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Parks and Recreation - 05/17/1999 May 17, 1999 MINUTES C PARKS RECREATION & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 1 t yi �- AGENDA j PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,MAY 17,1999 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS i COMMISSION MEMBERS: Richard Brown,Chair.Frantz Corneille,Claire Hilgcman, 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. ROLL CALL II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA III. APPROVAL.OF MINUTES-May 3. 1999 IV. PETITIONS REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. 1`L= V. DF.V .L_OPMENT PROPOSALS A. Oakvicw Office B. Lincoln Parc VI. OLD BUSINESS A. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. M= V111. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF A. Reports of Manager Parks and Recreation I. Round Lake Playground and IX. ADJOURNMENT i APPROVED MINUTES PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,MAY 17,1999 7:00 PM CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMISSION: Richard Brown,Chair;Claire Hilgeman,Frantz Corneille, Don Jacobson,Vicki Koenig,Glenn Siular, John Wilson STUDENT COMMISSION: Ben Christian Robert A. Lambert, Director Parks and Recreation Services; Stuart A. Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources; Laurie I-lelling, Manager of Recreation Services;Rita Maiser,Recorder 1. ROLL CALL i Don Jacobson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Chair Brown was not present. I1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Hilgeman asked to amend the agenda to include an update on the transplantation of apple trees from Eden Orchard. Jacobson asked to amend the agenda to include clarification on cash park fees on the ADC Telecommunications Development Proposal, i MOTION: Stolar moved,Corneille seconded. to approve the agenda as amended. These issues will be addressed under Old Business. Approved 4-0. f ; 111. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-Maya 1999 f Kocing and Corneille were now present. There was discussion of the minutes in regard to the ADC Telecommunications project cash park fees. Commission members felt that l the minutes did not reflect the amount of the concern they had regarding the fees being omitted from the staff report recommendations. Fox said he had information on the cash ?f park fees,which would be brought up under old business. f Stolar wanted to correct his statement on page three, in the second paragraph of the second motion to read: "Stolar said that if the City is waiving the fees, and the commission doesn't know about it, he is concerned". Koenig wanted to correct the sentence in the discussion section of the second paragraph under the first motion to read: "Koenig brought up the possibility of an amendment being added to the motion stating that the appropriate cash park fees be paid by the developer, and discussion ensued." i I i I I t t l Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission May 17, 1999 Page 2 Koenig asked to amend the last sentence in the second paragraph on page two to change the word"meadow'to"sedge meadow". MOTION: Stolar moved to approve the minutes as amended. Wilson seconded. Approved 5-0. Hilgeman abstained. IV. PETITIONS REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. None V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS A. Oakview Office The proposed development site is on 3.76 acres located along Golden Triangle Dr near Nine Mile Creek. Steve Michaels presented the proposal in behalf of the developer, which includes a 32,000 square foot building. The commission 4 approved a similar landscape plan in August 1998. Tree loss is 34%,or 31 trees, with mitigation of 280 inches of landscaping material consisting primarily deciduous trees. The tree loss calculations include Outlot A, which has been dedicated to the city. The Planning Commission has reviewed and approved y waivers to the shoreland setback code in regard to Nine Mile Creek. Discussion: Stolar asked if the setback variance is the same as granted for the previously proposed Normark project. Fox said that the Normark project was approved with a 70 foot setback, while this proposal has a 75 foot setback from the creek. Koenig asked where the willows would be located. Michaels said they would be by the NURP pond. Koenig asked where the building would set in 1 relation to the hill,and what would be done on Outlot A. Fox said the slope of j the hill is 70 feet,and there will be no grading or disturbance of Outlot A. 1 Jacobson questioned the percentage of tree loss calculated in the staff report, as the figures do not appear accurate.The report states tree loss at 34%,but said his } calculation is 42%. Koenig said she read somewhere in the report that tree loss was 44%. Fox said the 34% may a typing error, and that when the Andcor '�"1 development was proposed,the tree loss was 44%. 1 a MOTION: Wilson moved to accept the Oakvicw Office proposal as i recommended in the May 11, 1999 Staff Report. Corneille seconded. The motion was approved 6-0. B. Lincoln Park The proposed development is on 4.83 acres located at Eden Road and Singletrcc Lane. The land is owned by the city and is a part of the Market Center Planned I� a' Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission May 17, 1999 Page 3 i Unit Development. Jack Brandt of Hartford Financial presented the plan, which includes 186 apartment homes, and 20,000 square feet of commercial,office, and small retail space. The building will be four stories with 2 levels of underground parking. Buildings will be stucco and brick in a traditional style. He said the neighboring retailers support the plan to bring housing to the downtown marketplace. Fox said the land is being zoned from rural to commercial. There will be a significant tree loss of 502 inches, with 400 inches of required mitigation. Mitigation that will not fit on the site will go on the adjacent city- owned sites. Storm water discharge will drain into the existing NURP pond and into Purgatory Creek. Staff is recommending a sidewalk along Eden Road. Discussion: Koenig is concerned about the landscaping plan, and the amount of tree loss. Hilceman said there is "a lot of building for the lot size". She questioned the amount of 40% impervious surface in a Shoreland area. Koenig questioned building so close to Lake Idlcwild. Fox said the Shorcland district is within 1,000 feet fiom the body of water. Stolar noted that the building would be 475 from the lake. Fox said the shoreline setback is 200 feet from the lake, so no variance is needed. Drainage will not go toward the lake, it will go through the NURP pond near Bachman's. Koenig expressed concern about the tree loss and the 290-inch mitigation. Fox said staff is working with the developer to come up with a plan. Hilgeman said that from a natural resources perspective, she doesn't believe this is the best use for this site. She asked"if this is the best we can do on this 4.38 1 acres". She is concerned about the atnount of concrete,the loss of trees, and the proximity to the lake. Fox said the site is guided for Regional Commercial use, and this proposal does meet the guide plan. Kocing asked Brandt about the affordability and the rental range of the apartments. Brandt said the rental range is about$915 to$1,600 per month,and an affordability component can be added. Jacobson said that the development waivers requested are"way above code". He asked if this was normal, and stated that he thinks these waivers are"way out of bounds". Stolar asked if the tree mitigation plan was the best that could be done. Comicllc pointed out that the mitigation will be met by planting on city property. MOTION: Corneille moved to approve the Lincoln Park development proposal ' with the staff recommendations outlined in the May 11, 1999 Staff Report. ' Wilson seconded. Discussion: Corneille believes this is a great plan to mix commercial and residential. Stolar said he is philosophically opposed to mitigating tree loss by putting trees off the site, and this sets a precedent for future developments. Fox said the plan calls for planting trees where they will last. The motion was approved 5-1 in favor of the proposal. Hilgeman voted against, stating that the amount of tree loss was unacceptable, there was too much impervious surface, {( and it was too close to the lake. I Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission May 17, 1999 Page 4 VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Transplantation of Apple Trees from Eden Orchard Hilgeman reported that there are 10 to 20 apple trees that are being donated for transplantation into the meadow area near the Cummins-Grill House. She has been in contact with the Heritage Preservation Committee and the Eden Prairie hlistorical Society who say there is a historical basis for saving the trees. She said ` there has been some concern that the commission members arc opposed the transplantation idea. Fox said the city position is not to have fruit trees in the city parks,due to their high maintenance and other concerns. The cost to transplant 10 trees is about$1,000. Stolar suggested that the Heritage Preservation Committee should be put on a future agenda for further discussion. Fox said that lie would bring back information to the Commission at the next meeting. i A. Cash Park Fees for ADC Telecommunications Development i Fox reported checking into the reason why cash park fees were omitted from the staff report regarding the ADC development proposal. Commission members were very concerned why the park fees were not being charged in this case. Fox I said because the development is zoned industrial, cash park fees were not i appropriate. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. None VI11. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF A. Report of Manaeer of Parks and Recreation 1. Round Lake Plavaround Fox presented several options for providing ADA accessibility to the play area. Option A would have rubberized surfacing for access around the t swing sets. Option B would put the rubberized access through the center of the swing set area. Another option, plan C, would be placement of bollards on the trail to slow down trail traffic. Options A and B add about $7,000 to$10,000 to the cost of the project. Moving the trail will cause loss of pine trees. The staff recommends plan C. if traffic is not slowed enough by the bollards,the trail could be rerouted in the future. Discussion: Corneille is concerned about parents having to monitor children using swing sets on one side and play equipment on other side of the trail. Wilson said the balusters could become an interesting obstacle I 1 � i Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission May 17, 1999 Page 5 course for bikers and skaters. Fox said moving the path would cost about $10,000., and that the bollards should work in slowing down traffic. Another option is to use benches, landscape design, and signs indicating entrance to the play area. MOTION: Hilgcman moved to approve Plan C for the Round Lake Park Playground renovation with signs placed at the entrances of the play area. Cornicllc seconded the motion,which was approved 6-0. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Wilson moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m. Stolar seconded.The motion was approved 6-0. C