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City Council Minutes April 22, 1998 • Page 4 3~..$. • Process The University has not approached the city or the adjacent neighborhoods about this plan until very recently. The project is on the agenda for approval by the University regents in early June, which does not give much time for input. • Variation from 1996 Master Plan The University's 1996 master plan shows these fields remaining essentially the same, being used for intramural games and practices. It does not plan for a permanent facility at this site. • Land Use Suitability: There is concern that this site is not appropriate for a soccer facility because it lacks the facilities and expansion potential necessary for the women's intercollegiate soccer program, and its close proximity to residential uses. In addition, there are specific concerns regarding parking, pedestrians, noise, and litter. The planning commission, after hearing from both the University and neighboring residents on this issue, adopted the following recommendations: • The planning commission unanimously supports the creation of a task force on the proposed soccer development with representatives from the University of Minnesota, the City of Falcon Heights, the Grove neighborhood, the 1666 Coffman condominium association, and surrounding communities impacted by the • facility. The task force is asked to consider, but not be limited to, reviewing the following: parking, pedestrian and vehicular traffic flow, noise from the site, aesthetics of the site, the long term suitability of the site for an intercollegiate women's soccer facility, coordination with other uses including the Gibbs schoolhouse and the greenhouse properties on the southwest corner of Cleveland and Larpenteur, and the appropriateness of the mix of the land use between competitive intercollegiate soccer activities with abutting residential properties. • The planning commission unanimously encourages the city council to establish a formal relationship and better communication with the University of Minnesota on planning issues. • The planning commission unanimously acknowledges the receipt of the resolution from representatives of the Grove Association and 1666 Coffman Association and encourages the city council to review the proposed resolution and the full impact that the proposed facility would have on the neighborhood. Donna Olson, U of M Assistant Director of Women's Athletics, gave background on women's athletics at the University, about the women's soccer program, and about the need to have a permanent soccer facility. Tom Hoffoss, from the University's Facilities Management division, described the project. He also explained the six other sites considered for the stadium and the obstacles associated with each of those sites. He also outlined the University's estimation of parking spaces available on soccer game days, located in University contract lots, at • Gibbs Farm, and at the University golf course. The University believes that some spectators will walk or use public transportation to get to the stadium.