PC SUM 2005 02 01
CHANHASSEN PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
SUMMARY MINUTES
February 1, 2005
Chairman Sacchet called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Uli Sacchet, Rich Slagle, Kurt Papke, Steve Lillehaug, Dan Keefe, Debra
Larson and Jerry McDonald
STAFF PRESENT:
Sharmeen Al-Jaff, Senior Planner; Josh Metzer, Planner I; Lori Haak, Water
Resource Coordinator; and Don Asleson, Natural Resources Technician
OATH OF OFFICE.
Chairman Sacchet administered the Oath of Office to Debra Larson.
PUBLIC HEARING:
REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT TO CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 75-2 TO ELIMINATE
THE HORSEPOWER RESTRICTION AT BOAT ACCESS #1 LOCATED IN LAKE
MINNEWASHTA REGIONAL PARK, APPLICANT CARVER COUNTY PARKS, PLANNING
CASE #04-37.
Public Present:
Name Address
James Johnson 2762 Piper Ridge Lane, Excelsior
Scott A. Smith Carver County PW Engineer
Martin Walsh Carver County Park
Kurt Papke 1131 Homestead Lane
Hud Hollenback 6330 Elm Tree, Excelsior
Arnold W. Hed 3860 Lone Cedar Lane, Chaska
Karen & Gary Peterson 3632 Hickory Lane
Judy Berland 6900 Minnewashta Parkway
B.J. Greer 2771 Piper Ridge Lane, Excelsior
Dean Barta 3637 Red Cedar Point Road
Commissioner Papke excused himself from the commission due to a personal conflict of interest. Josh
Metzer presented the staff report on this item. Chairman Sacchet asked for clarification to the findings in
the staff report. Marty Walsh with Carver County Parks, speaking on behalf of the applicant stated the
rationale for raising the amount of horsepower allowed for boats being launched at Minnewashta
Regional Park. Commissioner McDonald asked the applicant to elaborate on why the 10 horsepower
limit was established originally and clarification on possible dredging. Commissioner Slagle asked about
signage for the no wake zone. Commissioner Larson questioned closing down Access #2 and the number
of boats using Little Minne boat access. Marty Walsh reviewed the master plan update that was done in
2000 for Lake Minnewashta Regional Park. Chairman Sacchet asked the applicant to elaborate on
enforcement of the current and proposed regulations. The public hearing was opened.
Arne Hed, 3860 Lone Cedar Lane who was the Chairman of the lake study commission at the time this
double access was developed, provided some historical information on the decisions that were made.
Chairman Sacchet clarified Mr. Hed’s position that he was not in favor of raising the horsepower limit.
Hud Hollenback, 6330 Elm Tree, who has lived in Minnewashta Heights since 1971 provided additional
Planning Commission Summary – February 1, 2005
historical information on Lake Minnewashta Regional Park. His opinion is that bigger motors should not
be allowed in Little Minne. All boats should be launched at the other boat launch on the main lake. Gary
Peterson lives on Hickory Lane on top of the hill on Red Cedar Point. The property he lives on has been
in his family since 1922. He stated this is the only public access onto Lake Minnewashta, and access #1
is too shallow to launch some types of boats. He is in favor of increasing the horsepower and keeping
Little Minne as a no wake zone. James Johnson who lives on Minnewashta Bay stated he would strongly
oppose lifting the boat motor restriction to over 10 horsepower. Dean Barta, 3637 Red Cedar Point Road
stated his fundamental question is, how much more traffic can you allow on a lake that is pretty over
crowded already on any given summer day and concern over the environmental impact to Little Minne.
Kurt Papke, 1131 Homestead Lane in Chanhassen spoke as the current Chair of the Carver County Park
Commission. He elaborated on the issues of enforcement and that there’s a set of cascading dependencies
that come out of this decision. He reviewed the master plan that was established for this park. Marty
Walsh reiterated that the Carver County Park Commission did study this issue extensively in making their
recommendation. Dean Barta spoke again representing a newly formed Minnewashta Homeowners Lake
Association which consists of a new generation of lake owners and the movement towards making sure
Lake Minnewashta is as clean and as good 20 years from now as it is today. He asked if the launch area
on the big lake could be dredged to make it deeper and used as the primary launch site. Hud Hollenback
spoke again that he did not feel people would obey the no wake zone. B.J. Greer, 2771 Piper Ridge Lane
having spent a lot of time on Little Minne kayaking and canoeing says that the no wake rules have been
breached quite often. He expressed concern with closing that second boat launch and funneling
everything back through that pristine area. He suggested finding a third launch or fixing the first boat
launch. Chairman Sacchet closed the public hearing. After commission comments, the following motion
was made.
Lillehaug moved, McDonald seconded that the Planning Commission recommends approval of the
amendment to Conditional Use Permit #75-2, Section 6.04, Lake Access based on the Findings of
Fact with the following condition:
1. Carver County Parks shall contact the Department of Natural Resources before proceeding with
drudging of Little Minne Bay channel.
All voted in favor, except Sacchet and Slagle who opposed, and the motion carried with a vote of 5
to 2. (Kurt Papke did not vote due to a conflict of interest.)
PUBLIC HEARING:
REQUEST FOR WETLAND ALTERATION PERMIT TO FILL .11 ACRES OF TYPE 3 AND .01
ACRES OF TYPE 2 WETLAND FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENT OF TURN LANES AND
SIGNAL CONSTRUCTION LOCATED AT THE TH 101 AND CSAH 14 (PIONEER TRAIL)
INTERSECTION. APPLICANT CARVER COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS, PLANNING CASE NO.
05-07.
Lori Haak presented the staff report on this item. Commissioner Slagle asked staff to explain why the
mitigation will not be happening in the city and to clarify banking of wetland credits. Commissioner
Papke asked for clarification on the grade change to the side slopes or shoulder on the north side of
Pioneer Trail. Commissioner McDonald asked staff to clarify the statement that this is being done for
safety reasons because of the traffic and volume at that intersection, clarification with the location of this
intersection in relation to the new Highway 212 and future zoning. Scott Smith, Highway Design
Engineer with Carver County stated he was more involved with the application for BWSR and with the
City itself than the actual design which is being done by MnDot and their transportation department.
Chairman Sacchet opened the public hearing. No one spoke and the public hearing was closed. After
commission discussion, the following motion was made.
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Planning Commission Summary – February 1, 2005
Papke moved, Lillehaug seconded that the Planning Commission recommends the City Council
approve Wetland Alteration Permit #05-07, subject to the following conditions:
If not addressed in the condemnation proceedings,
1. the applicant shall request the City grant a
conservation easement release prior to clearing and grubbing the site.
2. The applicant shall work with the property owners to obtain additional right-of-way prior to
proceeding with the project.
3. All wetland impacts shall be mitigated through the BWSR Road Replacement Program in
accordance with State law.
4. Proposed erosion control shall be developed in accordance with the City’s Best Management
Practice Handbook (BMPH). Type II silt fence shall be used adjacent to the existing wetlands.
Silt fence shall be installed between wetland impact areas and the remaining wetland.
5. Tree preservation fencing shall be installed at the limits of tree removal.
6. Erosion control blankets shall be installed in all areas with a steep slope of 3:1 and an elevation
drop of eight feet or greater.
7. All exposed soil areas should have temporary erosion protection or permanent cover year round,
according to the following table of slopes and time frames:
Type of Slope Time (Maximum time an area can
Steeper than 3:1 7 days remain open when the area
10:1 to 3:1 14 days is not actively being worked.)
Flatter than 10:1 21 days
These areas include any exposed soil areas with a positive slope to a storm water conveyance
system, such as a curb and gutter system, storm sewer inlet temporary or permanent drainage
ditch or other natural or man made systems that discharge to a surface water.
8. Street cleaning or soil tracked onto public streets shall include daily street scraping and street
sweeping as needed.
9. The applicant shall apply for and obtain permits from the appropriate regulatory agencies (e.g.
Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (NPDES
Phase II Construction Permit) and comply with their conditions of approval.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Keefe noted the summary and verbatim minutes of
the Planning Commission meeting dated January 18, 2005 as presented.
Chairman Sacchet adjourned the Planning Commission meeting at 8:40 p.m.
Submitted by Kate Aanenson
Community Development Director
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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