02/01/1993 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

AGENDA ITEM 4 G Permit Application 93-6042 December 14, 1992 Page 2 Most of the internal park trails we would like to keep as natural as possible, but they are by no means intended to be "primitive" trail types. They are in high-density urban population areas. Our intent is to eventually route these residents into the more primitive and regional wildland areas inside the 2600-acre regional park in the heart of Lino Lakes. Philosophically, the real reasons that we manage these areas are humanly-based. That is why many city, county, and state park systems have designed trail systems around and sometimes through wetland areas. They are interesting to people. Trails allow managers of parks to create a public awareness of the environment and initiate environmental education programs. One of the major reasons that the current residents have moved into the City of Lino Lakes is because of the vast wetlands and the biologic diversity that they create. We need to be able to get them there through a quality system of trails. The Wetland Conservation Act of 1991 created new rules that changed the way that we all must look at wetland situations. We all believe in the conservation of this valuable resource. From our perspective, though, we believe in some instances, particularly in the case of a minor encroachment when the best interests of a given population of people are concerned, that there needs to be consideration for tolerance. We believe that the Brandywood trail entrance through 2-555W is a situation where this tolerance for a minor encroachment is in the best interest of the residents of Lino Lakes. That is, that the public need for the project rules out the no-build alternative. Our parks and recreation comprehensive plan states as a goal that the wetland areas are to be respected and avoided as much as possible. We believe that in this instance, and quite possibly in a few other situations in our developing trail system, that there needs to be some consideration given to cities that can show a public need. We believe that the public need is present in 2-555W. Consideration needs to be given to cities that may have been caught between the new wetland laws and commitments to already designed and built developments. The laws were written after substantial dollars had been spent and trail areas were locked in. We cannot change the design and trail configuration of the proposed trail through 2-555W. It will create a public hardship. Without a paved trail, we would not be able to service this park area adequately. Our city planners are also concerned with emergency access to this area of the park. Yes, we can allow for emergency access to the park via the entrance on the southwest end, but conceptually we had planned for a picnic area between the two areas of wetland crossing at the permit site. Both entrances to the park were designed to serve as access at different locations. The south park entrance was intended to provide access on the south side including new developments to the south. The northern entrance was intended to provide access for residents to the north. Please see the enclosed plat. ''%. Without an adequate paved trail on the north end we would not be able to adequately service the proposed area of use between the two crossings.