Loading...
1985 05 07 ~ ~ e Minutes Park and Recreation Commission Meeting May 7, 1985 Members Present: Mike Lynch Brian Foltz Joe Warneke Tom Schoenecker Wallace McKay Members Absent: Charlie Robbins Mike Rosenwald Staff Present: Lori Sietsema Barbara Dacy visitors Present: Peter Beck The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by Commission Chairperson Mike Lynch. Minutes Brian Foltz made a motion, seconded by Joe Warneke, to approve the minutes from the April 9, 1985 meeting as submitted. The motion carried unanimously. Hidden Valley Site Plan Review Brian Foltz opened the discussion by saying that the facilities in the Chanhassen Estates and Hidden Valley area are inadequate. He also stated that the problems will only be intensified when Highway #5 is widened. He noted that he felt staff's recommen- e dation was unacceptable. Mike Lynch gave some background to the item by explaining the water problem in Rice Marsh Lake Park. He pointed out that with the Hidden Valley development the number of homes served by that park would double. Lynch talked about taking out the ballfield completely, filling in the center area and putting in a tennis court. It was noted that the ground in that area would probably never support a ten- nis court. He then suggested moving home plate back, thus extending the outfield. Foltz added that the residents have also asked for a half court basketball court. He said that parking in the existing park is a problem. Foltz expressed concern for these needs being met now as once Hidden Valley is completed there will be no place else. If anything is to be done, he said, it must be done now. Tom Schoenecker stated that the neighborhood has a ballfield facility, although it is not the best, many neighborhoods do not have ballfields at all. e Lynch asked Barbara Dacy if the whole Hidden Valley plat would be graded all at once. If so, the City could ask them to grade a site for a neighborhood park at the same time. ~ e e e ~, Park and Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2 Dacy said that a the plan called for a minimum amount of grading, and that the houses would built in to the existing topography. She also noted that the the flattest portion of the site was within the commercial area, thus the most expensive. She said that the Planning Commission has approved that portion to be used for commercial use. Lynch stated that it was highly unlikely that the City would acquire a new site for ballfields, thus the problems would have to be solved by renovating the existing ballfield. Schoenecker made developer for at a tennis court. recommendation: a motion to recommend that City Council ask the least one acre of land to construct a tot lot and The Commission also noted the reasons for this 1. Rice marsh Lake Park is not adequate in size and the amount of improvements that can be made are limited. 2. The existing totlot in Rice Marsh Lake Park is too far from the Hidden Valley development. 3. The accessability of Rice Marsh Lake Park is not adequate. 4. The population of the area will require more facili- ties to be available. The motion, seconded by Brian Foltz, carried unanimously. Eckankar Site Plan Review Peter Beck, Attorney for Eckankar was present to explain the pro- posal of the Eckankar development. Eckankar, a religious orgnaization, prints and publishes reli- gious material for the members of their organization. They have purchased 175 acres of land between Lake Ann Park and County Road 17. Eckankar's administrative campus development includes 2 buildings in the middle of 100 acres. The north 25 acres and the south 50 acres will remain undeveloped. The administrative building will be 400 feet from the east edge of Lake Ann, and the other will be 150 feet from the County Road 17 right-of-way. Only portions of the buildings, if any, will be visible from the lake or road. e e e ~ Park and Recreation Commission Minutes May 7, 1985 Page 3 Mr. Beck stated that almost all tree cover will be left in tact as they are trying to disturb the site as little as possible. He also stated that the 175 acres will be farmed, left as prairie grass, and then landscaped as developed. Lynch asked how much of the 175 acres would pay park fees. Mr. Beck said that it was yet to be determined, and that actual devel- opment would take place on approximately 20 acres. staff indicated that, similar to the Electro-Craft case, the City Manager and an Eckankar representative would meet to agree on an amount of acreage for fees to be paid. Foltz made a motion, seconded by Warneke, to recommend that the City accept park dedication fees in lieu of land and the amount be determined by City staff. Motion unanimously approved. Plocher-Geske site Plan Review: sietsema presented the proposed 18 unit townhouse development located on the west side of Lake Minnewashta on the old Leach's Resort site. sietsema explained that the townhomes were set back approximately 175 feet from the lake and the lake front would become a beach- lot. She also noted that the Park and Recreation Commission did not take action to acquire any of this property when it was up for sale. However, the Commission was required to make a recom- mendation as to whether the City should accept park dedication fees or land. Susan Albee from the Planning Commission suggested that the city acquire enough property to support a tennis court. Warneke noted that the City did not want to finace a private park. Lynch asked staff to look into land around that area that would support a ballfield. Schoenecker asked staff to look into motor restrictions on Lake Minnewashta. McKay moved, seconded by Foltz, to recommend that the City accept park dedication fees in lieu of parkland. Motion unanimously approved. Foltz asked if the Commission could visit that area of the City at their next meeting to identify potential parkland. The Commission agreed to meet at City Hall at 6:30 p.m. on June 4th. Bloomberg site Plan Review Sietsema presented the Bloomberg site plan. The plan surrounds the proposed South Lotus Lake Park/Boat access. She explained that the land swap between Bloomberg and the City was an even .~ e Park and Recreation Commission Minutes May 7, 1985 Page 4 trade and therefore did not satisfy park dedication for his pro- posed development. Because parkland will be in existance within the development, Sietsema recommended that the City accept park dedication fees in lieu of parkland. Schoenecker moved, seconded by Foltz, to recommend that the City accept park dedication fees in lieu of parkland. The motion carried unanimously. Sietsema presented the final South Lotus Lake Park plan explaining the changes since the Commission last saw the plan. The Metro Waters Task Force required the City put in handicapped parking on the lower portion of the site near the boat access. To date the Park and Recreation Commission had not recommended approval of the plan, and was required to do so before it went to the City Council. Sietsema also suggested that the Park and Recreation Commission direct staff to prepare a landscape plan to accompany the site plan when it goes to the City Council. e Schoenecker moved, seconded by Foltz to recommend approval of the South Lotus Lake Park boat access plan, and to request that staff prepare a landscape plan that addresses the resident's con- cerns. Motion unanimously approved. Foltz moved, seconded by Lynch to adjourn the meeting. Motion unanimously approved. Respectfully submitted, Lori Sietsema Park and Recreation Coordinator e