April 18, 2006 CCP - Laserfiche WebLink

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Bob Helwig, Planning Commission Chair, stated that this proposal is the tail wagging the dog. The City does need ball fields, but let us get the right land. He suggested looking in the Old Village Area plan to place 4-5 new fields. He noted that the site proposed is sizable, and would support many houses toward the mandated 2030 population of 24,000. Council member Smith said there would be 12 houses on the 26 acres of the proposed site. She observed that 3M owns the land in Oakdale, and they could give land to Oakdale for the playfield instead of Lake Elmo land. She said that the Oakdale Athletic Association is a powerful force and will dictate what they want in a joint playfield, including lighted fields. She said she views this to be primarily an Oakdale park for its ballfields. Terry Aronson asked why this Lake Elmo land was being donated when 3 M has so much other land in Oakdale. He asked why the City can't update the exi# 9 parks we have now. Mayor Johnston said you better decide what you need, that it would be an error to rush to judgment on the pr Elmo needs analysis. He said the City should rest�t:th proposal. Council member Johnson said she doesn't the City should do a need assessment, and use fields. She observed that if the City c� going to do when we are 24,000 populatio The Administrator said that the need for playfields, and Council member Smith pi rink/winter activity in the Sunfish Park to Us ten with it and work it down; and without th 'benefit of a Lake ess regarding the playfield gh need for fields, but feels ,awe are going to place multi- ield needs now, what we are the parks commission to determine s Dept. talked about a possible skating and asked what about the 20 acres in front of Planner Dillerud said he l as provided the Parks Commission a needs assessment done by Oakdale that could act as a process guide for the Lake Elmo Park Plan update. He noted that you don't do an updated park plan before you do a land use plan. Now that the 2030 land use plan is all but completed, the Parks Commission is on their way with the Park Plan update —including community playfields. In response suggestion that the neighborhood parks be used for playfield type activities he advised the Council that most of the organized and city-wide activities at community play fields cannot be accommodated at most neighborhood parks without negative impacts on the neighborhood. There may be some neighborhood parks of a size and location that might host those activities without negatively impacting the neighborhood, but that strategy is not good park planning. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 14, 2006