4. Lake Lucy Access CITY OF
CHANHASSEN
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41/440r:
' 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317
(612) 937-1900
' MEMORANDUM
TO: Don Ashworth , City Manager
' FROM: Lori Sietsema , Park and Recreation Coordinator
IDATE: October 19 , 1989
SUBJ: Lake Lucy Access
As directed by the City Council , I am placing this item on the
agenda to review the access options , the status of the cleanup
project , and determine the City ' s course of action .
The City Council directed staff to pursue the possibility of the
' City taking over the Lake Lucy portion of the cleanup project.
The EPA has discussed this possibility in-house and has rejected
the idea . They said that an access will be required on each lake
of the chain for funding to be approved .
Meanwhile , the DNR has offered to construct a temporary access
through Greenwood Shores Park . Such would include construction
of a gravel drive that would hug the northeast boundary of the
park , four parking spaces , and a concrete ramp to the lake at no
cost to the City . This would allow the City to determine the
amount of use an access on Lake Lucy would receive before
expending any funds on property and construction elsewhere .
The owners of the other properties considered , Dirks and
Christensen, have been in a suspended state as they wait for the
City ' s decision on an access location . Mr. Dirks has had other
offers for his property and is anxiously awaiting to hear of the
' City ' s intentions .
As you know, the EPA has decided to divert the bulk of the funds
for this project to other projects. They have shown their sup-
port of the project by allocating enough money for the Watershed
District to complete the second phase of the work plan so that a
future grant can be applied for . Any future application would
' not be considered unless the access issue is settled.
To put this issue to bed, the Council needs to respond to the
DNR ' s offer to build the temporary access at Greenwood Shores and
relay the City ' s intentions to the Dirks and Christiansens . As
staff sees it, there are two courses of action :
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I , 0 .
Mr. Don Ashworth
October 19 , 1989
Page 2
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I 1. Do nothing until the Watershed District indicates their
intentions to reapply for the grant. The consequences of
this option would be that fewer access alternatives may be
available in the future.
I2 . Decide upon an access site at this time so that such can be
in place if and when funding is pursued.
IManager 's Comment
It would appear a majority of City Council members have pre-
viously stated their opposition to a boat access in Greenwood
I Shores Park recognizing existing policies and potential dangers
to neighborhood children. Without assurances that grant monies
will be available, the City does not have funds to acquire the
I Dirks or Christensen properties . Staff would recommend that we
be instructed to notify the Watershed District, EPA, PCA, DNR and
property owners of these positions.
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im STATE OF
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DNR INFORMATION 500 LAFAYETTE ROAD • ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA • 55155-40
(612)296.6157
' September 12, 1989
Don Chmiel , Mayor
City Hall
690 Coulter Drive
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Dear Mayor Chmiel :
' I appreciated the opportunity to meet with you last week to discuss the Lake
Lucy project.
' The Commissioner suggested we find some "middle ground" to assist you in solving
your problems with the proposed access. In order to get the lake improvement
project moving and to meet the EPA requirements the Department of Natural
' Resources would agree to design, construct and pay for an access on the
southeast side of the lake in the city park. The access would contain 4
car-trailer spaces, one single concrete plank ramp and a turn around area
similar to the one in the city's feasibility study. We would also agree to
' consider this a temporary access until such time as the city would develop
another access on Lake Lucy sometime in the future in a better location. The
advantages of this proposal are that there would be no initial cost to the city,
the city could enforce regulations and maintain the site as part of their park,
the access would be temporary until a better solution is found and the water
quality project could move forward.
Whether or not an access to Lake Lucy is constructed under the water quality
project it will still be a priority for DNR's long range goals for access. I
have enclosed the DNR's latest sounding (Spring 89) which shows about 90 acres
' of open water.
I hope this proposal will help you in your access deliberations.
trul •
' Paul T. Swenirector
Trails & Waterways Unit
' Enclosure
cc: Joseph Alexander, Commissioner
' Ray Hitchcock, Assistant Commissioner for Operations
Mike Markell , Supervisor, Water Recreation Section
Mark Tomczak, Pollution Control Agency
Duane Shodeen, Fisheries Supervisor
Larry Shannon, Director, Fish and Wildlife Administration
Del Barber, Regional Coordinator, Trails & Waterways
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
7/38
CITY OF r `
cHANBAssEs -,
qtA,,
690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317
(612) 937-1900
Plea nc I-e N j hoe roc
MEMORANDUM
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TO: Don Ashworth, City Manager m■ , 0'r'e, 5 0`vI � v1 PC 1� +n� W�:� 1
FROM: Lori Sietsema, Park and Recreation Coordinator)
DATE: September 29, 1989
' SUBJ: Lake Lucy Access Update
' I have been working with DNR and MPCA to determine the feasibility
of the City taking on the clean-up functions on Lake Lucy. As
discussed in the attached-rtiemo dated September 8, 1989, this is
an alternative to providing access on Lake Lucy.
As the clean-up fua'ictions on Lake Lucy and the timing of such are
' critical to the verall Lake Riley Chain of Lakes Clean-up
Project, DNR emed the logical agency with whom to contract.
Duane Shode of DNR Fisheries has estimated the cost of the fish
' kill, res cking and winter aeration system to be $53,000.
Befor this alternative is selected, approval will be necessary
fro MPCA and EPA. Mark Tomasek of MPCA met with Don Roberts of
' his week. Mr. Roberts indicated that this alternative could
not •e approved as the entire project provides overall benefits to
_ - Lucy.
' I also talked with Bob Obermeyer this week who also had meetings
with Mr. Roberts. Bob indicated that Mr. Roberts is seriously
' considering reallocating the funds for this project to other pro-
jects. Mr. Roberts said that the funds have been sitting too
long and that the project was not advanced enough to be ready to
spend funds soon - even if access was in place. He said that the
' Watershed and/or the City could reapply for a grant when
everything is in place. However, any future projects funded will
require larger local participation (25% to 50% ) . Bob felt that
' Mr. Roberts would make a decision on this within the next two
weeks. He suggested that the City not take any action regarding
access until the decision is made one way or the other.
In light of the above, I did not schedule this item on the
October 9, 1989 City Council agenda. I will keep you updated if
any action is taken by any of the parties involved.
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