Letter from City of Shorewood 03-11-2014CITY OF '
SHOREWOOD
5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD • SHOREWOOD, MINNESOTA 55331=8927 • (952) 960.7900
FAX (952).474-0128 • www.d.shorewood.mn.us • cityhaII@ci.shorewood.mn.us
March 11, 2014:
Kate RECEIVED
Community Development Director
City of.Chanhassen MAR i 20I4,
7700 Market Boulevard
P:0 Box 147 CITY Of CHANHASSEN
Chanhassen', MN . 55317
Re Proposed Boulder Cove Development
Dear Ms. Aanenson:.. '
Shorewood has received notice regarding a.development application for the. proposed Boulder
Cove. This project is locatedimmediately south of our common city. boundary,'and roughly
centered on the intersection of West 62nd Street and Strawberry Lane.
This matter was presented at the February 24, 2014 meeting of the Shorewood City Council' and
we, heard comments from City staff and area residents who addressed the Council. The Council
forwards this letter as its comments for Chanhassen's public. hearing,,
pow scheduled for April 1;
2014.
As with our review of the 2006 proposal for this same property, the two most significant
concerns Shorewood has at this time are drainage-and traff c/cireulation in the area. As we
mentioned, in 2006" the area in question is poorly drained and characterized by heavy clay soils
and a high water table. The Shorewood Oaks development to the north of the subject property-
has a verysensitive drainage system that will not.support additional, storm water runoff. While, it
appears that the developer has,recognized this issue and:has designed his project to drain to the
south, drainage remains a concern.
Traffic and circulation are undoubtedly our greatest concerns. Boulder Cove will be served by
West 62nd Street; which lies mi half in Shorewood and half Chanhassen, and by Strawberry Lane.
Both of these are relatively,narrow local streets. Strawberry Lane, which leads directly north to
the Minnewashta Elementary School, is narrow_ at 22 feet,. with no sidewalk. This route has
considerable pedestrian traffic to and from the school. The Fake Minnetonka LRT Regional
Trail also crosses Strawberry Lane and area residents walk to Cathcart Park along West 62nd
Street.'
,41
.4110 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER-
Re: Boulder Cove Development
1.1 March 2014
Page two
The traffic_ concern is compounded -by the developer's proposal to build its "NextGen" housing
product which, on its face appears to simply be two-family residential homes, in whieh.case the
potential exists for 62 units, rather than 31
In addition to these significant concerns, our staff has identified several other issues. .
1: The proposed intersection with Strawberry Lane and West 62nd Street should be a "T".
2. .The name "Strawberry Court" has already been used on a Shorewood street about two
blocks to the north:
3. Shorewood should• request that the water main serving the project include an
interconnection to the Shorewood system on Strawberry Lane.
4. It appears that the developer has paid particular attention to drainage on the site.
Shorewood asks that there be no increase in' runoff volume to the north:
5. hi light of the density question raised above (31 units vs. 62), Shorewood requests that a
traffic study be prepared, evaluating the effect of as: many as 62 units on the local streets
(Strawberry Lane and West 62nd Street). .
6. 'West 62"a Street should be upgraded to City standards. This street lie's in both
Shorewood and Chanhassen.
. Thirty onehomes (potentially 52 units) are a:lot of homes to be served by one very long
- (1200 feet) cul-de-sac. 'Staff has examined this, but does not expect that MNDOT would
allow an access directly to Highway 7, especially consideringthe short distance to Church
Road.
8. Chanhassen is its own LGU (Local Government Unit) for purposes of storm water
management. We expect that the City will require a long-term. maintenance agreement
for the proposed drainage facilities.
We are concerned that the development as proposed will have. an undue impact on local streets in
the area. Your residents on Church,Road may share this concern. `We also trust that Chanhassen
will work toensure a project that complements existing development in the immediate area.
Thank you for your attention to our concerns.
Sincerely,
CITY OF SHOREWOOD
Scott Zerby .
Mayor
On behalf of the Shorewood City Council
Richard Woodruff
Laura Hotvet
Debbie Siakel .
Kris Sandberg