Attachment 13. Petition from Residents near Avienda developmentMayor Laufenburger and City Council Members,
We are a group of concerned residents who live near the proposed Avienda development on the SW
corner of Lyman and Powers Blvd. While we are very excited for the potential this development can
bring to our community,there are issues that we believe must be addressed. Below we have listed our
primary concerns and have also provided solutions that we feel will help guide the development into a
sustainable and desirable community asset,and not just what the developer wants. We appreciate your
time and effort in looking into our concerns and look forward to your response regarding their viability
and any suggestions as to how the solutions may be implemented.
Our first concern is the potential traffic on Bluff Creek Blvd and the safety risk for the current residents.
Bluff Creek Blvd interconnects the residential areas of Pioneer Pass, Liberty,and the Preserve at
Bluff Creek,which services local families and young children. Please note that there are about
120 homes in the Preserve at Bluff Creek alone,and multiplying that with the MN census
average of 2 children per household,that's 240 children in the immediate residential area along
Bluff Creek Blvd from one neighborhood alone. If connected directly to the Avienda
development without limiting through traffic,we are deeply concerned that Bluff Creek Blvd will
become very difficult for pedestrians to cross, and potentially unsafe to cross by children in the
neighborhood.
We are also concerned that the AUAR under-estimates the potential traffic increase since it
does not seem to take into account that Bluff Creek Blvd is the most direct route between
Avienda and to areas in the Southwest direction. Anyone traveling from the Southwest will use
this route instead of going around the"main" roads to Avienda. Please see the Google Maps
screenshot(at bottom)which automatically maps Bluff Creek Blvd and Dr as the fastest route if
you want to get from the corner of Pioneer Trail and Audubon Rd to the planned Southwest
entrance of Avienda. We already have an issue with individuals who don't reside in the
neighborhoods using Bluff Creek Blvd as a pass through to avoid traffic lights. With the planned
additional stop lights along Lyman Blvd, Pioneer Trail,and Powers Blvd,and the fact that Bluff
Creek will now be connected to something of interest for non-residents,we feel that pass
through traffic will become an even larger safety issue.
Solutions—We understand that Bluff Creek Blvd must be connected on the North side, but we
are concerned with the significant increase in transient traffic in the residential area by having it
be a direct path to the development area. Perhaps Bluff Creek Blvd could have its own
connection with Lyman Blvd by connecting it due north from where it currently terminates.
Avienda will then have its own access and exit which will not interfere with residents along Bluff
Creek Blvd. Another option is to discourage non-resident,pass through or transient traffic as
much as possible to and from Avienda. This could be done by restricting sections of Bluff Creek
Blvd to residential access only and closing it to through traffic,and/or making the connection
less direct for through traffic. The current traffic calming strategy of narrowing the lanes on
Bluff Creek Blvd at Pioneer Pass Park and using roundabouts do next to nothing on preventing
fast, pass through traffic. Please do not utilize this strategy as the only strategy for traffic
calming for the Avienda development. Finally,since there are many families and children who
cross Bluff Creek Blvd, please have the development focus on providing safe ways to cross this
street, perhaps through the use of a sequence of speed bumps,and providing a large median for
pedestrians to cross.
We are also concerned with the type of development the developer is planning based upon current
concepts for Avienda. We hold dear the natural landscape and beautiful scenery that exists around our
neighborhood and in the development area. We welcome a development which shares those same
values. However, looking at the proposed plans for Avienda,especially option A,we get the impression
that the developer wants to pave over this land to cram in as many building and parking lots as possible,
counter to the class and charm the residents,council members and Mr.Akradi have previously
encouraged.
Development option A does not fit with the image of Chanhassen which places priority on green
space and aesthetics. This option"pancakes"the entire scenic rolling hills and wetlands of the
current landscape in the development area. It also removes a far larger section of the forest
than was originally described in early project meetings. This area is found in the secondary zone
of the Bluff Creek Overlay and is part of the Big Woods habitat of what the DNR defines as old-
growth forest. Nearly all of option A's land use is allocated for large building and parking lots.
The proposal itself allocates 0%of the land to parks or green space.
We are concerned that the developer wants to create another"me too" big box experience. We
already have plenty of this type of development represented in the suburban area. Option A
tries to cram in as many stores as possible and doesn't create anything unique when compared
with other nearby cities and their offerings.
Option A favors large big box stores. Big box stores are struggling in today's online economy
and relying on these types of stores in the future does not make sound financial sense.
Solution—Preserve the wetlands and forests,and keep as much green space as possible so they
can be used as assets to create a unique experience for visitors. The retail economy has shifted
towards providing shoppers an experience such as locally owned stores,aesthetic and walkable
green open spaces(please recall previous city council meeting references to downtown
Excelsior). This unique experience is what will keep visitors returning to this development for
years to come,as well as promoting a sense of community for the residents in the nearby area.
Please support the development of something more like option B vs.option A,with an increased
focus on utilizing the topography while preserving and retaining local wetlands and old growth
habitat.
High density residential space
While we understand the need for additional housing we are concerned with how it's being
planned for execution. Looking at Option A,a large multi-story, high density apartment complex
would be right across the street from single family homes. This is a very jarring transition that is
just not seen elsewhere in the suburbs and appears to conflict with local planning ordinances
and city codes. Many residents along the border with the planned development are very
concerned with seeing parking lots,and large commercial and residential building towering over
their house whenever they look out the window.
We are concerned with the size/capacity of the proposed luxury high density residential
building. The Wall Street Journal,MSN money as well as other news sources have written about
how the demand for luxury rental has cooled and will continue to decline. Such a large building
may no longer be supported by the market.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/luxury-apartment-boom-looks-set-to-fizzle-in-2017-1483358401
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/luxury-apartment-boom-looks-set-to-fizzle/ar-
BBx0yNA
Solution- We would much rather see a transition from the existing low density housing to
medium density housing along the entire shared border between the existing residential area
and Avienda. Also,we would rather not have a high density residential space built, but if it is,it
should be moderately sized and should have placed with a good buffer between existing single
family homes. These are all aspects more reflected in Option B.
Hotels
We are concerned with having hotels being proposed in the development and having people not
from the community in such close proximity to a residential area as well as to the Chanhassen
High School.
We do not understand the need for additional hotel space in Chanhassen. We do see that there
is a peak in interest for Paisley Park. However,we should not be building permanent
establishments to accommodate for short term peak activity. We are doubtful that the existing
hotels in Chanhassen are at max capacity on a consistent basis and do not believe that the
market will support another hotel in the long run.
Solution—do not have hotels as part of the development. At minimum have the developer
provide vetted financial analysis that another hotel is sustainable and if one must be built, it
should be placed away from existing residential areas.
Sincerely,
Your fellow Chanhassen residents at the Preserve at Bluff Creek
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