January 3, 2006 CCP - Laserfiche WebLink

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AMEN, APPROVED: 07/25/06 Tim Mandel, 2479 Lisbon Avenue Mr. Mandel said he looked at some of the plans because nobody told him and his neighbors that there were changes. Eden Park 1"Addition bad a petition they brought forth to the Parks Commission. He said he would like the Planning Commission to make sure the trail segment in his neighborhood is deleted from the plan by making a motion. He said the City residents keep fighting to keep it a rural community. They did not move here for people to be walking through their yards, He said the City should have polled neighborhoods. Oakdale has a sea of privacy fences due to their trail plan. Trails belong in parks. Trails are public and we do not want the public in our backyard. This is not for Lake Elmo. 10 to 15 years ago, people came to the City and said what they wanted for Lake Elmo. None of those things were done except the welcome sign that was put in by the Jaycees. Judith Blackford, 9765 45t" Street North Ms. Blackford presented a letter (attached) to the Planning Commission, She said she was willing to answer questions about the Parks Commission recommendation. She was a commissioner for seven years in the past. She wants to preserve the jewel of the community —Sunfish Park She is concerned for all the feeder trails into Sunfish Park. Todd Williams, 3025 Lake (Elmo Avenue He, said he understands the desire for a unified Trails Plan. He thoroughly endorses a walking trail. connection from the Old Village to Lake Elmo Park Reserve. He emphasized walking only. The plan should not include additional trails into existing neighborhoods. New neighborhoods would be great. Existing streets can serve as walling and biking trails. No additional trails should be added. He said he uses Sunfish Park all year. The City should restrict access to walking only from other neighborhoods. There should be no paving in Sunfish Park, Ann Bucheck, 2301 Legion Avenue She said she found out about this meeting on Saturday. This trail system would be a major change to our City. THE CHAIRMAN CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 8:03 P.M. Superintended Boutbilet explained that the segment on Legion Avenue would be on the road right of way as the trail link Conunissioner Roth said that he had a hard time identifying new off -road trails. The Planner suggested that the Legend could have more specificity. He said the Trail System Plan is more than the map on the wall. The trails are basically where they are because they are points of origin and destination links. He said that is a very sound basis for a Trails Plan. LEPR are considering points of entry once we have a Trails Plan. They are in the loop through this process. Washington County will allow limited points of entry. One neighborhood does not want the trail at all no matter where it is. This type of Trails Plan only gets done once every 10 to 20 years. Chairman Helwig asked if it would be appropriate to have a combined workshop with Parks. Administrator Rafferty said the Parks Commission worked very hard and with good rationale to formulate the Trails Plan. There are not a lot of trails on specific streets. That is not what the work was about. There is good science here and a good foundation for this plan. The Parks Commission suggested the Planning Commission review it and give direction, it would be expensive to incorporate those changes into the graphics immediately. All the changes should be made at once. Commissioner Lyzenga thanked the Parks Commission. She said it is a wonderful plan for an urban setting. She said residents in Lake Elmo do not need to be connected or have anyone in their backyard. The Trails Plan is too ambitious and over the top. She said the City should have a limited system connecting major thoroughfares to major destinations. There is no need for this plan; it is not appropriate. Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of July 11, 2005 3