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1986 06 03 Park and Recreation Commission Minutes June 3, 1986 . A regular meeting of the Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by the Commssion Chairman, Mike Lynch. Com- missioners attending the meeting were Mike Lynch, Wallace McKay, Charlie Robbins, Susan Boyt, James Mady, Curt Robbinson, and Mike Rosenwald. Staff present were Lori Sietsema and Don Ashworth. Residents present were: Greg Datillo, 7201 Juniper Avenue, Chanhassen, MN 474-0065 Ed Hasek, 6570 Kirkwood Circle, Chanhassen, MN Tom Heiberg, 3725 South Cedar, Chanhassen, MN 474-2466 Wayne Fransdal, 6200 Murray Hill Road, Chanhassen, MN 474-4857 Mike Liddicoat, Carver County Park Director, Chaska 448-3435 Sherri Mickelson, Chaparral Robbins moved to approve the Park and Recreation Commission min- utes of May 6, 1986. The motion was seconded by Rosenwald and carried unanimously. Red Cedar Point Homeowners Request for Trail Along Minnewashta Parkway Sietsema began by saying that the Red Cedar Point Homeowners were requesting the City to look into the feasibility of constructing a pedestrian trail along Minnewashta Parkway. The residents in that area feel that there is a growing number of people who are jogging and biking along the road which is not always safe due to the narrow width, curves and hills. These residents have signed a petition stating this request. . Greg Datillo stated that in 1982 a boy was nearly killed on this road. He said that the 124 signatures on the petition clearly shows that the people in the area want such a trail. He said that at this point they were only asking that a feasibility study be done that would outline the costs of such a project. Ed Hasek said that the population in Chanhassen is on the rise and is generally people with young families. These people are the Baby Boomers who like to jog and bike and Minnewashta Parkway is not a good linkage road. The road is deteriorating, has no curbs and has lanes only 12 feet wide. He said that the road will need upgrading soon and the trail should be done at the same time. He said that the third issue is that there is little park space on the west side of Lake Minnewashta and the residents are in favor of this being their neighborhood park. Tom Heiberg said that he agreed that the population in the area is growing. He reiterated that the road was deteriorating and that the time was right to look at a feasibility study. He said . that many joggers wear the headsets with music playing and are not always aware of their surroundings which creates a dangerous situation. . . . Park and Recreation Commission Minutes June 3, 1986 Page 2 Boyt said that she was in favor of sidewalks and off-street trails, rather than adding extra width to the roads, although she has been told that costs are prohibitive. Lynch asked who maintained this road. Staff said the City. DattilIo asked if different plans could be developed that could be taken to the residents. McKay said that there should be an overall trail plan for the City. He suggested that such a plan be developed that would discuss the different kinds of trails i.e. off-street, on-street, wood chip, bituminous, etc. This type of plan would provide cri- teria to identify trails and to prioritize. Hasek said that he sat on the park board in Mound and when a street project went in, trails were also constructed. He said that they were here to prevent an accident. He said that they would like a timetable of how this item would proceed as they have been asked to report to the residents. Sietsema said that she would send them a copy of the minutes and let them know when this item would be reviewed again. McKay moved to authorize staff to prepare a proposal for comple- tion of a feasibility study for a comprehensive trailway system in Chanhassen. The motion was seconded by Boyt. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Lynch said that he would like to see what the consultant suggestions of what the plan should include. Chaparral Homeowners Proposal to Purchase Additional Totlot Equipment for Meadow Green Park Sherri Mickelson was present to discuss a proposal to purchase tot lot equipment for Meadow Green Park. She said she had reported the Commission's decision regarding Meadow Green Park totlot equipment to the Homeowners Association. The Association felt the need for additional equipment was immediate and has pro- posed to purchase up to $500 worth of equipment and are requesting that the City install and maintain it. Sietsema said that the equipment purchase should be reviewed by staff and the consultant to be sure that it will be consistent with our future plans. Mickelson said that staff could order whatever fit with the plan and bill the Association. Robinson moved to accept the purchase of up to $500 in totlot equipment from the Chaparral Homeowners Association and to authorize staff to install and maintain it. In addition, he moved that staff should work with the vendor to get equipment Park and Recreation Commission Minutes June 3, 1986 . Page 3 that will be consistent with what we have. McKay seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Minnewashta Regional Park Request to Allow "Group Reserved Camping" Mike Liddicoat, Park Director for Carver County, attended the Park and Recreation Commission meeting to discuss the request to consider a variation of the Master Park Plan to allow "group reserved camping" in non-designated areas. Liddicoat began by saying that the County Park Commission is asking the City of Chanhassen for advice. He said that the Minn- ewashta Regional Park Master Plan was put together by the City, the County and the Metropolitan Council in 1982 and that the plan designated an area within the park for "group reserved camping". This type of activity involves an organized group, such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or church groups, requesting a permit allowing them to camp in the park. The master plan spells out what group camping is and identifies an area for such. Liddicoat said that although the master plan allows for group camping, the designated area is not ready for such use. He said that he felt the City may want to be part of this decision as to . whether or not to allow this activity at this time. Lynch said that he did not feel this was a decision to be made by the City, but by the County, as they would have to handle it. Ashworth pointed out that it is a conditional use permit and the City Council did review the Master Plan before it was adopted. He said the Council would be looking for a statement from this group as to whether this should be allowed to take place. Lynch said that it was his opinion that this request be denied until the area designated for group camping is ready. Boyt asked what would have to be done to prepare this area. Lid- dicoat said that it would have to be forested. Robbins asked what the disadvantage would be to allow this request at this time. Liddicoat said that basically the disad- vantage is that the area is not ready and another area would have to be used, and extra satellites would be rented for that area. Mady asked if approving this request would set a precedent for any future requests, even if the County did not want to allow a certain group in. Liddicoat said that he could not think of an undesirable group. McKay asked what the County wanted to do. Liddicoat said that they were unsure. Their first thought was to approve the request . but then thought they should get Chanhassen's input. He said the County Commission is in support of the request, but wanted to know the City's opinion. . . . Park and Recreation Commission Minutes June 3, 1986 Page 4 Boyt suggested having the group pay for the extra satellites. Lynch suggested they have the group (a Boy Scout group) work on the undeveloped area, as these campers are supposed to be a working group. McKay summarized by saying that the concept of group camping has been approved in the master plan but the area identified for this type of activity is not yet ready and the park director does not have a problem with finding an alternative location for group camping. He stated that allowing this group to camp in an alternate location sets a precedent and it will have to be allowed in the future. He said that he felt this was not the City's jurisdiction, but the County's. Liddicoat said that the County makes the final decision but were seeking advice form the City. Rosenwald said that if it would be 10-15 years before the designated area was ready, he would be in favor of finding a tem- porary location. Robbins moved to endorse the "Order of the Arrow" Camporee at Minnewashta Regional Park on September 7th, 8th, and 9th and advise the County to explain to the scouts what the basic rules of the camps site are. McKay seconded the motion. Robinson said that there had been two points made in Mr. Liddicoat's letter; if we approve this request, should this type of activity be encouraged or does the City only approve of this specific Boy Scout Camporee request?; and if the City approves of and encourages this type of camping, does the City want to review each request? Lynch said that he did not feel this Commission should be recommending something that we have no jurisdiction over. Robbins said that this was not a recommendation but an endorsement. Ashworth said that the action that the Commission will be taking is a recommendation to the City Council. We do have a con- ditional use permit with them in the master plan and the master plan designates areas for specific use. What you will be doing is to modify the master plan to show an alternate area for "group reserved camping" for a specific amount of time. Robbins amended the motion to read as follows: the Commssion recommends the approval of modifying the Minnewashta Regional Park Master Plan to allow "group reserved camping" in non- designated areas on an interim basis at the discretion of the County Park Commission. The motion carried unanimously. The Park and Recreation Commission had questions regarding where park monies were receipted and how accounting was carried out for expenditures. Don Ashworth was present to review both the 1985 Audit Report as well as 1986 Budget. The 1986 Budget review included current operating expenses, i.e. park maintenance, park Park and Recreation Commission Minutes June 3, 1986 Page 5 . and recreation administration, and self-sustaining programs. Also reviewed was the detailed budget which includes the capital improvement funds of the City, i.e. South Lotus Lake Boat Access, Lake Ann Boat Access, Park Acquisition and Development Fund, etc. The Park and Recreation Commission thanked Mr. Ashworth for being present. Chanhassen Vista Site Plan Review Don Ashworth, City Manager gave a brief history of the Chanhassen Vista development proposal. He said that at the last meeting the Park and Recreation Commission had authorized staff to proceed with an appraisal of the value of the sloped area to determine whether it was feasible to purchase the property. Ashworth explained that staff will do that, however he wanted to explain the impact of what the taking of those slopes will have on the developer. Ashworth said that the state statutes allow the City to request a reasonable portion of a development to be dedicated for park/open space purposes. The problem is determining what is reasonable. . To the developer, the taking of the sloped area in this case pre- sents a hardship as it eliminates a number of his lots. The courts may deem this to be unreasonable and request that the City compensate the developer for the lots lost. Ashworth explained that establishing a conservation easement along the slopes may achieve the same purpose as acquisition. He suggested that the Commission consider and easement. Rosenwald asked what the easement would entail if the City should decide to go that way. Ashworth said that it would restrict the use of the slopes to a degree set by the City. Restrictions could include structures, dumping, application of chemicals, etc. Mady said that he would be interested in seeing how much the property was worth to see if the City could afford it, before going for the easement. The Commission generally agreed to let their last recommendation stand until a fair market value was determined. Chanhassen Hills Site Plan Review Sietsema said that the Commission reviewed this proposal at the sketch plan stage of the application process. At that time the Commission recommended that the City accept the dedication of a 5 acre parcel for active park purposes and the open space along the north and west sides of the development. The Commission also . recommended that a trail easement be obtained along the lake and off the center cul-de-sac on the west side, and that the street easement be widened for pedestrian purposes on the street shown . . . Park and Recreation Commission Minutes June 3, 1986 Page 6 as Lake Susan Drive in the current plan. The recommendation included that the City negotiate with the developer a fair reduc- tion in park dedication fees for this land donation. The City Council reviewed the Commission's recommendation and felt that 5 acres of active park land was insufficient for this size development. They asked the developer to increase the size of that parcel to at least 7 acres in the final plan. The Council accepted all other recommendations made by the Commission. The final plan includes a 7.8 acre parcel for the active park area. This area includes a ponding area, which leaves enough space for a regulation size ballfield, two tennis courts, a small parking area, and a tot lot area. Sietsema said that these faci- lities are sufficient for neighborhood park purposes as this will not be used for organized leagues. Rosenwald moved to recommend that the City accept the following for park/open space purposes: - the 7.8 acre parcel along the proposed Highway 212 alignment - the wetland area along the west side of the development - an easement off of the cul-de-sac shown as Barbara Court - a pedestrian easement along the south side of Lake Susan In addition, Rosenwald moved to recommend a wider street easement for the street shown as Lake Susan Drive, and that staff be authorized to negotiate with the developer for a fair reduction in park dedication fees. The motion was seconded by Mady and carried unanimously. Robinson moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m. The motion was seconded by Boyt and carried unanimously. Prepared by: Lori Sietsema Park and Recreation Coordinator