PRC 1989 06 13
.3
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 13, 1989
,......
Chairman Mady called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m..
MEMBERS PRESENT: Sue Boyt, Jan Lash, Jim Mady, Ed Hasek, Larry Schroers
and Dawne Erhart
MEMBERS ABSENT: Curt Robinson
STAFF PRESENT: Lori Sietsema, Park and Rec Coordinator
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Hasek moved, Boyt seconded to approve the Minutes of
the Park and Recreation Commission meeting dated May 30, 1989 as amended on
page 28 by Jan Lash to change the word "timers" to "timbers" and on page 10
by Jim Mady to include Lori's response to the question concerning whether
the money can be used anywhere other than Herman Field. The answer should
read, the money is availabe only at Herman Field. All voted in favor of
approving the Minutes as amended and the motion carried.
APPROVE PLAN FOR LAKE ANN PARK PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND AUTHORIZE PURCHASE.
Lash: This is now $546.00 over budget?
~Sietsema: Right. This change would bring this, let me just back up a
3econd. At the last meeting you directed staff to revise the first phase
of the plan that was proposed to include swing sets. What we've done is
shown free standing swing sets in the corner. The same ones that were
attached on Phase 2. Put them in the corner and as Jan noted, it would
bring the amount to $10,546.00. That would be roughly $550.00 over budget.
Hasek: We knew that that was going to happen when we started playing with
numbers.
Sietsema: Right and there's probably $500.00 to play with in there.
Mady: We didn't have to expand the play area at all?
Sietsema: No.
Lash: So then is this going to reduce the budget for next year then by
$550.00 that we're taking from next years?
Sietsema: Well the way our budget is, we're not down to exact dollars
anyway so there is a buffer built in there that $500.00 isn't going to blow
us out of the water. If it came back over $1,000.00 or $1,50~.00, then we
would need a budget amendment and that would mean that we would have to
take something out of something else but for $550.00, I think that will be
in there.
,r-.rJash: So are you planning on just swinging this, once you put the next .
~hase in, you're just going to swing this thing around so it connects like
it was shown before?
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 2
....""
Sietsema: No. It would stay free standing and that probably works out
better because it gets it further away from the slide and the kids running
around and that kind of thing. I think it ends up being a better design.
Hasek: The thing that I like about it is the fact that now you can't crawl
off of the structure onto the timbers of the swings. My kid would be up
there. I can tell you that's the first place he would go. The highest and
most...place to be so I guess I'm in favor of the redesign of the
structures.
Schroers: Have we looked at this, is it north or south?
Sietsema: It could be laid out in any direction.
Hasek: The one comment I would have that I've seen before, I was out at
Rebecca one day and they've got this huge tin slide out there south facing
and there was a little girl that slid down that thing and by the time she
got to the bottom, there was nothing left of the back of her legs. So if
here's any chance that we can make it so that the tin slides face either
east or north. I think there's probably enough space out there that they
could probably lay it out any way that they want to.
Boyt: I had talked to Jim a little bit about a different design that's in
this book. Interconnecting ramps and walkways. If you have little kids
you know they like to run around and around and around whatever they can -'
find. Whether it's running from the dining room, living room to the
kitchen. We could do a ramp plan...something like that so it's all inter-
connected and they could go around and around and around. I would like to
see something different up there. Something that is unique. On page 19 it
shows that there is the possibility of connecting things. That's a
handicap play area. I'm not interested in one that's 3 feet off the ground
but it shows that you can do something. If we did this, it would delay
putting the playground in by a couple weeks. 4 weeks?
Sietsema: I can't get it on the next agenda because the next agenda is
packed so it would go on the agenda the first meeting in July. Then if we
ordered it the very next day, it takes about 6 weeks to get here after that
and then whenever they can get to putting it up but it can probably be in
place for fall softball season. I doubt it if it would even be there for
softball tournaments but we've got the equipment that's existing and we're
not going to take that out until this comes in so it's not like we'll be
void in that area all together.
Lash: Is that something we could do with Phase 2? Have these chain walks
and make that something that would connect.
Boyt: We could redesign the whole thing that .part of it is Phase 1 and
part of it is Phase 2.
Lash: But like right now with Phase I, they've got the clatter bridge...
-'
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 3
,.....
3oyt: The chain walk and vertical ladder. I'm talking about maybe not
having those there.
Hasek: Or they would have to be below whatever we put above them.
Boyt: Right. Something they could walk or crawl through.
Hasek: Let's just take a quick look at what we've got and see how
different that would be. If we did put something over the top of the,
what's it called?
Lash: The chain walk in the middle?
Hasek: The chain walk I see. What is this over here?
Lash: Those are the...monkey bars.
Hasek: Alright so we'd have to have something go over that. Now we've got
56 inches. I see 29. This would have to tie into the 70 right? That
would leave us, yes but if we have to go across over to here. It would
have to corne over to this 70 in order to make a connection and it would
have to tie into this 70 over here right because that's all got to be 70
inches high.
~oyt: No, you know what? You can have them going at angles. There's that
~ornelia Park in Edina that they've got them going up a little bit.
Sietsema: So you've seen this type of thing at another park?
Boyt: Yes. At Cornelia Park yesterday.
Hasek: But if we design it we don't have to maybe change Phase 1 cost at
all. It will only change Phase 2 cost I guess is what we're thinking. This
bridge that goes over, the clatter bridge, that could stay exactly where
it's at right?
Boyt: Yes.
Hasek: Alright so then it's a matter of connecting this 42 at this end to
something maybe at 70 up on this end?
Boyt:
want.
This is also something that we told the guy who designs this what we
He can sit down and do this.
Hasek: I guess what I'm wondering is if there's anyway we can get off of
this first phase. Leave it in place the way that it is and then just go
ahead and have him work with what we've got left.
Boyt: I think with different options, how tall is this?
~asek: This is 26 or 28, whatever that is. See I think we go over the top
Jf that and that could tie into this 70 over here again. The question is
if there is enough distance between 42 and 70 for the kids to crawl through
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 4
there. That would be a crawl space through there and they could tie this .-,
across then maybe at an angle or this would be the chainwalk.
Boyt: It could be a tunnel at an angle or it could be...
Hasek: You bet. It looks to me like we might be able to leave Phase 1 in
place and aren't some of these pieces, it's a matter of having some place
to attach them. You can raise and lower them if you want to. Yes, I don't
think there's anything wrong with thinking about something for those kids
to run around there but I also don't think it has to affect the first
phase. I'd rather get going on this first phase. Leave it in place and
just tell him to work with it and then we'll make any alterations we have
to.
Sietsema: Would you be available to meet with him and myself. His name is
Dave Owen and just so we make sure that we're getting the same ideas
relayed to him and then to come up with a revised plan.
Mady: He is a landscape architect, Dave Owen?
Sietsema: Yes, I think he is. He's with Earl F. Anderson.
Mady: Can we move on this item pending the plan being adaptable? If staff
finds that Phase 2 can't adapt to this as we've discussed, then we would
have to bring it back.
Hasek: Why don't we do this. Why don't we see if there's any major
alterations to the overall plan that are needed to accommodate that. If
it's a matter of a platform here or there, that's okay.
....."
Boyt: But otherwise, you all think that this is an acceptable thing?
Hasek: Sure. As long as it's not rigid. As long as it's not a flat
circle.. If there's a little bit up and down that they can play in, that
would be great with me. I guess I'd just like to move to approve phase 1
with some discussion between Lori and Dave Owen of Earl F. Anderson on
accomplishing, I'll call it racetracking. The connection of all of the
parts with some sort of a walking structure.
Lash: Second.
Hasek moved, Lash seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission
recommend to approve Phase 1 and direct staff to change Phase 2 to include
the ramps and bring it back to the Commission if major changes are needed.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Sietsema: So basically you want to approve Phase 1 and direct staff to
change Phase 2 to include the ramps and bring it back if major changes are
needed.
Hasek: Sure. I think he might even be able to suggest some other things
that might make connections in there but I think you know what the concept ~.
is that we're trying to accomplish.
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 5
I"'"
DISCUSSION OF BATTING CAGE AT LAKE ANN PARK.
Sietsema: At previous meetings staff was directed to talk to the owners of
the home that's surrounded by Lake Ann Park and TH 5 regarding the batting
cage that's being proposed out there as to whether they would be for it or
against it or whatever. I talked to Mrs. Noderman and she said she had no
problem with it at all. There was a buffer with the garage between their
home and where it would be placed and she didn't see a problem with it.
Then I talked to Dale to find out if he would be able to install it and
construct the poles that we had talked about and for $600.00 he says he
would just go ahead and order it. He can't really do it much cheaper when
you put in the cost of his labor and that kind of thing and besides that,
he wouldn't get to it until next fall or winter because that's an indoor
project. Then I asked him if it would be possible to move the structure,
the frame from Lake Ann to Lake Susan in 2 years when the ballfield at Lake
Susan is ready because we're going to want all of the baseball stuff at
Lake Susan at that point in time. He said that he did not see how it would
survive the move. They're cemented in and he didn't feel that it would, he
said either buy another one and put it out there or else wait to do it. So
as I noted in the report, the best case scenario is that the field at Lake
Susan will be done in 1991, ready for use. If we do the batting cage, my
suggestion is to either do two, one at Lake Susan and one at Lake Ann or
just wait to do it at Lake Susan. I talked to Dwayne Alseth also who is
here regarding the Babe Ruth. He's one of the coaches and it was his
""""'feeling that he didn't feel it was worth the money to do it now if we're
going to move it or try to do dugouts or anything else. He said we'll just
use the field as it is until the baseball field is ready at Lake Susan and
then we'll have everything that we want and they were willing to live with
that. So I guess given that, my recommendation would be to not take any
action on this item at all for this year and schedule it for 1991 with the
Lake Susan project and we can just include it in that project at that time.
Amend that plan to include a batting cage.
Hasek: Would they still be willing to participate in the cost of that next
year? I thought there was some comment made that they had the money now
and they needed to spend it.
Sietsema: I don't think that we can count on them. They may be willing
to. They may have the money but I don't have that assurance from them.
Hasek: Did you talk to Dale at all about the possibility or did he mention
the possibility of putting the sleeves...
Sietsema: No, I didn't talk to him about that.
Hasek: What the additional cost would be because you can set the sleeves
at the same time you set the posts...
Sietsema:
r"".
Schroers:
meantime,
I don't know what the cost would be on that.
I would say if CAA has the money and wants to do it for the
tell them to go ahead.
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 6
---'
Sietsema: They were going to buy the net and they wanted us to do the
frame.
Lash: Why don't they go ahead and buy the net if they have the money and
they have to spend it. It doesn't necessarily mean...
Schroers: He was also talking like he would like to see it up by July or
something.
Sietsema: The earliest it could get done would be the end of June and I
don't think that's going to happen with the 4th of July coming up. He's
got all the tables to move around and getting grounds ready for that big
celebration. Plus keeping up with the mowing and he's trying to get totlot
equipment up. He's looking at me like, what do you want me to do first?
What's most important to you? Do you want totlot equipment at Curry Farms?
Do you want things mowed? Do you want things picked up? Do you want
barbed wire removed? Do you want trails swept? What do you want done
first? There's things that need to be landscaped. There's plantings to be
done. There's weeds to be moved and taken care of at South Lotus Lake and
he's just screams through there hoping I won't give him another thing so
I'm not thinking that he would even be able to get to it until after the
baseball season this year is over anyway. Realistically.
Schroers: I wasn't suggesting that Dale do it. I was suggesting that if
CAA wants to spend the money for the entire thing themselves and put it in ---'
so they have something to use while they're waiting for their facility at
Lake Susan, then I would say let's give them the okay to do it.
Sietsema: They didn't have the money for the whole thing. They had the
money for the net and did they talk about putting it in themselves too?
Lash: They said they could put it in. Jim had suggested they check with
the Rotary or the Lion's or someone who had money. Maybe they could find.
Sietsema: Yes, if they wanted to do it on their own, I'll let them know
that that's available to them. I think that would be fine and I'll let
them know that.
Hasek: Maybe that's what we should do. Simply plan on putting one in at
Lake Susan when Lake Susan goes through.
Schroers: If they don't want to wait you know, if they want something
right away, then let them put it up there themselves.
Hasek: We'll give them the spot and we'll give them permission to do it
but they'll have to do it themselves.
Mady: So do you need direction Lori?
Sietsema: No. If that's the general consensus, I'll just relay that to
them. ---'
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 7
"'"
REVIEW REQUEST FOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS AT CHANHASSEN HILLS PARK.
Sietsema: I had a request from a homeowner in Chanhassen Hills regarding
development at the park there. He wanted to know when and what was going
to be done. I asked him if he received the letter about the public hearing
we held a couple months ago asking for ideas from their neighborhood and no
one showed up from their neighborhood if you might recall. He didn't
remember getting it but thought that probably he did and didn't pay
attention to it. At any rate, he wanted to know what he could do to get
things done sooner. I told him to write me a letter and that's the letter
that he wrote. He's hoping to have development in the park as soon as
possible. phase 3 of Chanhassen Hills, the development contract was just
approved last night. They're just starting on that now. I am going to be
trying to include that they do the grading and the seeding for that park. I
have Mark working on a grading plan for the plan that was approved by you
so that they can work that right into their plan as long as they're out
there already anyway with the roads and whatever. That's all I see getting
done in 1989. We just simply don't have the funds available to do anything
more but we do have the $10,000.00 tentatively scheduled there if the
Council approves as you've recommended it and we'll know more about that at
the end of July probably. Whether they approve our budget or not.
Remember we were trying to place that last few $10,000.00 that we had taken
out of the reserve. So there is $10,000.00 and that would put in a first
phase totlot equipment, small, and a volleyball court and maybe a parking
~pad. That's pushing it.
Boyt: Gravel.
Hasek: Even if we went with the gravel, I would just as soon, I know what
tar can do out here if it doesn't settle properly so you put the gravel in
there to begin with.
Sietsema: Yes, we probably would do that. That's what we did at Meadow
Green Park is just put in the gravel at first. I told him that this was
basically what I was going to be telling you tonight and that I didn't see
much chance of their getting anything done yet this year other than the
grading and if we can get that grading done, then we're ready to just plop
things down next year. I sent him the agenda and the staff report so I
kind of half expected him to be here but given my bleak forecast maybe he
decided not to show up. So the recommendation is to just go as we had
planned. It's unfortunate and I have it on my list of things to do, to
contact some of the developers and ask them not to tell people that the
parks are going to be developed the first year they move in because it's
really causing us some problems.
Hasek: Not only the developer but I think the realtors are kind of taking
advantage of that too and that's a real cheap trick. Yes, you've got a
park and it's coming next year.
Schroers: Do you need a motion on this?
,....
Sietsema: Yes, I really should have something to respond to his request.
His request is requesting that Chanhassen be developed as soon as possible.
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 8
If you just want to direct staff to tell him what I've just said, that as -'
soon as possible would probably be next year if budget's are approved as
proposed. If the contractor doesn't do the grading, then that $10,000.00
will all be eaten up by grading pretty much so that would mean it would be
the next year after that would be the soonest if there's money available to
budget for that area.
Mady: Then I'll move that we direct staff to work with the developer to do
grading as they're doing site work for the rest of the third phase of
Chanhassen Hills and that pending the grading being done, the City will do
it's best to start the work with it's budgeted items for 1990.
Lash: Seeding too. Grading and seeding.
Hasek: Second.
Mady moved, Hasek seconded to direct staff to work with the developer of
Chanhassen Hills to do the grading and seeding as a part of their site work
for the third phase and pending completion of grading, the City will do
it's best to start the work with it's budgeted items for 1990. All voted
in favor and the motion carried.
REVIEW APPLICATION TO AMEND LAND USE PLAN ON PROPERTY NEXT TO LAKE ANN
PARK.
.....",
Sietsema: I'm not real familiar with the details that led up to this
proposal except that I believe that the owner of the property discussed in
the proposal is suing the Met Council for additional money for the easement
for the Lake Ann Interceptor. What he wants is a settlement is that they
would include his property within the MUSA line for development sooner than
what is scheduled. So what this proposal is in essense then is a land use
amendment to change this from rural residential to residential low density
which would be a typical urban type development. Typically I would not
even bring this type of a request to you because it's a planning issue.
The only reason that I brought it to your attention is that the area around
Lake Ann in the land use plan, if you look at one of the attachments, this
one is the land use plan and the little, what looks like tree tops is parks
open space on the land use plan and it shows land all the way around Lake
Ann as potential parkland. I just wanted to make sure that that is still
our intent so if they rezone that, that they continue to include the area
around the lake as park open space so we can make that future trail
connection. We do have, as you well know, the connection along the east
side of the lake and we want to continue that. It may not happen soon or
even in our lifetime but in the long range plan, I think that's something
we would probably want to continue to plan for. Maybe I should just back
up and clarify some things because I know we have some new members and
maybe even some old members don't know this but the land use plan is in the
Comprehensive Plan. When someone comes in to develop their property, they
have to go by the zoning that's on the land use plan and the types of land
uses. If it's park open space, they know in advance, before they put their~
development together, that we're looking for park space in that area.
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 9
,....
Maybe in some areas it might be something real nebulous in an area but this
is very specific that we want it around the lakeshore so they know that we
want that property and they can count on not developing up to the lake. So
that's the purpose of the land use plan is to keep everybody informed so
they know, they don't waste their money on developing plans that they're
going to have to be changed because the City needs certain things.
Lash: So the City doesn't actually own that portion?
Sietsema: We don't own it, no but they can't develop it without either us
signing off on it and saying no we don't want it anymore or us buying it
from them or them dedicating it to us or whatever. We have first dibs on
it.
Lash: So if he develops it, as far as your park fees or whatever, would
that then qualify or would he then also have to give the City more?
Sietsema: What's the total acreage of this?
Hasek: I think it kind of depends upon whether you take it as a trade...
Sietsema: If we take it as outright dedication or if we just get a trail
easement around it, it's 140 acres so in a typical development is 420 lots.
~Lash: He's talking about low density. Changing it to residential low
density.
Sietsema: That's single family.
Hasek: That's low density.
Lash: That's low density?
Hasek: In the sewered area, yes. They can go down to what, 10,000 square
foot lots.
Sietsema: 15,000 square foot lots. But then you take roads and everything
else.
Lash: I thought low density was like 2 1/2 acres.
Sietsema: No. That's rural residential. That's what it is now.
Hasek: I certainly think it's important that we continue to show that on
the actual...
Sietsema: That 980 people so what's 980 divided by 75? 7.
Boyt: 7 acres.
""'(There was a tape change at this point in the meeting.)
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 10
Mady moved, Boyt seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission recommend-'
to maintain the parkland designation around Lake Ann to preserve the
integrity of this undeveloped lake and to enable the City to continue the
trail system around the lake. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
SITE PLAN REVIEW, VINELAND FOREST.
Sietsema: This proposal is 9.5 acres proposed to be subdivided into 18
single family lots. It's south of Pleasant View Road and east of Powers
Blvd.. It's quite a bit south of Pleasant View Road. I think there's some
land in between there so it's not on the frontage of either Pleasant View
or Powers. Basically this area is served by existing parks and with the
water tower site that was proposed to be a passive type piece of parkland,
developed into a passive picnic area type thing, this area is served.
Therefore the recommendation of staff is to acquire the park and trail
dedication fees in lieu of land and trail construction.
Hasek: Just a quick question. Where is north on this map?
Sietsema: At the top.
Boyt: Is the water tower just north of Peaceful Lane?
Sietsema: If Lake Lucy Road went straight, it's at the corner of Lake Luc:
Road and Power s Blvd.. ......"
Boyt: Which is the lot?
Sietsema:
It's not divided.
Boyt: Okay, there's a for sale sign on the corner lot right where Lake
Lucy Road splits and the water tower is right up above. There's a for sale
sign right there.
Sietsema: That's Carver Beach Estates in there and there's a lot of houses
for sale in there.
Boyt: Yes, I was wondering which is the piece of property that's passive
park.
Sietsema: Straight up that hill to the water tower.
Boyt: Is it on here?
Hasek: Not it's not shown.
Siestema: No. The lot line isn't shown on here because this is an old
map.
Schroers: It's actually the water tower site itself that's parkland.
....."
Sietsema: I think that it's like 3 arces or something like that.
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 11
,.....
Lash: So you're looking for a motion to get park dedication?
Sietsema: Right.
Hasek moved, Lash seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission
recommend to accept park and trail dedication fees in lieu of land and
trail construction for Vineland Forest. All voted in favor and the motion
carried.
SITE PLAN REVIEW, MINNEWASHTA FARMS.
Sietsema: This site is located just off of TH 41 about a half mile north
of TH 5. North of the Crimson Bay development and south of Camp Tanadoona.
It's a 100 acre site and they're proposing to split it into 3 lots and an
outlot. The big item here is that it is outside the sewered area so they
have to go with the 1 per 10 with 2 1/2 minimum lot size. That's why they
have the one big lot. Staff feels that their intention is to further
develop that larger piece at the time that the MUSA line changes and
includes that piece of property. So if we take this item alone as it
stands, as it is proposed, staff would recommend that we accept fees in
lieu of park dedication and that we connect the trail that's along Crimson
~Bay as the trail plan shows, goes along straight through that development.
The other thing to consider, if you recall in Mark Koegler's report that we
recently reviewed, it calls for community parkland in the western part of
Chanhassen. We're not going to get a large piece of property in western
Chanhassen any further west than this I don't think because the area on the
west of Lake Minnewashta is pretty much smaller lot sizes. So I think that
in the long term plan, that the Comprehensive Plan, we may want to consider
amending it to include this as a western, I don't know if any of you went
out to look at it. I know Larry did and I did and I think there's enough
topography there to work with for a community type park and there's some
natural areas on it that would make it very amenable to a community park.
I don't mean to say that we want to identify this now for sure and forever
and ever amen that this is going to be the parkland that we're going to
acquire. As other things come up and we look further, there maybe other
spots that we want to look at also but if we amend the land use plan to
include this 79 acres as potential community parkland, we have to sign off
on it before they can develop it. They have to come before us and we sign
off on it which is similiar to the other item we just reviewed. I think
that might be in our best interest to do that.
Schroers: Another nice thing about it is is that the majority of this area
is a cornfield right now so it is already cleared so we don't have to cut
down a bunch of nice vegetation.
Boyt: It's pretty rolling in there isn't it?
"""Schroers: Yes, it's rolling.
Sietsema: It's actually a pretty piece.
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 12
...,..,
Boyt: Yes it is. I've been out there.
Hasek: When the trail comes up, is this Crimson Bay road at the bottom
here?
Sietsema: Yes.
Hasek: It shows on here, it looks right an awful narrow right-of-way. Is
it actually wider than that in reality? Is it a normal 50 or 60 foot
right-of-way? This one looks awfully narrow to me.
Sietsema: I think that it's your typical residential type because it ends
in a cul-de-sac right now so it would probably be 50.
Hasek: Are you suggesting that we would connect that to the road that's
just to the north of it then?
Sietsema: Not to the road. We would want...
Hasek: To go west or east along that property line into the larger piece?
Sietsema: No, I'm suggesting for the trail. The trail plan, I should have
included a copy of that in here. I'm sorry. I apoligize. This is Crimson
Bay Road ends in a cul-de-sac right here right now.
..."."
Hasek: Okay, this is what shows.
Sietsema: What the plan calls for is the trail to just go right across
here. See it's really wooded and a lot of topography down here by these
houses where this road is so if they're getting access down there and
they're approving that, that would be the place to get it. But just
basically to get an easement so we can make that connection up to Tanadoona
because it shows the trail coming through this development to Tanadoona and
up.
Lash: So this is Crimson Bay Road? So that's this right here?
Hasek: No. It comes right now, this piece has been developed right here
and there's a road that comes in that's this. It's actually to about here
and there's that easement and that's where we're seeing this cul-de-sac.
This road deadends and this narrower piece is platted.
Sietsema: This is Dogwood and it serves these homes that are on the lake
here. So this would come in and follow whatever access these homes get.
Hasek: I guess I'm just thinking from the standpoint of that guy who's got
that piece of property down here.
Sietsema: Yes, it doesn't work very well with that one.
Hasek: Yes. Is there any reason why we could go this way with the intent ~
of crossing this piece up to here at some point?
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 13
,...,
Sietsema: What I would suggest, instead of crossing the big piece, because
we don't know. That's a cornfield until they develop or it becomes park or
whatever happens, is just follow this entire lot line out to TH 41.
Hasek: It looks like there's an...in here of some sort.
Sietsema: I think that's part of road right-of-way though because I think
that goes into, I'm not certain but I think that goes into the Arboretum
there. That's how you get access in here. So what I would suggest then
and maybe that's a better plan. It doesn't cut the front of these lots, is
to follow and go all the way to TH 41 and come up here on TH 41 rather than
go to Tanadoona and up.
Hasek: At least we can take it and there's always the chance if it doesn't
work out, we see a better opportunity to take it up to Tanadoona for some
reason, we can do that. I think isn't the intent of this trail to kind of
serve whatever might happen up along TH 41 and get them down and over to
the Arboretum without going along TH 41 and TH 5.
Sietsema: It would be a connection of the Minnewashta Regional Park down
to the Arboretum and they both have indicated working with us to include,
be able to get on more city wide trail system.
~Hasek: What's happening up here? Is that proposal for that higher density
residential still in the works or has that failed? There was one that had
kind of a funny stovepipe going down to the lake. Remember that one? It
had like a 50 foot wide outlot going all the way down to the lake.
Sietsema: If you look on the other one, I think that's on this piece.
Hasek: Yes, okay. That's up a little farther. This is what was
approved? Has this happened yet? No? Yes?
Sietsema: I don't know.
Hasek: Because they had a deal that came down like this.
Sietsema: Yes they did.
Hasek: The regional park ends in here someplace doesn't it? Isn't that
kind of the boundary?
Boyt: It's around these houses up here. It touches the back of the
further north house.
Hasek: So do you think this is it right here?
Sietsema: I think it does but it does some kind of a weird jog down here
"....., too .
Hasek: It took in a wetland or something down there. picked something up.
I'm wondering if that is, is there any plan that we have to try to put a
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 14
trail through the regional park or is that possibly leading to them?
Sietsema: That's definitely a possibility is that if you got on TH 41 or
you got on TH 5, you could go out to TH 41 and go up and get into the
Minnewashta Regional Park.
~
Hasek: The question I have is, is there a way to access that park other
than through the front gate? If we were to propose a trail that come in
along the south end or they not amendable to that?
Sietsema: There isn't right now but they are amendable to doing that.
They've indicated that they would make a break in the gate or something
that we would be able to just walk in and stroll around.
Hasek: I would rather see it go that direction and I guess I'm not against
us proposing taking an easement out along the south piece out to TH 41 but
I would have to have to assume that we got within, run a trail all the way
out to TH 41 or the park. I don't want to suggest that that's our only
alternative. I think it would be from the standpoint of people using a
connection from the regional park to the Arboretum more...suggest that we
go somehow through those parcels when they develop. It may be farther down
the road.
Sietsema: The big parcel?
Hasek: Yes and you may be right. The most immediate connection might be -,.
out to TH 41.
Boyt: Well if it does go through, here's a line. If we were able to walk
there.
Hasek: These pieces when they come in, they're going to come in as chunks.
This was an oddball deal because this had to do with some... They will be
a big chunk. There are probably some big owners in here who own some
chunks of ground and they'll come in and choose, like this one, when this
comes back, I think this whole thing will go.
Sietsema: So are you saying, what if we got a trail easement along the
southern lot line and then at the time that it develops in the future, that
we would go through the property.
Hasek: I would make a suggestion at this time that we want to connect
somehow from that line up to Tanadoona so we don't have to use TH 41. Maybe
that's how the motion is made. We'll take an easement but we want them to
understand at this time, with this approval...
Boyt: Along the east?
Hasek: Yes.
Boyt: Do we want easements along the southern end?
....",
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 15
'"
Sietsema: South for now and through the outlot at the time it develops in
the future.
Hasek: It may end up that we'll take it along the east but I think rather
that just suggest that we take it on both sides here, I would like to be
able to go, I would love to be able to go up to Dogwood but I think to
suggest that is going to cut that gentleman off.
Sietsema: I think that at the time that the 79 acres comes in, we have a
lot of options to get trail easements through there.
Hasek: And again, this Council may not even be here when that happens.
Boyt: Something else we need to talk about is if we're interested in land
in western Chanhassen because the Met Council's going to be moving the line
within a few years and then the property values are going to rise again
quickly and we won't be ready. And we need to find a way to get another
big chunk of money so we can buy some property. That's where we really
need. Like it says in here, we need another 180 acres in Chanhassen for
the entire future of Chanhassen.
Lash: And to buy it now while it's still cheap instead of waiting because
you know that MUSA line is going to be pushed out.
~Boyt: So are we going to ask for another referendum or ask for direction
from Council on how to go at this problem?
Lash: This acquisition fund that we started with this budget already,
how much did we put in there?
Sietsema:
property.
Those were for specific pieces.
For the Lake Lucy access.
They were for the Carrico
Erhart: But I thought that we had...
Sietsema: There wasn't a fund that was just for something, no. We wanted
to start one like that but because we don't have the funds, we just don't
have the money in there, all we could do was put money aside for future
acquisition of parcels we've already identified.
Schroers: I wonder if we could approach the Metro Council with something
of this nature and just tell them our situation and see if there would be
any funding available to help us acquire parkland for future needs.
Boyt: I think we need to approach our Council first because they might
have ideas. We have the use of more funds than just what we bring in.
Erhart: We should schedule a meeting with them and talk to them about
this. If there is talk about pushing the MUSA line out. It could happen
for 2 years. Even talk about it makes the value of property go up. It
~oesn't even have to be moved but just people anticipating the MUSA line
moving.
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 16
Boyt: These people are anticipating it right now.
--'
Erhart: Then the property's probably gone up.
Hasek: But that doesn't mean we have to stop.
Erhart: No, and I'm not suggesting that either.
Lash: I guess I'm confused because I was thinking when we were working on
the budget, at one point there was something that was earmarked for park
property in western Chanhassen and I asked you, I said have we specifically
said and you said something along the lines of, well yes we decided we
better put a name on it for western Chanhassen so that it wouldn't look
like it's just a slush fund or something like that. I thought that that's
what we had...and I was thinking it was a pretty good chunk of money.
Hasek: I think what happened is through the course of time here it got
redirected.
Lash: I thought right off the top we took a big chunk.
Sietsema: You're right. I don't have the final in here though. I think
there was $75,000.00 in there for property in the Minnewashta area. I
think that you're right.
Mady: The west side of Minnewashta.
...-I
Sietsema: I don't have the final here but according to my notes, you
didn't take anything out of that so I believe there is $75,000.00. That
was for parkland on the west side of Lake Minnewashta. Like in the Lake
St. Joe area.
Boyt: Do we have anyone looking for property out there for us now?
Sietsema: No. But the thing to remember that we do kind of lose focus on
is that the park dedication fees are for neighborhood parks. It's not
really for the acquisition of community parks because those developers are
putting fees into a pot to develop neighborhood parkland to serve their
neighborhoods and the City is suppose to provide the community parks.
Mady: Part of my commission presentation tonight is going to deal with
park dedication fees.
Boyt: Well then maybe we do need to meet with the Council because the
funding will have to come from outside of our sources.
Mady: possibly.
Schroers: Jan, did you get it cleared up what you were talking about?
Lash: Yes, she did find that we have allocated $75,000.00 for park
acquisition.
.....,if
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 17
.,-...
Boyt: For neighborhood parks.
Lash: Well we didn't say that.
Boyt: But that's what our funds are set aside for.
Sietsema: Technically, when you get right down to technicalities, the park
dedication fees are for neighborhood park acquisition and development.
Boyt: In the area that the development takes place.
Erhart: And we really don't have any money set aside then for acquiring
land. If we do, it's a very small amount right?
Schroers: I thought that we set $50,000.00 into a land acquisition, park
acquisition fund. Did we do that?
Sietsema: We put money, funds aside for acquisition for Carrico, Lake Lucy
access and for the Lake Minnewashta area.
Schroers: We specifically earmarked that money?
Sietsema: Right.
~Boyt: And the $75,000.00 needs to go to a neighborhood park.
Schroers: I thought that we established that fund with the idea that there
would be money there available in the event that property may come for sale
like in western Chanhassen or around Lake Minnewashta.
Sietsema: And there is.
Schroers: These other areas, then we can't...
Sietsema: There's three funds. There's one for the Lake Minnewashta area.
One for Lake Lucy access and one for Carrico.
Boyt: What we're saying is, after reading Mark's report it's apparent to
us again that we need to be looking for more community parkland. We can't
use our funds for that.
Lash: The we shouldn't have this earmarked for it.
Boyt: $75,000.00 will buy a small neighborhood park. It won't buy a park
like Bandimere Park like we just did.
Sietsema: Typically community parkland is acquired through the referendum
process, LAWCON grant process. That's how we acquired Lake Ann Park is
through referendum and through LAWCON and dedication as well and outright
purchase so we could ask the City Council to set aside funds out of the
~3eneral fund for parkland purchase or we could recommend to them that we
think that there needs to be another referendum at some point in time for
the acquisition of parkland in these areas that are going to be deficient
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 18
given that if we don't do it now, it's going to be much more expensive 20
years from now.
-"
Hasek: I think if we do decide that that's the route we want to take, I
think we ought to sit down with the Council and talk about it before we run
into any kind of...
Sietsema: I think so too. I think so too. I just wanted to bring to your
attention that this is a piece of property that is the right size and the
right topography, just looking at it has the look. Has the right look for
a community park in western Chanhassen.
Lash: Is this property north up there developed between here and the
regional park?
Sietsema: That's Camp Tanadoona. It's a Girl Scout camp.
Lash: All of this?
Boyt: Part of it is privately owned between these houses and the lake.
Lash: But there would be no lakeshore available?
Sietsema: No.
Schroers: At our last meeting with the City Council we did touch on -'
acquisition. I don't remember exactly if there was an outcome.
Boyt: It's probably time to be more specific and maybe send them Mark's
report ahead of time.
Sietsema: I think with Mark's report, it really outlines what our needs
are and what our goals, if we want to adopt that type of philosophy, that
that's what our goals are.
Schroers: I don't think we have a choice. If we want parkland, we're
going to have...
Boyt: That's the same thing with our $75,000.00. If our budget is
approved, we need to start acting before that budget comes into being so
that we can make an offer on some property. If we wait until next year to
start looking, the prices just go up all the time. We're going to miss out
again.
Hasek: And that piece is within the sewered area of the city too.
Western.
Boyt: Western Minnewashta.
Mady: We need a motion on this item.
Hasek: I guess I would like to suggest that maybe after some discussion
with Sue here, that we ask for a trail easement along the southern edge of
--'
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 19
II"""'"
the property from the end of Crimson Bay Road extended to that property
line. From that point east to TH 41 and I don't know if we want to go
through the property. Maybe let's at this point suggest that we'd like to
also an easement along the eastern edge from the southern property line up
to Tanadoona. Suggesting that we would like to make a trail connection to
Tanadoona before it gets to TH 41 and alternatively to the north and into
the Regional Park along the south edge rather than along the TH 41 access.
And whatever else the staff recommends.
Lash: Is there anything east of this?
Hasek: Another piece.
Lash: I know there's a piece of land there but is there something on it?
Sietsema: Yes, there's a farm site. Oh, that might be this. I'm not sure
if that farm site that's out there is on that triangular piece or, it looks
like it's vacant and the farm site is on the outlot.
Schroers: That triangle is kind of a nice maple woods with pines going on
the highway there isn't it? I think that is.
Lash: And there's nothing south either?
~Sietsema: South is the Landscape Arboretum. Apple orchard.
Lash: Oh, that's right. So we're asking for trails to kind of go through
nowhere. You're just splitting a bunch of nothing?
Mady: The easement is for when development occurs.
Sietsema: 20 foot trail easement.
Schroers: Between TH 5 and the property is the apple orchard?
Sietsema: Yes. And some vegetable stuff. I just wanted to clarify that
that was a 20 foot trail easement?
Hasek: Yes.
Mady: Is there a second?
Erhart: I'll second it.
Sietsema: The motion was made by Ed to accept park fees in lieu of
parkland and to acquire a 20 foot wide trail easement along the south
boundary from Crimson Bay Road to TH 41 and to note that a future
connection through the outlot is planned and this would be done in lieu of
trail fees.
~asek: I'd also like, if you would, when you put that together mention the
intent that we're trying to get to the south boundary of that Regional Park
without going out to TH 41. That's why we're going north...
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 20
....."",
Boyt: I think if you want to ask for this you can.
Hasek: I think we did didn't we?
Boyt: Yes. You also asked for this line.
Sietsema: South and east.
Hasek: With the intent that we wanted to let them know that we want to
make a connection.
Boyt: If when it's developed it works better to go through the development
and up to Tanadoona.
Lash: ...rather than having it on TH 41.
Boyt: Well it won't be up TH 41.
Lash: I know because there's no property here on TH 41. Alternately I
guess I would like the trail to go on TH 41 rather than having it go
through all these other places and having to screw around with it but I
see where there would be some logic in having it connect up here to
Tanadoona because then you could go from Tanadoona out to TH 41 if you
wanted to have access.
can
(There was a tape break at this point in the meeting.)
...."
Hasek moved, Erhart seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission
recommend to accept park fees in lieu of parkland and to acquire a 20 foot
wide trail easement along the east and south boundary from Crimson Bay Road
to TH 41 and to note that a future connection through the outlot is planned
and that trail fees will be accepted in lieu of trail construction. All
voted in favor and the motion carried.
SITE PLAN REVIEW, OAK VIEW HEIGHTS.
Sietsema: This next item is the Oak View condominiums. It's a
subdivision. We saw this item before as a PUD. The PUD request failed at
the City Council last night and this is a request for subdivision of 18.93
acres into 11 high density lots for 182 condominium units. When we look at
our ordinance for park needs, if you take the 182 units and you take that
times 2 people per unit, you create the need for about 4 to 5 acres of
parkland. Although this is in the area, it's served by other parkland in
the area, those parks are heavily used right now so instead of making them
give up 5 acres of their development and instead of us overtaxing our
existing parks, I indicated that perhaps they. could put in some
recreational facilities to meet their immediate needs, their immediate uses
of the people in their development that would be privately owned and
maintained. That would take some of the pressure off of the park. Still .
the organized things would be going through the park system and whatever ~
and then they would pay the park dedication fee. Is that clear to everyone
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 21
~
what I'm trying to propose there? It's a little bit different than what
we've done before but I don't know, I think it could be worked out. The
developer called and he said that he didn't feel that it was fair that we
were asking for recreational facilities and for 100% of the fees. He felt
that he should get some compensation for the facilities that he's putting
in there. I said well basically the way I see it, you can give up 5 acres
of land for park because that's the need you're creating or, and that's the
minimum that we accept, or you can provide some facilities and take the
pressure, meet some of your own needs that you're creating.
Boyt: Is there any guarantee that you would not later develop the 5 acres
with something else?
Sietsema: Well it wouldn't be 5 acres that he would develop into
recreation. If he were to give up 5 acres, then it would be parkland then.
I mean that's what we would require. This would be just...
Erhart: Instead of.
Sietsema: Instead of parkland, recreational facilities on site that would
be available to the people who are in those units and therefore take some
of the pressure off of the public parks.
Hasek: Okay, I understand. So in essence we're not going to take 5 acres
~here for a park, then we're going to take it someplace else but he's
providing some facilities for the people.
Sietsema: Right. He didn't feel that that was fair that he should have to
pay the whole thing and he felt that he wanted to know how much those types
of facilities would cost. I said at best $15,000.00 unless you put in
bigger, more equipment that that.
Erhart: He's going to need more than that.
Mady: A lot more than that. There will be over 400 people in that park.
Sietsema: What he suggested is that he pay for half of that and get the
other half as a credit to his park dedication fees. $7,500.00.
Boyt: I would think he'd maybe put in at least a $20,000.00 piece of
playground equipment.
Mady: I was thinking more than that. We've got a school up here that has
far more kids and we're looking at putting over $40,000.00 worth of
equipment.
Sietsema: Right but you're not talking about just 400 kids moving into
this development. It could be some elderly.
~Boyt: Do you know what... How many people per unit?
Sietsema: I figured 2 people per unit. I think that's high.
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 22
Boyt: For houses it's 2.something.
~
Sietsema: It's 2.8 for single family.
Boyt: You think it's less for apartments?
Sietsema: Yes.
Boyt: We're getting a lot of kids from the apartments into the schools.
I'd say it's more than 2.
Sietsema: Maybe you know there's 2 is what they figure but usually it's
less.
Hasek: I think they figure 2.3 per family and that's generally across the
board. Apartments, it's strange to predict that. It changes almost yearly
based upon the economy. Even if we counted one whole child per family for
each unit.
Sietsema: And they're not all duo parent families.
Boyt: No, but they still have kids.
Sietsema: But I mean when you figure people per unit.
Boyt: I'm looking at the number of kids.
....""
Erhart: Are these going to be rental units, these condos or are they going
to be privately owned?
Sietsema: I think they're privately owned.
Boyt: Then I wouldn't expect it.
Erhart: I can see single parents in rental property with kids. People
that are going to buy condominiums are usually with one child at best. Most
of them don't have children, I wouldn't think.
Boyt: Most of the people moving into Chanhassen are young, just starting
their families. That's why our...are growing tremendously.
Erhart: Yes but I mean that's why I was asking if it was going to be
rental.
Hasek: There are two types of people moving in condominiums. Old empty
nesters and young starters.
Boyt: And the old people aren't moving to Chanhassen from what we've seen
so far.
Hasek: They can't afford the taxes.
.."".
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 23
,...
Boyt: Well there's nothing out here for them. I'm concern that we're not
providing enough for them.
Sietsema: Keep in mind that they are in the service area of an existing
park.
Boyt: But they have Kerber Blvd. to cross and Powers Blvd. to cross. I
saw kids out playing on the new playground equipment at the site next to
them today and they're playing there. They're not going over to the school
which is a lot safer for them to stay where they are.
Schroers: There are children in the rental units. Mainly the plan is to
come out here. Get your condo. Get established. Start your family. Get
out of your condo and into a single family house but there may be a few
years in there where, especially younger aged children.
Mady: Do we know what his park dedication fees are?
Sietsema: $300.00 per unit.
Lash: Per unit? Per condo unit?
Sietsema: $54,000.00 I think.
,...Schroers: Do you need a motion on this Lori?
Sietsema: I need something.
Schroers: Should I try it? I'm going to move that we recommend that the
developer provide a large playground structure, a standard size sand
volleyball court and a half court basketball to prevent overtaxing the
existing facilities and recommend that land for this recreation area be
approved by the Park and Rec Commission and that park dedication fees be
required in lieu of parkland. We'd also recommend an 8 foot wide
bituminous trail to be constructed along Powers Blvd. within the 20 foot
easement. 10 foot of additional street right-of-way be dedicated along
Jenny Lane which is a thru street and a 6 foot wide concrete sidewalk
constructed within that right-of-way in lieu of trail dedication fees.
Hasek: Do you want to put a dollar figure on the play structure Larry?
Lash: I think we should set a minimum on that.
Mady: Is there a second?
Hasek: Yes, I'd like to second that. What do we feel is reasonable? Can
we have some sort of consensus?
Lash: For the play? I'd say at least $20,000.00 for the play.
""Hasek: So we've got a volleyball area and half court basketball, you can
get those two for $5,000.00 right?
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 24
Sietsema: What's shown here is a $9,000.00 play structure so if you wanted-'
to double that, it would be $20,000.00.
Hasek: Okay, the $25,000.00 would include the basketball and volleyball.
Okay, is $25,000.00 a reasonable number?
Mady: I think so.
Hasek: Okay, do we want to set a minimum of $25,000.00 for construction
costs for the facilities?
Mady: Was there any reduction in fees due to the construction?
Hasek: No.
Boyt: And I want to ask that this be constructed in the first phase.
Hasek: I think that's fairly smart. Then when people corne in, they won't
be corning in here asking.
Lash: I have just a couple of questions. Where is Jenny Lane?
Sietsema: It's shown on the site plan.
Lash: It goes through to Kerber right?
..."",
Hasek: No it doesn't. Not yet.
Sietsema: It doesn't go through yet. It will hook up to what goes through
the apartments right now and go all the way from Kerber to Powers Blvd..
Boyt: I don't see where he has room on this plan to do this?
Sietsema: That's why I put the stipulation in there that he has to corne
back and show us what he's proposing.
Boyt: I'm concerned that it's not going to be big enough. That we're
going to have another case of the condominiums between you and me where the
kids spend all their time on the road. We know that they need 5 acres to
meet the needs of the people moving in there... They will have other
parkland near them but now right there and we've been hearing over and over
again that people need something within our neighborhood. I think we need
to make sure that it's enough to serve this neighborhood. This is a
neighborhood.
Hasek: In and of itself.
Schroers: So you want to amend the motion to...
Hasek: Let's look at it this way. If we took 5 acres out of there and
the units that go along with that 5 acres, how many acres have we got
total?
.....,.
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 25
,......
Boyt: 19.
Hasek: So that's 20% of the
almost 200 to 140 people.
Boyt: But this is 25%...
development so we would now cut it back from
Hasek: Are the condominiums only going into what is shown or does it
include this future apartment? The 19 acres isn't the total parcel. The
condos are 182 units. So we've got an additional future apartment building
going in here?
Sietsema: Right.
Hasek: So there's more units then even.
Boyt: You see this corner where it says future apartments, that's about 5
acres.
Hasek: So we've got additional.
in the district that they're in?
How dense are they developing that parcel
The zoning district.
Sietsema: R-12.
~Hasek: 12 units per acre.
Erhart: And there will be a lot of kids in the apartments.
Boyt: There might not be in other towns but from what we've seen in
Chanhassen, it's little kids. And yes there might not be 10 years from now
but we know what's happening right now.
Mady: What are we trying to accomplish here? Are we trying to get 5 acres
of land out of this guy as well as build a park?
Boyt: No, I don't think we need to do both. I'm concerned that we get
enough so we meet the needs of the people.
Sietsema: I think that's up to him though to corne back to us with a plan.
If we aren't asking for parkland, the notice is on him to corne up with a
decent plan that you're going to accept that will meet those needs.
Boyt: But I don't know if could vote for this or if I could go vote for
taking the parkland. That's my concern. I don't know if we could get
enough from him but I'm only one vote. All we have to do is move on it and
then the Council can get it.
Sietsema: And he'll corne back to us with the plan. So the motion I have
added to what Larry said is ask for a minimum of $25,000.00 on the
~facilities. $20,000.00 of that going towards totlot and that it be done in
Phase 1. Ed seconded?
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
June 13, 1989 - Page 26
Hasek: I'd like to just add something to that. If we're going to take
$25,000.00 worth of equipment, that goes to the facility, not the grading
or seeding or landscaping for the facilities.
..."""
Sietsema: On facilities.
Schroers moved, Erhart seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission
recommend that the developer provide a large playground structure, a
standard size sand volleyball court and a half court basketball court so as
not to overtax the existing park facilities. To recommend that the plan
for this recreation area be approved by the Park and Rec Commission and
that park dedication fees be required in lieu of parkland. Additionally
recommending an 8 foot wide bituminous trail to be constructed along Powers
Blvd. within the 20 foot easement. 10 foot of additional street
right-of-way be dedicated along Jenny Lane which is a thru street and a 6
foot wide concrete sidewalk constructed within that right-of-way in lieu of
trail dedication fees. A minimum of $25,000.00 on recreation facilities
($20,000.00 for totlot) and that it be constructed during Phase 1 of the
development. All voted in favor except Sue Boyt who opposed and the motion
carried.
Lash: Lori, just one quick thing. When we have developers put in
sidewalks, concrete sidewalks, when those things deteriorate and need to be
replaced, who then pays for that replacement?
....."
Sietsema: The City.
Lash: So all these things that we're putting in allover, ultimately we're
going to have to pay to have replaced.
Sietsema: The City does. The park maintenances doesn't but the
engineering department does.
Mady: Because they do that in Minneapolis. you're responsible for the
sidewalk and the trees.
Lash: But that's not the city paying for it.
Mady: They'll have to make a decision on that when it comes 30 years from
now.
Boyt: And it might be assessed to the homeowners. It depends on who's on
the Council at the time.
Lash: I think that's something that needs to be considered before we start
putting these things in allover.
Sietsema: It's being considered when they came up with the trail plan.
All those considerations were taken at the time the trail plan was
developed.
--'
Park and Rec Commission
June 13, 1989 - Page 27
,...,
Boyt: We had so much budgeted per year for upkeep too and for maintenance
equipment. We didn't talk about who would be replacing it in the future
because that's quite far in the futUre.
Mady: The sidewalk in front of my parent's house was there for 70 years
before it was replaced and it was only replaced in front of their house
because the City felt that a 2 inch gap in the sidewalk was too high and
they have to tear it all out. That was 70 years.
COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS:
Mady: I don't know if anyone else has anything. I have a couple things I
want to talk about tonight. First off, real quick. The new sidewalks down
Laredo Trail, they're just putting the sod in, they started last week and
they're continuing this week. I'd like to see staff send a letter to every
homeowner who lives along Laredo reminding them of their duty to water. that
sod. It looked pretty rough that first day and if we hadn't got rain the
last 2 days, it would have been dead by now. So if we can get a nice,
friendly letter to them.
Schroers: Can I ask you a question? How does a homeowner's...
Sietsema: They asked for it.
"....,
Boyt: The ones I've talked to like it. Two people. One of them is just
thrilled. She has a 3 year old boy and a 1 year.
Schroers: They're happy with the construction part of it. The way it
looks.
Boyt: You haven't heard any complaints and you would.
Hasek: Just a little side note to that. Larry you're the one that's
familiar with my neighborhood. It's 3 cul-de-sacs up there and the parents
up there, and I'm talking about 3 cul-de-sacs and that go noplace in the
neighborhood. I mean you can't get thru to anywhere, have expressed some
desire, they wish that sidewalks had been put in because they've got little
kids playing on the street. When we first moved in out there, it was
fairly quiet but there's been a turn over and we've seen lot younger kids
coming into the neighborhood. Older parents with high school kids and
we've got kids tearing through the neighborhoods right now and there are
some concerned parents out there that wish they had sidewalks in a
cul-de-saced neighborhood. Just to get the kids off the streets. I don't
think it will ever happen but there is a desire out there on the part of
some people.
Mady: One of my good friends lives a block from me. He's very much
against trails. Has two little children. One's 4 and the other one is 2
1/2 I believe. He keeps telling me his kids will never use the sidewalks
~yet every day they take their children to the sidewalk a half a block away
to teach them how to ride their bike.
Park and Rec Commission
June 13, 1989 - Page 28
Boyt: Many of our neighbors are really against sidewalks. I've seen all
of them walking on the sidewalks because it makes a nice loop around.
--"
Mady: Now you can go around the Chan Pond Park.
Boyt: I think it's as we put these little segments in, people are going to
realize that they're not as bad as they thought and become more acceptable.
I think some people like them.
Erhart: Especially if they have little kids.
Boyt: And some of them are older people. All their kids are gone but they
go for an evening walk.
Erhart: I was thinking of the Preserve with many, many cul-de-sacs but no
sidewalks in there.
Sietsema: Was that a motion to direct staff to ask homeowners to water
sod?
Mady: Yes.
Hasek: I think just direct staff to do that. Does it have to be a motion?
Sietsema: It has to be a motion to direct me otherwise I'm doing something
that he wants and not necessarily what the group wants.
......"
Boyt: Second.
Mady moved, Boyt seconded to direct staff to write a letter to the
homeowners along the newly installed trail on Laredo Drive to water the new
sod. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Boyt: Do you keep a little list of items that we think should go to budget
next year? Just kind of a curb list?
Sietsema: Not formally.
Boyt: We need benches for the players at Carver Beach Park. A real simple
thing.
(Dean Johnson, the developer for Oak View Heights arrived at the meeting at
this point and Lori Sietsema informed him of the action taken by the Park
and Recreation Commission on his development.)
Dean Johnson: What about some assistance for playground because if it's my
understanding that you could give park dedication. Now what you're causing
me to do is pay park dedication and put in the facilities so you've over
burdening me.
....,
Park and Rec Commission
June 13, 1989 - Page 29
,.....
Boyt: I don't think that's what the motion said. I don't think we're
charging full fees are we?
Sietsema: Yes.
Boyt: Well you're getting away with a lot less land. We'd ask for 5 acres.
Dean Johnson: 5 acres of...
Boyt: That's to meet the needs of the number of people.
Dean Johnson: I'm in an area where the present park system should be
adequate for them or to your staff?
Sietsema: No, that's not what I said. There is existing parkland but it's
already at a near capacity level of use. Therefore, that's why they're
requiring that you put in facilities to meet your own needs instead of
parkland because the land that we have currently is already at almost full
capacity.
Dean Johnson: What happened to the $10,000.00?
Sietsema: They decided that what you're proposing is...
~Dean Johnson: Instead of spending it on playground equipment, if you're
90in9 to do anything you should spend it more on say adult activities
because the people you're...are not children. I know the Planning
Commission and Council feel the same way. They think this is going to have
a lot of children and that just isn't right. You're going to get single
people. You're going to get married couples just starting out. As soon as
they have that first child, they're not going to be sitting there in a
townhouse, some $50,000.00 townhouse.
Boyt: That's not the way it's happened so far in Chanhassen. That's the
information we have to use to predict. What's happening right now in
Chanhassen.
Dean Johnson: But what you're doing is spending an enormous amount of
money for children...
Boyt: No, it's not all children. We're asking for basketball and
volleyball as well.
Dean Johnson: A volleyball court has 2 posts.
Boyt: Is this something that you guys should discuss or is it something
that we all have to discuss since our motion is passed?
Sietsema: Well if you want to hear his comments. He might want them for
the record to go along for the record.
,.....
Dean Johnson: You're just not going to get that many children. I've done
townhouse projects before and with...we got less than 20 children.
Park and Rec Commission
June 13, 1989 - Page 30
--'
Boyt: It depends on the town you're in.
Dean Johnson: ...You're spending $25,000.00 on children and probably
$5,000.00 on adults.
Boyt: You can spend more.
Dean Johnson: If I'm going to spend it, I'd rather spend it on something
that's going to attract my customers into the thing. That's not going to
be a huge playground facility. It's going to be...
Lash: You don't feel that people with children are going to be moving in
there?
Dean Johnson: Not to the degree that $25,000.00 is going to be. Are we
talking about $25,000.00 just to install it or we talking about...
Hasek: We're talking $25,000.00 for the facilities that you put in
exclusive of grading and seeding and landscaping. I think rather than
trying to convince us of something that we really, we've got information
that we use to make our decision. If you want to change the minds of
somebody, it would have to be the Planning Commission and the Council. If
you'd like to spend $25,000.00 or you can convince them that you're going
to have all adults and no children, fantastic. That would be fine by me a~
long as they're provided for within their own development. That would be -'
great.
Dean Johnson: ...recommendation, you people... These are obvious things.
You're just not going to get that many young children in this thing.
You're going to end up with single parents, families who are divorced and
they have one child or two, that are now probably 12, 14 years old and
married for 8 or 10 years and 12 years and didn't see eye to eye and split.
That was a majority of what has moved into other townhouse projects that I
have built. You talk to Tom Workman...he says the same thing. He's in a
building that's all elderly except for himself and he bought his on a repo
or something like that he had told me. That's why he was there and he
fully expects to sell to an elderly person.
Sietsema: The difference though, what we have to go by is what we have
experienced. The three buildings around Tom Workman's building had 9
children in them each.
Lash: I could certainly see with this going in across the street from an
elementary school that it would be a real drawing card to people with
elementary children.
Dean Johnson: I would say no going in behind a commercial... Yes, I see
what you're saying. I understand that but then on the other hand...
Sietsema: What would you rather see in it?
-'
Park and Rec Commission
June 13, 1989 - Page 31
"""
Dean Johnson: Obviously I think that having to pay a fee and...you're
talking about is overkill. I think you're overstepping it... If
you say you can take 5 acres, but that would be... I would rather see, if
anything, I would rather see something more for the adult, a tennis court
or something like that. ...you'll see a lot of just married couples and
you're going to be seeing a lot of single couples coming back from divorces
and that kind of thing. You're just not going to see a lot of children in
an area like this.
Erhart: That's what I was trying to drive at. That some of your luxury
condominiums they don't cater to families.
Dean Johnson: These aren't going to be luxuries though.
Erhart: How many bedrooms?
Dean Johnson: These are 2 and 3 bedrooms but if you look at the plan,
you're going to see, I don't even know if you have a plan in front of
you... Two single guys or two single girls or that type of thing. Put in
two bathrooms so each of them has their own bathroom.
Mady: Okay, we're going to move on now.
Hasek: I'm sorry that you missed us. I guess the only thing we can say,
~I'm a planner myself and I always ask the same question when I go to these
types of meetings about the time you expect to be on. Historically I'm
there about a half an hour before then because I know these things can get
screwed up so I apologize that you didn't make the meeting but it's in your
own interest to be here.
Mady: The last thing that I had on Commission presentation. We keep
running into this in the last couple of months and that's the park
dedication fees and parkland being developed in new developments. People
expecting a park to be there immediately. Just a problem we've run into
really with new developments in the past couple of months. What I want us
to do is look at two different things. One is when do we get what we're
getting from the developer. Be it land, be it park money, whatever. If
the development comes in with 100 lots in it and he sells 30 of them,
already we have a need for a park yet we might not get all the money and
may not be able to do anything for 5 or 6 years. We have a problem. We
had Curry Farms in here. We had Lake Susan. Chan Hills. They're all in
here. They're all screaming for their park that they were promised from
the developer or the real estate agent or whomever. As this city is now
standing at 10,000 people, by Mark's estimation we're going to grow to
35,000 people over the next whatever years. As the MUSA line gets changed
in the next couple years, and I hope it doesn't personally, but if it does,
that needs going to grow real, real fast and we need to be proactive and
find a plan now so we can plan for those extra 25,000 people. Not wait
~until the third phase of their development comes in and hope that we get
30me money. In view of that, I want to look at our park dedication fees.
Those 25,000 people moving into Chanhassen are going to create, what is it,
180 additional community park acres. A need for 180 yet we're not gaining
Park and Rec Commission
June 13, 1989 - Page 32
anything from our park dedication ordinance with that and I believe we can.-'
We need to look at that.
Sietsema: For a community park?
Mady: Yes. They're going to create a need for 2 things. Community park
and neighborhood park.
Sietsema: The State Statutes don't allow for any, there's no vehicle to
collect money for community parks. The park dedication is to provide
neighborhood parks.
Mady: Pull that out because I don't remember reading that in the Statute.
We haven't looked at it for a couple of years but could you pull that out
for me. I think we're missing the boat here. Every time we need a
community park, we expect that 10,000 people already live here who pay
taxes and get what they needed are now going to pay more taxes to provide
for the new 25,000 people. If we can split the park dedication fee so that
x dollars goes toward a community park fee and x dollars goes to a
neighborhood park fee, and we start ballparking it out, what we have to
have to develop a park, to buy the land, develop the park and charge for
that now and get it when the developer puts his final plat in, we get it at
that time instead of as the building permits come in here, we can then do
something for these people rather than sorry, we don't have any money and
gee that's too bad. We need to start planning and doing this right. If
this city starts to take off like some people are suggesting, we better be ~
looking at this with open arms instead of doing it as we are now which is
really working very well.
Boyt: One of things we've been asking lately is that the parks be done in
the first phase. Grading and seeding be done in the first phase. Maybe we
need to be more explicit. Do they need to be done when the first door
opens or by the time...
Mady: If they're selling that land, saying there's a park there, then the
park should be there when they're selling it. Not because it's on paper
hoping that the city someday is going to put it in. If the developer is
saying he's got a park in his development, then he should be putting in a
park in his development. At least doing the grading so it's a flat piece
of land that is useable.
Boyt: Maybe we need to change the way we do things too. Do more like with
this but have it be parkland. Take Chan Hills, we want our acreage graded,
seeded and the equipment put in. Order the equipment for that neighborhood
right away.
Mady: All I'm doing here is I wanted to bring the point up. I spent about
an hour on this the other day trying to come up with some formulas and
calculations. What I want to do is cause some thought. I don't expect an
answer tonight. I don't expect it in the next 3 months but I would hope
that by the end of the year we would come up with some kind of a plan to
start addressing the needs of the City in the future because we're going to~
grow by 2 1/2 times in who knows how much time but if the MUSA line gets
Park and Rec Commission
June 13, 1989 - page 33
,....,
changed, as some people are suggesting, it's really going to change quickly
and we're going to really have a problem so we need to start looking at our
community needs as well as the neighborhood.
Sietsema: I think
if we take land in
that land as well.
cities do that.
that's a good point. It's a very good point to include
lieu of fees, that we should include the development of
I think that's very reasonable and I think that other
Hasek: The discussion of asking for the money up front so we've got
something to work with is not new either. We've talked about that before.
Sietsema: No, and I apologize for not bringing that back. I've talked to
Don about it and I have a note to myself about it but I was going to stick
it on this agenda and then this one got to be 10 items and next meeting is
already.
Hasek: What was his feeling? Did he feel there was anything wrong with
it?
Sietsema: It can be done. I have to look at my notes to remember what he
said exactly.
Hasek: I had a guy develop 80 acres up in Champlin and he had to pay
~$35,000.00 up front in park dedication fees. Up front.
Boyt: If we had the money up front, then we could order the equipment to
go on the grading of the property.
Lash: We could end up with a timeframe that when a development was going
in, there'd be a priority list so if the development started this year and
they graded and seeded it, it would automatically go on our budget for the
next year to be developed. I can't see that we could develop it right away
because we wouldn't know the specific needs of what kind of a neighborhood
it is. We wouldn't know if it's mostly kids or maybe retired people.
Sietsema: But you can get the basics. If you look at our neighborhood
parks, they all have the basics. They have tot10t, basketball and a
backstop. If there's some extra room so people can come in and say, we
would really like a tetherba11 or we would really like something that's
different that's not typically put in there, you'd have the room to put it
in there. Going back to Sue's point that at the time that they dedicate
the land, if we required them as part of that dedication to put the
facilities on it. Grade it, seed it and put on the facilities and it has
to be done in Phase 1.
Lash: If they were to earmark x amount of dollars for us then.
Sietsema: It's better for them to do it than for us because it takes,
,....,you've seen the red tape that we have to go through to get anything done.
Boyt: We could still have the input on how it was developed.
Park and Rec Commission
June 13, 1989 - Page 34
Sietsema: Right. We would approve the plan at the time, instead of just -'
looking at this and saying, we're going to acquire 5 acres of parkland, we
give him the plan. We'd show him what we want on there as well and where
we want it. We'd go through all of that now.
Boyt: Then we wouldn't have to order the equipment.
Sietsema: We wouldn't have to get our budget approved.
to get contracted out for grading. We wouldn't have to
contacting Dave Owen and figuring out a play structure.
would be done now.
We wouldn't have
go through
All that stuff
Lash: So we'd give them specs so they would know exactly the supplier and
the way it has to be installed for liability type things? It has to be
inspected by someone from the City that it meets everything?
Sietsema: Yes. And that frees up Dale.
Hasek: When I first got out of school 12 years ago, the first 3 years I
worked as a planner for a number of large home builders like Vern Gagne,
...New Horizon Homes, etc.. Not the quality stuff, that's true but a lot
of homes they were building. There wasn't a single project that we didn't
work on where we weren't responsible as planners going to the City to work
with the park board and the recreation staff to come up with a plan for the
parks. Those weren't developed by a consultant. They were developed by u~
as planners and we had to work with them. Show them what we wanted to put -'
in the park and justify it. A lot of times the city...
Sietsema: We save money all the way down the line. We save time and
money. Staff time. Maintenance time. Consultant fees. All the way down
the line we would save time.
Hasek: To be frank with you, when I started here I was very surprised at
the way that it was being done. It seemed backwards to me. It's like you
say, when you move into a neighborhood and there's supposed to be a park
there, you expect there to be a park there. There's no reason why...
Sietsema: And if it's their responsibility, they're going to have the
people barking at them to get the park done. It's also a selling point for
them.
Hasek: Everyone of them is using it as a selling point except where
there's no park. There is nothing there.
Erhart: That's what happened in my brother's neighborhood in Savage. He
moved into a new area and they told him there was going to be a park and
that was over a year ago. He hasn't heard anything.
Schroers: I agree that that's definitely the way we'd like to work and
approach it but the bottom line is we're asking more from these developers
and I think that's fine and I don't feel bad about it but I think that it'f
only decent to show them a little bit more consideration when they come in -,'
here and they have some concerns. I think we should at least listen to
Park and Rec Commission
June 13, 1989 - Page 35
,.....
their point of view and not cut them off short and tell them, hey if you
don't like it, go talk to the City Council.
Boyt: He came in here defensive. He came in here late.
Hasek: It's his responsibility to be here and he felt that we had screwed
him. That's not the way it was. I don't care who told him 9:00, it
doesn't make any difference. He knows the meeting starts at 7:30 and it's
his own like it's my own when I go to these meetings myself to be there.
If you walk into a council meeting someplace, you've missed the issue,
they're not going to sit and listen to you. They're not going to go
backwards. It's your fault for not being there. Period. Doesn't matter.
What you do is you roll the dice when you call. I know I called the city
here and they don't like to do that at all at Chanhassen. They don't like
to predict what time it might be.
Sietsema: It's impossible to predict. You can think that an item's going
to go, I've told people well, it's the second item after the consent agenda
at City Council and probably it will go maybe 8:30 and it doesn't get on
until 11:30. Midnight because the first item on the agenda is Eckankar or
something that that's lengthy so it's impossible for us to try. We try to
guesstimate. I can't judge how windy you guys are going to be.
Schroers: That's not the thing. They probably understand that too and
~theY've dealt with this same situation in various other communities and I'm
sure they understand that but I got the impression that they went out of
here not happy. Less than happy.
Boyt: I don't think they're going to be happy.
Mady: No, they're only going to happy if we give them only what he wanted
us to do.
Boyt: They're wheeling and dealing to get the most they can for their
buck.
Hasek: Larry, if we had told them we weren't going to charge them
anything and we were going to take parkland... It's their nature. It's
their job. They don't want to spend dollars that they don't have to spend.
Sietsema: Let's move on.
Mady: The item was park dedication, is an item I'd like to see us discuss
with Council.
Sietsema: Does anybody else have any other commission items?
Lash: This has been brought up a couple of times tonight with this tape
recorder. I think we need to find a better system because I think some
,.....important things are being missed. As an example that Jim brought up
~arlier. Your response to the people from out by Herman Field. I think
that would be important to have in these minutes for anyone years down the
road. If it goes to Council, for them to read it to see that these people
Park and Rec Commission
June 13, 1989 - Page 36
were notified of the meeting and that doesn't come across when you read the-'
Minutes so I think you were slighted in that particular instance and I
think it's because of the tape recorder. Another one was on missing a big
chunk of something that I think should have been in there and that was
discussion of the playground equipment for Curry Farms Park. All it says
is the motion. Granted we didn't discuss it very much but I think what was
discussed should be included in the Minutes for all to hear and see. I
don't know what we can do about it. If there's a different kind of machine
or a tape or a beeper on it when it runs out. Something that you will kick
you.
Mady: My hand held one beeps when it gets to the end of the tape.
Sietsema: That won't pick all you slight voiced people up.
Mady: But I would think there's a new model available. I know a couple of
people who sell those things.
Sietsema: I'll check into it. Has anybody seen the bridge?
Mady: I've seen it from the trail but not from Kerber.
Sietsema: It's a nice bridge. Needs to have the ramps put on and Dales
going to do that.
Mady: It's wide enough for Dale's park equipment?
-"
Sietsema: Yes.
Mady: Did you talk to Dale about the other bridge? Should that be
widened?
Sietsema: No I didn't. I'll put it on the list.
Mady: That was put in at 4 feet and I think we should go to 6 feet.
Sietsema: Does anybody want to go to that workshop?
Lash: I thought it would be beneficial for the two of us, since we're new.
Erhart: Is that the 24th?
Lash: 22nd.
Hasek: We as an office participate in government training services and
it's got some really excellent programs put together and they do do,
they're bringing some really top notch people to kind of inform those like
us who really don't know what the heck is going on. What our job
responsibilities really are and they're good things to participate in.
Mady: It'd almost be a nice to see if they could do a private one for the ~
City of Chanhassen.
Park and Rec Commission
June 13, 1989 - Page 37
""......
Hasek: There are cities that do that. That would be an excellent idea.
Lash: Dawne and I will go.
Sietsema: Do you want me to register you?
Erhart: It's just for the afternoon Lori on the 22nd?
Lash: It's noon to 5:00.
Sietsema: So Brooklyn Park on June 22nd.
Erhart: If the Commission thinks there is something to be gained by it,
then I think it would be good for us.
Boyt moved, Erhart seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and
the motion carried. The meeting was adjourned.
Submitted by Lori Sietsema
Park and Rec Coordinator
prepared by Nann Opheim
,.....
"'"