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Parks and Recreation - 09/15/1986 -. .- .. �.'. �.� .__•., .J� _i;�' ,.s iJ<i.r...!�'� ._ :i (. ..(�I�.:. �'.jl U. .,..... k Ar It� J / rN �'+ I 1986 SEPTEMBER 15 MINUTES CITY OF EDEN PRAIDIE APPROVED MINUTES ( EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Monday, September 15, 1986 7:30 p.m. , School Board Room COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Breitenstein, chairperson; Bud Baker (late), Moe Cook, Karon Joyer, Brian Mikkelson COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Gary Gonyea, Charles Shaw COMMISSION STAFF: Bob Lambert, Director of Community Services; Rick Bolinske, Athletic Coordinator I. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 7: 30 p.m. by chairperson, Pat Breitenstein. .I II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Joyer moved to approve the agenda as mailed. Mikkelson seed the motion and it passed 4-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - AUGUST 18, 1986 MOTION: Cook moved to approve the minutes as mailed. Joyer seconded tzMe motion and it passed 4-0. IV. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS None V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS I A. Weston Bay Refer to memo dated September 11, 1986 from Bob Lambert, Director of Community Services and staff report dated September 5, 1986. Lambert reviewed the four main issues relating to parks, recreation and natural resources. They are: request for shoreland setback and lot line with variances, grading in a heavily wooded area, pedestrian system and impact on community park. Staff recommends removing the 52, wide frontage on Lot 6, Block 1 and readjusting other lot lines to meet the 150, setback that is required. Lots 7, 8 and 9 could be realigned to meet the 150, minimum width and Lot 10 could be increased to a minimum of 1001 . The developer would meet the 150, setback on all lots with the exception of Lot 14. Staff recommends this lot meet a minimum 751 setback. t , APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Sept. 15, 1986 -2- Staff also suggests a 75, easement be provided. No removal of trees larger than 6" in diameter would be allowed and no construction within the easement is to be done. It would not prohibit removing brush and undergrowth or maintaining a lawn. All buildings' should remain outside the 150, setback. Regarding grading on the site, Lambert said 360 caliper inches will be lost and to replace this would require planting 90 4" caliper trees. Most of the trees would be planted along the fence for screening purposes. A 51 concrete sidewalk is proposed along the southern right-of-way of Weston Bay and will connect to the pathway system in Miller Park near the boat launch. It will also provide access to the sidewalk along Timber Lakes Drive which also leads to Miller Park. The major concern of this development and Miller Park is the type of screening that will be required on the north. The developer should be aware of the impact a park of this type will generate, both with the amount of traffic and pedestrian use although the City will provide landscaping on the park side to reduce impact. / Lambert introduced Dan Herbst of the Pemton Company. Mr. Herbst reviewed the location of the development south and east of Mitchell Lake and west of Timber Lakes Drive. The original plan was for 60 townhomes. This has been changed to 24 single family lots and a road off Timber Lakes Drive to serve these homes. Herbst showed the 150, setback and normal high water level on the concept plan. Herbst also pointed out the tree line noting that the area is heavily wooded. Lambert added that staff recommends eliminating lake access on Lot 6, Block 1. Cook questioned Outlot A and the reasoning for the amount of setback on this lot. Herbst said this area will be developed as a private park which will connect to Miller Park. Lambert said staff feels the revised plan is much better than what was originally approved since all frontages will be a minimum of 100' . Herbst added that Outlot B may be turned over to the homeowners association to the north and they would maintain it. Baker said he is concerned with the lake access being so close to private homes. Lambert said when Miller Park is developed, there may not be as much of a problem, but since there will be a public access so close, there is always the potential for it. ' I •. � fir..., I' APPROVED MINUTES l EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Sept. 15, 1986 -3- Herbst said they have had similar experiences on Lake Minnetonka. Violators had reminders put on their cars and some were ticketed. The problem has almost been eliminated. Cook asked how far the fence runs. Herbst showed its location on the map. Cook asked why it stops there. Herbst said the road makes a sweep up to the fourth lot and it was felt more fencing would not be necessary. Mikkelson said if there is not going to be fencing between the public and private parks, how will people be kept out of the private park? Herbst said signs will be erected and will be enforced. Lambert said it will be difficult to enforce. Cook asked if picnic areas are planned in the private park. Herbst j said that a boat landing and picnic area is planned. Mikkelson asked if any thought was given to the possibility of locating the park in a more centralized location. Herbst said it was felt that this area should be kept to one side on the cul-de- sac to make it easier to launch boats, etc. Mikkelson said it looks like the trail system will lead into the C private park. Herbst said the trail does not go through, but r rather leads to an outlot. Cook asked if people would be more likely to leave their canoes stored here or bring them in. Herbst said if there is a place to lock them up, they might leave them. Cook questioned the use of Russian olives to be used along the fence for screening purposes, as Russian olives do not have a long life. Herbst said they will be mixed with evergreens and will be used because they are fast growing. By the time their life span is over, the evergreens will be grown. MOTION: Cook moved to recommend approval of Weston Bay per staff report subject to the realignment of lots and minimum 75, setback on Lot 14. Baker seconded the motion and it passed 5-0. B. Wilson Ridge 2nd Refer to staff report dated August 22, 1986. Lambert introduced Bill McHale of Ryan Construction. Mr. McHale reviewed the development which is located on 17.19 acres southwest of Flying Cloud Drive and Valley View Road. The proposal is for a nine story 209,000 square foot office building to be used mainly as world headquarters of Wilson Learning. �. lo APPROVED MINUTES C EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Sept. 15, 1986 -4- Lambert said the hill located to the southwest will be left and the building will be built into the hill. The Planning Staffs main concern is the traffic impact which this commission does not become involved in. Lambert added that the grading impact still retains the hill to the south and there will be pedestrian access. He recommends approval. Cook asked about the reforestation plan on the 2:1 slopes east of Computer Depot and Flying Cloud Drive as discussed in the staff report. McHale said this will be done by Wilson Learning with no problem. MOTION: Baker moved to recommend approval of Wilson Ridge 2nd per staff report. Mikkelson seconded the motion and it passed 5-0. VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS, BOARDS AND STAFF A. Reports of Commission Members 1. Off-Road Vehicle Study Committee - Brian Mikkelson Mikkelson said the committee has met three times and are here tonight to present their plans. He introduced the members of the committee: Bill Turner, Pete Loscheider, Mike Bosacker and Captain Clark. Captain Clark said that a three phase approach is being recommended. They are education awareness, prevention and enforcement; limitation of designated areas within the city by way of adopting appropriate city codes; and elimination of ; snowmobiling and other off-road vehicle use throughout the city. There is no time frame for each phase and the majority of the committee's time was spent on phase one. The Eden Prairie Snowdrifters have volunteered to support and administer several awareness/educational programs and the Public Safety Department will provide their support. Mr. Turner distributed copies of a map showing snowmobiling areas in Eden Prairie. A new map will be prepared in the near future. Turner said that all trails north of Hwy. 5 will be eliminated. A mailing which has been prepared by Public Safety will be mailed in early October along with the new map and rules. This mailing will be sent to all registered snowmobilers in the cities of Eden Prairie, Chanhassen and Minnetonka. Baker asked if letters would be sent to snowmobilers in Bloomington. Turner said the list of names had to be purchased and they could get only 2500 names for $175.00. It would take another $200.00 to get the names from Bloomington. APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Sept. 15, 1986 -5- Mr. Loscheider discussed the training program for youth which includes classroom instruction and an actual test on the machine after which a permit is given. He added that there will be articles in the Eden Prairie News with a map and list of rules included. Lambert noted that the City has updated the city base maps. Turner asked that they be made larger and Lambert said this would not be a problem. Sever Peterson was present at the meeting to express his concerns regarding snowmobiling. Peterson's main concerns involve the hours that the snowmobiles run, the fact that most of them do not stay on the trails, the use of alcohol and the question of speed and liability. Peterson is also concerned with the soil erosion that is caused when the snowmobiles run on a small amount of snow. He suggested that only local residents be allowed on the trails and that snowmobiling begin a in mid December. Peterson is also concerned with the safety of wildlife and enforcement of snowmobile rules. He said that he has had good cooperation from the Eden Prairie Snowdrifters and feels most violators are from out of town. Brett Hope, representing Lynn Charlson, asked if violators could be ticketed. Captain Clark said this is possible, but violators are difficult to apprehend. Breitenstein asked if the Off-Road Vehicle Study Committee will be meeting again soon. Mikkelson said they had not planned to, but because of the information that was brought up at this meeting, they would meet again. Lambert commented that state grant money is used to groom the snowmobile trails and in order for this to continue, the City could not restrict the trails to residents only. He added that he does not know of a way in which hours can be controlled and that it would be difficult to keep people off their snowmobiles until the middle of December. Lambert said that the City of Eden Prairie has been the administrator for the Southwest Trail System for the past several years. He recognizes the problems that property owners are experiencing, but he feels enforcing both the hours and dates snowmobiles can be run would be almost impossible. Baker said he thinks that there should be a statement added at the top of the rules list about the possibility of losing snowmobiling privileges in Eden Prairie. He also felt it was important to get a list of registered snowmobilers in Bloomington, as there is no snowmobiling allowed in the City of Bloomington and Eden Prairie would be the obvious choice. i APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Sept. 15, 1986 -6- Cook said he feels it would be a good idea for the City to make people .aware of the penalty for disobeying these rules. He asked what the penalty is for a misdemeanor on a snowmobile. Captain Clark said a judge has the right to set the penalty, but the maximum penalty is a $700.00 fine and 90 days in jail. Cook asked if it is possible to patrol parking areas where the snowmobilers frequent and check for registrations, etc. Captain Clark said this is a possibility. Mikkelson said it should be emphasized to snowmobilers that these rules will be enforced and this should possibly even be brought across in a rather threatening manner. He also suggested that the statement currently at the bottom of the list of rules be moved to the top. Although he didn't know if it was possible to pick your own headline for the newspaper, he felt that something like SAVE SNOWMOBILING IN EDEN PRAIRIE would be a good headline for the article. Mikkelson told Peterson to call Public Safety whenever he has problems with snowmobilers. Brett Hope asked if snowmobile citations could be included in the police report in the paper. Captain Clark said that the Eden Prairie News generally takes what they want, but they do have access to the reports. Breitenstein thanked the members of the Off-Road Vehicle Study Committee for the fine job they have done on this project. MOTION: Baker moved to recommend acceptance of the three phase p ain as noted in the Off-Road Study Committee report dated September 10, 1986 and the implementation of Phase 1 as discussed. Phase 1 also includes the mailings to be done in October and the articles in the Eden Prairie News. The committee will report back to this commission at the second meeting in January with the results. Cook seconded the motion and it passed 5-0. B. Reports of Director of Community Services 2. Edenvale Trail Update This is an information item only. Lambert reported that this item was tabled by the City Council until their October 7 meeting. He reviewed the petition for the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) to do an EAW or an EIS. Mr. Carlson wants to determine that a nature trail will not be / detrimental to the area. Residents from this area have met . ( a I'. APPROVED MINUTES ` EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Sept. 15, 1986 -7- twice and will meet again with staff to review the options. Lambert will report the outcome of this meeting at the next commission meeting. 2. Park Bond Referendum Committee Update This is an information item only. Lambert said that minutes of the September 9 meeting were included in the packets. The next meeting is set for September 23. Concept plans for the expansion of the Community Center and Miller Park will be reviewed at this time. 3. Status of Park Development Projects Refer to memo dated September 8, 1986 from Bob Lambert, Director of Community Services. This is an information item only. Breitenstein noted an error on Page 3 of the memo which states that the trail system in Red Rock Park was completed in the summer of 1987. This should be changed to 1986. C. Report of Superintendent of Recreation 1. Fall Recreation Programs Summary This is an information item only. D. City Council Meeting Report There was no report. VII. OLD BUSINESS A. Staring Lake Park Equestrian Trail and Equestrian Trail Standards Refer to memo dated August 16, 1986 from Bob Lambert, Director of Community Services. Lambert said that he had notified the Eden Prairie Horsemen by letter of the problems with trails, but received no phone calls. There were no representatives of the club present at the meeting. Lambert reviewed the request by the Eden Prairie Horsemen earlier this year to improve the condition of the present trails and provide additional access points to the trail system. After 1 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Sept. 15, 1986 -B- walking the trail in early August, staff determined that the existing trails were unmaintainable by the City and that there was no way to have an equestrian trail and a bike/pedestrian trail in this park, as much of the trail corridor is too narrow. After checking standards in other areas, Lambert suggests that the present trails be eliminated. Baker asked if the equestrian trails in Eden Prairie should be discussed now or at a later date. Lambert said he doesn' t feel that there are enough people involved in riding to spend a great deal of money to provide trails at the cost of trails that serve everyone. Baker said we should at least find out where the trails are "' located. Cook said he questions whether this commission should express a concern over the trails. If the Eden Prairie Horsemen are concerned about trails, they should come to the commission. MOTION: Cook moved to recommend that the equestrian trail around Staring Lake Park be eliminated. Joyer seconded the motion and it passed 5-0. VIII. ADJOURNMENT C MOTION: Joyer moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. Cook seconded t1 e motion and it passed 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Lois Boettcher Recording Secretary t