03/16/1998 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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LAND USE PLANNING AND DESIGN Date: 3/12/98 Rick DeGardner, Parks and Recreation Director Lino Lakes Park and Recreation Department 7204 Lake Drive Lino Lakes, MN 55014 Dear Rick, Enclosed you will find a reduced copy and full size plan of a revised athletic complex layout based on the following parameters: • Limit amenities to the primary facilities as shown • Use a layout configuration that minimizes the amount of land required to accommodate these facilities while still meeting the needs of the users • Create a layout that can be accommodated on a variety of properties Based on these parameters, the total minimum land area we suggest you consider is 60 acres. The plan as shown consumes slightly less than that, but that is based on finding the perfect parcel of land that has minimal grading concerns and no wetlands or other protected areas. Also note that the configuration as shown is tight with respect to the relationships between fields and parking Tots. As such, a minimum of 60 acres seems warranted to allow us to loosen things up so that the relationship between facilities would be more comfortable. Aso, you may want to allow yourself some reserve land for future expansion. I would suggest another I 0 acres would suffice to provide reasonable reserve land. With respect to location, the property previously being considered in the south-central part of the community remains the most optimal in my mind for a number of reasons. First, the property is well situated for relatively easy access for a large portion of the city's population — now as well as in the future. Second, this location also services some of the community park needs for this area of the community, such as the hockey rinks, tennis courts, basketball, etc. Third, the soil conditions appear to be more desirable in this location than the one we looked at in the northeast park of the community. This is important in that the cost to provide underdrainage and/or soil amendments for fields built on clays verses more sandy soils can easily range from $40,000 to $60,000 per field if the work is completed by a contractor. I recognize that land availability and/or the opportunity to acquire it in a timely manner are critical factors in site selection.1 also recognize that you and the Park Commission have put forth considerable effort in reaching a satisfactory agreement on a desirable parcel of property that simply hasn't worked out. The realities of the situation may be such that the choices are simply becoming more and more limited and perhaps fast fleeting. That being said, I still encourage the City to continue to pursue the earlier parcel because it is, in my opinion, a much more desirable location for the complex. Please call with questions. Thank you. enbauer, V e 'resident 7301 Ohms Lane, Suite 500 Minneapolis, MN 55439 Tel (612) 832-9475 Fax (612) 832-9542