06/11/2001 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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June 5, 2001 The Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide proposes a 36 acre community • park at the intersection of Birch Street and Hodgson Road. With the acquisition, in 1999, of 67 acres at Centerville Road and Birch Street for an athletic complex, this is no longer practical. Since the Spirit Hills Development is approximately 1/2 mile from Rice Lake Elementary School, it was determined that an additional park area was not needed for this 50 home development. The existing travel route is 8' wide paved trail separated from Birch Street. This should alleviate safety concerns for children to walk or bike to Rice Lake Elementary. Rice Lake Elementary has the typical amenities normally found in neighborhood parks including a playground, basketball, baseball /softball fields, and open play area. The acquisition of a 1/4 acre lot in the Spirit Hills development to serve as a mini -park is not practical or efficient. Mini -parks are primarily designed to address limited, isolated, or high- density areas such as apartment complexes or housing for the elderly. The Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide does not indicate any future mini - parks. However, should a development such as an apartment complex or senior housing come before staff and the Park Board, we would certainly consider a mini -park scenario. "Securing Trail Easement Along Northwestern Edge of Development" The Anoka County Regional Trail System Plan originally proposed a trail along the eastern and southern areas of Rice Lake and continuing to Hodgson Road. I have included a map • showing the original trail location. When the Spirit Hills Development came to my attention, I contacted Anoka County regarding the status of the proposed trail. Anoka County indicated that this trail was no longer in the Regional Trail Plan for two reasons. The most significant reason was construction costs due to the extensive amount of wetlands that needed to be traversed. It was determined that this particular trail segment was cost prohibitive. Secondly, there was a safety concern related to the trail terminating at a non- controlled intersection. This would require trail users to cross the middle of Highway 49, travel north over the bridge, and continue westward on the regional trail. Expecting trail users to cross Highway 49 isn't responsible, especially given the existing 50 mph speed limit and the possible raised median when Highway 49 is reconstructed. Therefore, Anoka County has relocated the regional trail to terminate at the existing trail system at Rice Lake Elementary School. The regional trail would continue westward along Birch Street, and proceed northward along Highway 49. This coincides with Anoka County's plan to place a paved trail along the western side of Highway 49. It does not make economic or practical sense to commit substantial resources to construct a trail that terminates at an unsafe location, especially when a feasible alternate has been identified. For this reason, staff and the Park Board felt it would not be practical for the city to construct the aforementioned trail segment and subsequently contacted Mr. Goertz that a trail easement along the northwestern edge of the development wasn't necessary. "Securing Property for Trail Adjacent to Birch Street" The Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide indicates a Class 11 level of trail • along the north side of Birch Street. A Class 11 level trail is defined as a 8 - 10 feet wide paved trail, separated from the roadway, and located within the existing road right -of -way. Since an existing trail is located on the north side of Birch Street from Hokah Drive to Rice Lake Elementary, the only issue relates to construction of a trail segment from Hokah Drive