Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 07/23/1973 1973 JULY 9 , 23 MINUTES CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE MINUTES • EDEN PRAIRIE PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION C Monday, July 9 , 1973 7:3 0 p.m. , Village Hall Members Present: Vice Chairman Bill Garens, Dean Holasek, Terry Fields, Marge O'Ryan, Rita Kooiman, Frances Blacklock, Roger Boerger. Members Absent: Chairman Marvin Erickson, Dick Anderson, Jan Berkland, Steve Eisch. Staff Present: Marty lessen, Director of Parks and Recreation. Dick Putnam, Village Planner. Also present: Jim Blackburn, Bud Belk, Frank Hartmann, and Geneva Middleton representing the Anderson Lakes Property Owner's Association Dick Knutson representing Ecklund & Swedlund; Don Hess and John Gertz representing The Preserve; Emerson Greenberg and J. W. Bell representing Gelco Corp. The meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m. by Vice Chairman Garens. I. MINUTES OF JUNE 25 , 1973 , MEETING. M/Blacklock, S/O'Ryan to approve the minutes of the June 25, 1973, meeting as presented. Motion carried unanimously. II. PETITIONS, REQUESTS & COMMUNICATIONS. A. Appointment of Commissioner to the Steering Committee for the Purgatory Creek Park Planning Study. lessen reported that the contract between the Village and the Watershed District and Brauer & Associates had been executed, and that the Watershed District had requested the formation of a Steering Committee to oversee the planning process. The proposed Steering Committee would consist of four people: a representative of the Park & Recreation Commission, a repre- sentative of the Watershed District Board of Managers, the Village Park & Recreation Director, and the Watershed District's engineer. Vice Chairman Garens appointed Dick Anderson to serve as the Commissioner on this Steering Committee. B. Notice of meeting to discuss the future of Lower Minnesota River at the Bloomington City Hall on July 11 , 1973 , at 7:30 p.m. lessen stated that he had been contacted by Mr. Joe White from Bloomington about a meeting to be held this coming Wednesday to discuss the Lower Park & Recreation Commission July 9, 1973 Page 2 CMinnesota River and its, future as an open space resource or as an urban development area. Jessen also indicated that he'd had discussions with a representative of the U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, concerning the possibility of their taking some interest in establishing this area as a national recreation or wildlife area. Blacklock stated that she would be attending this meeting and would report back on details of the discussion at the next Commission meeting. C. Communication from Congressman Bill Frenzel's office advising us that Eden Prairie's request for LAWCON contingency funds for Anderson Lakes Park has been rejected. Jessen stated that he was called by Kathy McCright from Congressman Frenzel's office last week and told that the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation had rejected the request for LAWCON contingency funding for the Anderson Lakes Park. He stated that no explanation nor written notification to this effect had been received by the Village and that efforts to contact key people in the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation in Washington by the Congressman's office and by Senator Mondale's office have not been successful. Jessen then presented a copy of the revised parcel priorities for the Anderson Lakes ( Park area and stated that he was meeting the following day (Tues., 7/10/73) with representatives of the Metropolitan Council and others concerning the establishment of priorities for expenditure of 1974 LAWCON monies and State Natural Resource Regional Park Funds. Jessen reviewed the parcel priority list. John Gertz from The Preserve asked the approximate timing for this funding and Jessen responded by indicating that it could be any time from November, 1973, on into 1974 D. Letter from Jim Solem, Director, State Planning Agency, advising Eden , Prairie of final approval of a State Natural Resources Grant in the amount of $311, 050 for 1.00% of the estimated purchase price of the Gorra property at Anderson Lakes. Jessen reported that the letter contract with the State Planning Agency and the Village had been received and executed, and that the State had forwarded a check in the amount of $311 ,05 0 to the Village for this project. III, RECOMMENDATIONS & REPORTS. A. Acrencv Liaison Reports. Fields reported that he has been appointed the new chairman of the Picnic Pavilion Committee of the Eden Prairie Lions Club and would be working with the Park & Recreation Staff to develop final plans for this pavilion. f Park & Recreation Commission July 9, 1973 Pag e 3 Holasek stated that the Jaycees were proceeding with their playground equipment design and would be meeting with the 'Staff next week to review it, and that this item would probably be on the next Park & Recreation Commission agenda. B. Recommendation for a Fee Schedule for Groups Requesting Park Use. i Jessen distributed copies of his report to the Commission and reviewed it for the Commission. One item which was left out of the report was the requirement of a $25 deposit for resident organizations and individual resident groups to use Round Lake Park, and this should be included as a ' requirement for group use of the area. M/Blacklock, S/Boerger that the recommended fee schedule be approved. Motion carried unanimously. C. Eden Prairie Athletic Association Hockey Rink Request. Jessen distributed copies of the preliminary report dealing with this request and stated that he would ask Steve Sopczak and Bill Geimer from the Athletic Association to be present at the next meeting to discuss it in detail with the Commission. �- D. Development Proposals: 1. Basswoods Final Plat. Jessen presented the original Basswoods Concept Plan and stated that they were now requesting Final Plat Approval for the area. He outlined areas of concern as the Staff viewed the Final Plat. Primary among these concerns is the delineation of the easement area through the plat and the wording of the easement and the iddntification of the boundary line between public, quasi-public, and private lands. Jessen stated that Dr. Dave Weaver, Wildlife Management Specialist for the Hennepin County Park Reserve District, has reviewed the Anderson Lakes site and suggested that a fence be constructed along the west shore in order to maintain the wildlife habitat that presently exist at the lake. Jessen also reported that Jim Robin has done a comparable study for The Preserve, and that he has been told that his findings were much the same, that access to the west shore of the lake had to be limited if it were to continue to be an outstanding wildlife habitat. Don Hess, representing The Preserve, indicated that they have con- structed utilities and streets, and staked out final lot boundaries through the Basswoods area, and that the management objective for the park needs to be clearly defined before any agreement can be reached i Park & Recreation Commission July 9, 1973 Page ,4 on the need for fencing in this area. He stated that he felt the management objective for the lake had changed since the concept plan for The Preserve had been presented and that if the management objective has changed, that The Preserve needs to reconsider their. design. Blacklock stated that she had raised the question of the treatment of the lake shore at the concept stage when George Carter first brought in The Preserve plan, but she was told then that it was not the time for discussion of such details but that this would be resolved at the detail stage. Geneva Middleton made reference to the new Public Shoreland Act which covers the removal of vegetation, drainage problems, or screening necessitated by urban development adjacent to public waters in the state. She stated that the Department of Natural Resources is required to promulgate standards for model shoreland management acts to be adopted by municipalities. The DNR is required to produce these standards by lanuary_1, 1974. Hess stated that The Preserve wants the public to control the lakeshore, thus the dedication of the 50 feet west of the 840 elevation. The Preserve feels that the possibility of a public pathway can be accommodated on this area and that the additional scenic easement west of the dedication will adequately protect the natural character of the lake. A work session with The Preserve is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. to walk the Basswoods area and the entire west shore of the Anderson Lakes, after which a discussion of the treatment of the area and the management objective for the park will take place. Hess also requested that the Commission consider a picnic at The Preserve Center on July 23 , 1973, at 5:30 p.m. at which time the revisions to The Preserve Center design would be discussed with the Commission, the Planning Commission, and the Council. The revisions presently being considered deal with types of facilities being planned and the uses programmed for the area. No action was taken. Hess will contact lessen about details and notifications will then be sent to all Commissioners and Council Members. 2. Edenvale South PUD Concept Plan. lessen distributed copies of the Edenvale South brochure and discussion will occur at the next Park & Recreation Commission meeting. 3. Gelco Corporation. lessen briefly reviewed the Gelco Development Proposal, which now calls for the dedication of 4 acres of land along the lakeshore and no i Park & Recreation Commission July 9, 1973 Page b Cother public open space area. He reviewed the planning staff report dated July 3, 1973, which suggested that the 4 acre dedication along the lakeshore was adequate, provided that the entire wet marsh area on the Gelco property also be protected in perpetuity, either through dedication to the Village or proper easement agreements between the Village and the landowner. Mr. Greenberg, representing Gelco, stated that they requested that the easement on this marsh area not be in perpetuity but'rather provide for a 5 year review, at which time Gelco could request modification of the easement. He stated that Gelco realizes they can't do anything with the marsh, but they would like to have this consideration so that they will be able to negotiate better with the Village at a later date and not have someone hold up the piece of paper and tell them that they have no position to negotiate from. ti Geneva Middleton again referenced the DNR standards to be drawn by January 1 , 1974, and asked that the Commission table this proposal until these standards are completed. She also stated that residents in the Anderson Lakes area feel that it is crucial that West 78th Street be closed prior to the opening of Gelco, were they to build on this location. Garens suggested that the Commission ought to be consistent with what The Preserve has dedicated along the Anderson Lakes and entertained a motion consistent with the dedication of 50 feet adjacent to the lake and the provision of an easement equal to an average of 170 feet in addition to this dedication. M/O'Ryan that the Park. & Recreation Commission recommend approval of the Gelco Concept Plan provided that a dedication of 50 feet back from the lakeshore and marsh area be made to the Village and that an additional 170 foot average be protected through the use of an easement agreement between Gelco and the Village, that this area of dedication and easement completely surround the wet marsh area on the eastern side of Gelco's property adjacent to the Pintail Point area of Anderson Lakes. There was no second to this motion. O'Ryan then amended her motion to accept the staff recommendation recommending approval of the concept tomah eg anning Commission and the Council with the dedication VA4 acres oiland along the lakeshore and the provision of an easement in perpetuity to the Village of Eden Prairie for the entire marsh and its adjoining slopes. S/Garens. Geneva Middleton suggested that this was a very inadequate open space provision through the area. Jessen indicated that it was in fact open space of nearly 12 acres as opposed to the approximately 8 acres presently zcned as open space on the Village Zoning Map. i Blacklock stated that the Park and Recreation Commission was not against Gelco Corporation in any way, but was for preserving the Park &.Recreation Commission July 9, 1973 Page 6 .. it natural beauty of Eden Prairie and for protecting in perpetuity, not just for 5 years, those natural features which are deemed to be significant, of which Anderson Lakes is one of those features. Upon a roll call vote,Fieldsvoted aye, Holasek aye, Boerger aye, O'Ryan aye, Blacklock no, Garens aye. The motion was declared passed, 5 to 1. 4. Hidden Ponds Revised Plan. Mr. Knutson, representing Ecklund & Swedlund, presented the revised plan for the Second Phase of the Hidden Ponds development. The major changes deal with the alignment of the parkway road running north/south through the project. The open space area being proposed includes the natural trailway existing along the abandoned railroad ' right of way and also provides an area of approximately 400 X 400 for field games and other recreational use. M/Holasek, S/Fields that the Park & Recreation Commission recommend to the Planning Commission and the Council approval of the revised plan. Motion carried unanimously. 5. Removal of trees on the Art Hyde Property on the western edge of the Ring Route. ressen stated that last Thursday afternoon, approximately 25-30 trees had been cut on this property. This action is inconsistent with the recommendations of the Major Center Area Task Force, and particularly with the Environment Sub-Committee and the Park and Recreation Commission recommendations that the entire slope be protected from land alteration in urban development. He indicated that it is apparent that Mr. Hyde wants to grade his property, using the stable material in the hill to fill the flood plain. Putnam indicated that the Village needs to review all of its land alteration ordinances to insure that we have the legal tools to carry out sound land use planning. These tools ought to include such things as a land alteration permit, tree cutting permit, etc. Blacklock expressed the Commission's concern over Mr. Hyde's action and suggested that the Staff do everything possible to halt any further alteration of the site. Fields suggested that perhaps a local environmental impact statement be required for any action which has a significant effect on the natural features of the Village. IV. ADIOURNMENT. M/Fields, S/O'Ryan that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously. \, AGENDA EDEN PRAIRIE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MONDAY, JULY 23, 1973 7:30 P.M., Eden Prairie Village Hall ROLL CALL COMMISSION MEMBERS: Chairman Marvin Erickson, Frances Blacklick, Dean Holasek, Richard Anderson, William Garens, Terry Fields, Janet Berkland, Rita Kooiman, Steve Eisch, Marge O'Ryan COMMISSION STAFF: Marty Jessen, Park and Recreation Director I. MINUTES OF JULY 9, 1973 MEETING. II. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: A. Minnesota Citizens Committee::Meeting — July 25, 1973, 7:30p.m. Eden Prairie Village Hall. B. Letter from Lower Minnesota River Watershed District. III. RECOMMENDATION§ AND REPORTS: A. Agency Liaison Reports. �_.. B. Eden Prairie Athletic Association Hockey Rink Bequest, C. Eden Prairie Jaycees — Round Lake Play Apparatus Concept. X,,, 1973 Summer Recreation Program Status Report. E. Development Proposal 1. Basewoods 2. Edenvale South 3. Southeast Eden Prairie Sector Planning IV. ADJOURNMENT, NOTE: The "Preserve" picnic will-be held later in the. summer. MINUTES PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION MONDAY, JULY 23 , 1973 7:30 p.m. , Village Hall ( MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chairman Bill Garens, Terry Fields, Rita Kooiman, Jan Berkland, Frances Blacklock, Dick Anderson, Dean Holasek. MEMBERS ABSENT: Chairman Marvin Erickson, Marge O'Ryan, Steve Eisch, Roger Boerger STAFF"PRESENT: Marty Jessen, Director of Parks & Recreation Chris Enger, Landscape Architect Dick Putnam, Village Planner 1 Also Present: Bill Bonner, Hustad Development Corporation I. MINUTES OF JULY 9, 1973 , MEETING M/Fields, S/Blacklock to approve the minutes of the July 9, 1973 , meeting as presented. Motion carried unanimously. II. PETITIONS, REQUESTS & COMMUNICATIONS. A. Minnesota River Citizen's Committee Meeting, July 25, 1973, 7:30 p.m. ( Eden Prairie Village Hall. jessen stated that the Citizen's Committee formed to study and promote the concept of a national wildlife and recreation area along the lower Minnesota River was going to be meeting this Wednesday at the Eden Prairie Village Hall. Fran Blacklock stated that she had attended the last meeting of this Citizen's Committee and that the thrust of the group was to promote legislation to establish this as a national wildlife and recreation area, whereby Congress would"appropriate money for the acquisition of the area. She stated that the . group W;6s very informally structured at this time but would be reviewing legislation to the effect of acquisition and also reviewing ownership and project'""boundaries at the Wednesday meeting. B. metier fta.'m the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District. jessen presented copies of and reviewed a letter from Mr. Casimer Lubansky, pre::i.den't of the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District Board of Managers, r indicating that the District has some $60,000 available for joint venture projects with municipalities in the District for the remainder of 1973. Jessen stated that he would be reviewing the Village's situation in this area and would be making the recommendation after the Wednesday night Citizen's Committee meeting. Park & Recreation Commission Minutes - 2 - July 23, 1973 III. RECOMMENDATIONS & REPORTS A. Agency Liaison Reports. lessen stated that Dick Anderson, Chris Enger, and himself had met with j Don Pennie and Al Gebhart from the Riley-Purgatory Creek Watershed District and with George Farnsworth and John Tietz from Brauer & Associates in the first steering committee for the Purgatory Creek Park Planning Study this past afternoon. Mr. Norman Stone is presently doing the naturalist study of the area to identify outstanding natural features along the creek. Other data is also being gathered and will be pulled together during the planning study during which time the open space corridor along the creek and uses within that corridor will be identified. B. Eden Prairie Athletic Association Hockey Rink Request. Mr. Steve Sopczak, head of the Eden Prairie Athletic Association Hockey Program, was present to talk about the association's need in terms of facilities for the upcoming season. He reviewed the EPAA hockey schedule for the past year which called for their using the rinks every day except Friday. The organization has seen a growth from 70 boys three years ago to an anticipated 150 for the 1973/74 season. These boys are in grades 2 through 9. The Association is also considering a speed skating program for both boys and girls this coming year. EPAA teams play against Richfield, Bloomington, Edina, and other surrounding communities during the hockey ( season. The hockey budget is approximately $6,000 per year of which $1,500 to $2,000 will be raised from registration fees. The limited population and the fact that it is disbursed over a large area are problems facing EPAA in the hockey program, according to Sopczak. Berkland asked what it cost to outfit a player. Sopczak responded that $25 for uniforms, which the EPAA paid for, plus some $50 on up for equipment for each individual player, and added that while this may seem high, some of the players on Edina traveling teams spend from $600-800 per year to participate in hockey. Anderson asked about the likelihood of the school district paying 50% of the cost of constructing the rink. lessen replied that the school so far has not looked on the construction of hockey rinks as an appropriate facility at elementary schools, thus this possibility had not been explored. M/Garens, S/Fields that the Park & Recreation Commission recommend to the Village Council that because of increased demand brought about by an increased number of participants and the desire to provide better service to the residents of the community, the Council should appropriate the funds for the construction of the third lighted hockey and free skating facility to be located at the Prairie View School Park. Motion carried unanimously. Park & Recreation Commission Minutes -3- July 23, 1973 Eden Prairie a Gees Round Lake Park Play A aratus Concept. C. CChris Enger presented a concept for the play apparatus that the Jaycees will be constructing at Round Lake Park. des Cc materials ones flexibleral materials to be used in the construction an P design which will enable the youngsters to have the in the concepttus is be different things at different times. One of the inclusion of a movable f the apparatus This would allowich would be of the for moving the various "lincoln log type of construction. components of the overall apparatus and to rebuild them based on the mood of the moment. Enger stated that the Jaycees had reviewed this concept and supported the design as presented. M/Holasek, S/Berkland that the Mo ion carried unanimously on approve the play concept as presented. D. 1973 Summer Recreation Program Status Report. lessen distributed copies of the report to the Commission and reviewed them briefly. Copy of report on E. Development Proposals. 1 . Basswoods. lessen reviewed the status of the Basswoods proposal fo The present g the Commission's field trip in the area a week ago Sunday. park boundary is 50 ft. from the 8t Oit in soion of the me placesAndnrso�her places, n Lakes with a scenic easement adjacent the 50 ft. dedication btae only oen space substantial problem. The Preserve has also along the lake* and this is viewed toe proposed that no use of the area by the public be permitted. lessen stated that he felt this was in conflict with the basic proposal of public ownership of the lake shore. He stated that,of the Anderson it area advisedhad him that to protect the wildlife habitat was essential that control of this area be exercise The Preserves in their presentationthrough the of a fence along the west boundary. of the concept plan forBasswoods , respond to been advised of thThe Preserve hhas also askA on and has failed to adequately Mr. Jim Robin, landscape architect, to conduct a study of this area. He has done so and has also indicated the need for control of natural environment. eoplen areas along the west shore while protecting theof the suggested that a fence be placed along the entire western boundary hose areas in park whereby the park permitted during various times of the manager/naturalist could control tyear. The Preserve which people were osing has taken a negative stand oen this issue d fais mily lot ownerstin the access not be limited to this area by the r private single am Basswoods, but that access to the area by the public be restricted entirely. recommended that no further action on the Ba sed on this impasse, lessen i 1 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes -4- July 23 , 1973 r Basswoods development proposal be taken until a study is conducted of this park area to determine the exact methods necessary to reach the Village's objectives in this area and a reasonable solution has i been worked out between the Village and the developer. Anderson stated that the Commission is very disploased with The Preserve's action in the Basswoods since concept approval was granted on the proposal. He stated that it is apparently an attempt by The Preserve to make private lakeshore out of the publicly dedicated land. and that this is definitely in conflict with Village objectives in the area. Enger stated that Don Hess from The Preserve called earlier in the day to say that The Preserve feels that the Village has changed their position from one of no control on the west shore to control of the area through fencing. Blacklock stated that this is not true, that when the Basswoods concept plan was presented the Village did make reference to the need to control access to the area from The Preserve and had in fact charged The Preserve with developing the plan to this effect. Anderson suggested that the Staff commence work immediately to develop exact wording for the scenic easement in The Preserve area and also in other areas of the community so that any future problems might be resolved before the point of final plat approval. M/Berkland, S/Fields that the Park & Recreation Commission and Planning and Zoning Commission and the Village Council take no action on-any Basswoods development proposals until the problem of control and land use on the west shore of Anderson Lakes is resolved. Motion carried unanimously. 2 . Southeast Eden Prairie Sector Planning Report Mr. Bill Bonner, representing Hustad Development Corporation, presented the preliminary Southeast Eden Prairie Sector Plan and reviewed the open space components of it. The plan was done in basically three steps: one was to identify the greenway systems which in turn would somewhat dictate transportation systems which would dictate together the land use decisions in the area. Major open spaces include the Anderson Lakes Regional Park, Neill Lake, Purgatory Creek, the Olympic Hills Golf Course, and Lake Edenvale. These determine the transportation systems because of the very limited potential for roadways through these unique features of the area. The Plan identifies four school/park sites: 1) the existing location in The Preserve; 2) a site presently owned by the School District in Edenvale South; and two proposed sites, one lying east of Purgatory Creek and one west of Purgatory Creek. Garens questions whether or not this was Park & Recreation Commission Minutes -5- July 23, 1973 adequate active play space in this sector of the community. He stated that he felt there was a place for an intermediate play area in the Sector �. Plan, also. These would be spaces between totlots and the school/park sites in a hierarchical structure of active recreation space. Anderson agreed and suggested that this component of the open space recreational system plan needed to be studied further. Putnam stated that he felt the Sector Plan was weak in this area and that the Village needed to take steps to acquire significant open spaces now so that we can preserve the option to develop school parks, active recreation spaces, community play fields, or natural open space areas at a later date. No action was taken on the Sectrr Plan at this point. pending a further analysis and study of the open space areas, particularly the major natural features plus the more significant active recreation locations within the Sector Plan. A. Prairie East Development Proposal - Hustad Development Corporation. Putnam briefly reviewed the Prairie East component of the Sector Plan, indicating that it had a high density with very little usable open space provided. He stated that he felt there were too many units for the amount of active recreation space. Bonner indicated that the plan was flexible and could include up to 10 acres of open space in combination of usable active recreation space and amenity open space. B. Olympic Hills P.U.D. Putnam briefly reviewed the Olympis Hills proposal which now calls for 9 houses in the middle of the golf course whereas 11 single family lots were planned previously. It also continues to promote multiple development along the east side of the golf course, including substantial development down in the low area adjacent to the course. The Staff has tentatively identified a deer corridor through the golf course in this low area and has suggested that no development occur on the steep slopes where the large single family lots are proposed. C. Edenvale South. Putnam briefly reviewed the Edenvale South P.U.D. and indicated that a major concern in this proposal was whether the school/park area was to be acquired through purchase or through dedication and whether or not Eden Land Corporation would give consideration to further dedication around the "Lake Edenvale" portion of the area. No action was taken on any of the three specific development proposals nor the entire Southeast Eden Prairie Sector Plan. The Staff will develop I Park & Recreation Commission Minutes -6- July 23, 1973 a report on each of these areas in light of the overall sector planning effort and will be included on the next Commission agenda. IV. ADJOURNMENT. M/Fields, S/Anderson that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously.