12/03/2003 Environmental Board Minutes

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_ ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING DECEMBER 3, 2003 Donlin indicated that an injustice was done on the Target site. Grochala noted the existing wetland consisted of 7 -8 acres, with no irrigation planned. It would join with the wetland Asleson was speaking o£ He distributed a handout depicting the present street and streetscape plan that remained in progress. It showed the landscape from a cross - section. The traffic and community square would create a. garden and entertainment area. The last page showed the lighting. Vice Chair Grundhofer inquired if the herons would be there. Asleson asked for clarification on the definition of an interactive water feature. . Grochala responded they were basically squirt guns. He continued that the lights would be typically 14 -16 feet high. O'Connell inquired who was responsible for maintenance. Grochala answered that the City would do the majority of the maintenance, except for the storefronts. The plow and plant waterings would be the responsibility of the City. There would be an incentive to keep them low labor. There would be a cost associated with low labor. Asleson questioned how it would be maintained. Grochala answered the City would have more control. The Hartford Development Team would address it more fully. Bill Griffith with the Hartford Development Team introduced himself. It was a local company, and could be more responsive to the City's vision and to the market. Their approach was to continually comeback for discussion. A key was the environmental aspect. They came into the project accepting the fact that there was to be no impact on the wetlands. There would be a balance with the entire district, as opposed to a microcosm approach. The vision came out of the CalThorpe design, also known as a new urbanism. It would not merely commercial, but a community where one could work shop and recreate. It would also be intergenerational. Examples where the company had worked were in Plymouth, Eden Prairie, and several others. The center on the master plan would be a pedestrian environment. He showed the proposed pedestrian linkages and skyway. There would also be varying rooftops, with the homes being located close to the street. Vice Chair Grundhofer inquired about the townhome parking. Mr. Griffith noted there was no design yet, but it would either be tuck under or underground parking. The larger building would have underground parking. O'Dea questioned the YMCA parking area. Grochala responded the YMCA was initially building 17, but they wanted a suburban plan, not an urban plan. The Hartford Development team had worked with the YMCA to agree to shared s APPROVED MINUTES