Letter from Dean Carlson 1-28-05
City of Chanhassen
7700 Market Blvd.
Chanhassen, MN. 55317
Attn: Planning Department
January 28th 2005
Subdivision application for: Hidden Creek Meadows
Topic: Water shed cross section
Planning Department:
The recent request for a cross section of the watershed from Lake Minnewashta
through Hidden Creek Meadow, Hidden Creek Estates has been completed to
the best of our ability as documented here by Ryan Engineering.
The Minnewashta Lake HWL of 944.5 and W.L. of 942.1 was clearly established long
before our application for subdivision this area. The box at Minnewashta Parkway is
at a 942.19 flowing into the wetlands behind Kirkwood Circle where the home elevations
clearly show the homes built to within 20 feet of a 944.5 contour which would present a
high risk for these homes. It seems likely that over the years, these homeowners have
encroached upon the creek by clearing rear yard spaces that are located within the
ordinary flood plain and the 944 contour.
The box at Hwy 7 is at 939.85 and was only extended 6 feet by Mn. Dot. with no change
to the elevation during the recent renovation of Hwy 7. Our engineer has provided
hydraulic calculations for the water effects on the proposed subdivision area. If a pre-
existing problem exists in this upland area south of Hwy 7 it is clearly not an issue for
the developer to resolve. The Box approved for Hidden Creek Estates is at 938.5 and thus
we have proposed our box at Pipewood to be at that same 938.5 elevation in keeping with
the cities prior approval. The City of Chanhassen had engineering work done for through
an independent company I believe is named "Bonestroo" ant their work may need to be
looked at again as part of the City of Chanhassen' s obligations to the area residents.
The homeowners at the last meeting clearly have personal concerns that would appear to
be confirmed for high water years based on the location of the 944 contour in their lots.
But, these owners may need to address this issue with the prior owners for false or
misleading seller disclosures at the time of their purchase. Steve McSherry purchased his
home at 6571 Kirkwood on May 29th 2003 and Rick Hueffmeier purchased 6551
Kirkwood on May 2 2002, I believe both of these years to be below normal rain fall.
The annual rain falls would effect any owner's perceptions and cause one to believe that
there is a direct correlation to these developments and the renovations to Hwy 7 in 2003
The rains of 2004 would have created quite a dramatic visual effect on their back yard
areas, which I would propose are normal and have occurred in the years prior to their
purchases. Lisa and John Jordan at 6541 Kirkwood have owned since 1993 and are
concerned about tree losses, these issues may be due to old age or the improper
placement of new trees within the 944 HW contour during low water years since their
purchase. A visit from the city forester may help the city better understand their concerns.
Vic Moravec also purchased in 1993 at 3821 Linden Circle and describes changes from 2
foot to a 4 foot width with the creek. I have no doubt that the creek has expanded during
these high water periods as it has for many years prior to today. Vic did not voice
concerns of water consuming his rear yard because his elevation and distance from the
944 contour is greater than the homes on Kirkwood.
I hope this research and information gives a more detailed summary of these homeowner
issues and there relevance to the effects these projects have on the area. We hope that our
efforts have given the City the peace of mind needed to proceed with approval at our next
scheduled planning commission meeting on February 15th 2005.
Thank you all in advance for your timely consideration of this information and all your
efforts to help us resolve these issues.
Dean Carlson
Development Manager
D & G of Chanhassen, LLC.
7820 Terrey Pine Court
Eden Prairie MN 55347
952-949-4715