10/01/2001 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Sue Walseth 1 History of Trail Access to Birch Park •1/12/94 Transcribed Planning & Zoning Board Minutes from Audio CassetteTapes: (The Whitcomb's, original owners of Trappers' Crossing, were in the audience.) Chuck Seykora: "I am an attorney from Coon Rapids. I am here representing the Whitcomb's, who are the owners of this particular piece of property. The Whitcomb's felt a little uncomfortable, in speaking in a public forum. so they asked that I present their views for you today. Naturally, they are supporting the plan that is proposed by Hokanson Development. They feel that it is a fair plan, and what they are offering to do. ...The Whitcomb's do have 125 acres. As you can see from the wetland delineations that came down, over 55 acres of that property is essentially not developable property. All the property on the west side has so much wetlands that you are not going to develop it into a plat." 5/4/94 Transcribed Park Board Minutes from Audio CassetteTapes: Marty Asleson (Park Board Director in 1994): "In trying to provide access to Birch Park , a boardwalk is being recommended from the development. It is all wetland between the park and the development. There is 250 feet of wetlands and a creek to cross. The (county) ditch is a vertical wall ditch. It's very deep in spots, about 4 -5 feet. It is a flowing ditch and in the wintertime, freezes on top, and still flows. It is a very hazardous situation. The park area is attractive for children and adults. They will want to go there, and cross people's backyards to get there, with or without the bridge in place. We have to provide an access." Kirk Corson (representative for Hokanson Development of Trappers' Crossing): "The area north of the development is not owned by us. We will need permission of the people (Whitcomb's) who own that land to cross it. This will have an impact on it. If you put an easement on it, the owner will be liable, if someone is injured. The 200 -plus feet of boardwalk will cost about $75/ft. — for a total of $20,000 to $25,000 to cross over. We are dedicating over $75,000. The hydrologist will recommend IllOtwo large box culverts, similar to what was done under Birch Street, to handle the capacity of the 100 - year flood. It is an amenity for the development to have access to this park." Jeanne C. (daughter of the Whitcomb's): "You bought Birch Park land from us. If you require more, why not buy more land that is attached to it? You previously bought 1 1/2 acres — and 4 acres before that. I don't want to be landlocked. We still have 38 acres over here. A good 25 of that is total swamp. There are 3 high knolls that can be developed eventually over there. We want to do something down there — or sell it to the city f o r a park or bird sanctuary, or whatever you w a n t to do with it." ... . . I am advantageously looking for people to buy it. Maybe someone wants to buy that whole 38 acres, and maybe have one home on it. But I don't want any liability of a boardwalk. If that is the case, I want an indemnification agreement. I really do." Kirk Corson: "If you still have a park requirement, you can make the whole area as a park, if you desire." Jeanne C.: "There is nothing that we can do with the majority of it, but there are 38 acres with 3 high knolls. If someone wants to build a nice house, or put a couple of horses on it, it would be perfect.. . Could the answer be that the city buy the rest of that — up to the park? For the park? So it makes the park bigger, and it is part of the city? You need another 4 acres or more of usable land. Could you have a Nature Center? On usable land ?" Kirk Corson: "Maybe we could use that $76,000 to build something across ?" Marty Asleson: "It is a 4 -foot wide ditch. It is a running ditch. And it is 4 -feet deep... The Park Board generally doesn't buy wetland. I don't know what the value would be — wetland — maybe $500 /acre? And appraise it at recreation value, instead of buildable value. There is some upland value as well." •Jeanne C.: "I don't want the easement across there. If you are willing to buy it at the "swamp price" (laughs) ... I don't want the responsibility or liability. I don't want to be landlocked.... Would you have someone appraise it ?"