the Guide Plan change and Lambert explained how these things play into the variation in housing types and mixes within a given neighborhood, Bud Baker,9232 Cedar Forest Road,it former member of the Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission,was concerned about the things that don't show on plans. They have been isolated and this plan is going to increase the density of this neighborhood. The roadway connection will be decided by the City Council when they review this plan,but they are concerned they may be boxed in. They have no park in their neighborhood. Flc would like to have access to the Big Woods and the parks with trails which will give them access. Flilgctntn expressed concern regarding transition and Lambert responded that it was a major item that is discussed at developers meetings and Planning Commission meetings. Corneille asked how the parkland to the south would be protected and Lambert responded that the City will be placing markers on the backs of the lots to �• indicate property line locations but there will be people who will encroach into it and they will have to be sent notices,etc. Every City has this problem and it will be the same thing with this area. Koenig noted this was one of the most sensitive areas in the City and she felt it deserved special treatment. She requested that funds be taken from Cash Park Fees and a fence be constructed to protect this parkland from encroachment by property owners adjacent to it. Lambert responded a fence would help protect it from those people that abut it but he did not support the City fencing it because it would set an undesirable precedent for other areas of the City. Discussion ensued regarding i fencing, and the things it would protect against, such as dumping, destruction of ' vegetation and trees. The Commission strongly emphasized that the boundary needed to be firmly established, and people who usurp onto City property should be I) penalized. It was felt that creating pathways through the Big Woods area would be creating problems. Jacobson asked about the discharge from the NURP ponds and where it would go into Riley Creek and Johnson illustrated the points where it will be entering the creek. The NURP ponds on the site all interconnect. Jacobson asked who would have to pay l'or erosion which might occur in the future and Fox responded there is a rear yard drainage system which puts the drainage into the NURP ponds and the City will maintain those. Johnson commented the development reduces the drainage into the i�iE i I 1 PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 1, 1999 Page 7 ravine to almost nothing. Lambert commented staff will use every means available to preserve the creek corridor but it's not possible to preserve all the wooded areas in this part of the City. It will be difficult to develop a trail system along the entire park. Koenig asked about the wetland filing and how it would be mitigated and Johnson responded they would be filling.31 acres of wetland which will be mitigated on the site. He illustrated these areas on the plans, and explained these were not quality wetlands. Koenig asked why staff recommended the conservation casement instead of the City taking it and Lambert responded there was no way for the City to gain access to this part of the site and since the homeowners would be using it they should be the ones that maintain it. Hilgeman commented she would like to see some of the apple trees transplanted to s' the Cummins Grill House. Lambert noted that as part of the Management Plan for 1 Riley Creek they will be visiting the issue of setbacks from City Parkland. Koenig wished to go on record as being concerned about protecting the sensitive old growth forest land from encroaching property owners. I MOTION: Corneille moved, seconded by Jacobson, to recommend to the City Council approval of the Eden Orchard development based on the recommendations in the Staff Report dated December 11, 1998 and the supplemental staff report dated January 26. 1999. Motion carried 6-0. VI. OLD BUSINESS. I VII. NEW BUSINESS V111. REPORTS OF'COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF A. sports of Director of Parr and Recreation Services 1. Council Intergovernmental Boards and Commissions Report Lambert noted this was an FYI item to extend the terms of Commissioners to facilitate the reevaluation process. Corneille requested that the attendance record be corrected, as his was confused with another commissioner. 1 I i PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 1, 1999 Page 8 2. 1999 Outdoor Recreation Grant Applications Lambert showed illustrations of buildings for park structures and asked for direction regarding the type of structure the Commission liked. These would be used for Riley Lake Park and Miller Park. They are prefabricated structures, and while staff could obtain bids from architects to design structures done to specifications,these are more cost-effective. He would like to have open sided shelters to give people places to get out of inclement weather. They propose to use satellite restrooms, and the Commission concurred. Lambert noted the grants will be awarded next summer. B. imports of Manager of Recreation Services 1. Summnry of Art and Special Events for 1998 IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION:Brown moved,seconded by Corneille,to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 10:22 p.m. I 1,