HomeMy WebLinkAbout013014 Park Commission Minutes
MINUTES
City of Lake Elmo Park Commission
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Members Present: Hartley, Silvernale, Frick, Steele, Hietpas,
Members Absent: Weis, Nelson, Zeno, Ames
Others Present: Administrator Zuleger, Council Member Reeves, City Planner Nick Johnson, Planning
Commissioner Rolf Larson
The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Hartley, acting as president at 6:35 PM.
Approval of Agenda
Hietpas requested the addition of the Jamaca Storm Planting update.
M/S/P: Hietpas/Hartley: Approved 5-0 as amended
Approval of December 16, 2013 Minutes
Deferred approval of minutes to February meeting.
Election of Officers
In Weis’ absence, Zuleger shared with the commission that Weis was interested in serving as Chair again if it
were the council’s pleasure. 2014 officers were elected as follows:
Chair: Shane Weis, moved by unanimous consent
Vice Chair: Mary Frick, moved by unanimous consent
Secretary: Jacob Silvernale, moved by unanimous consent
New Business
a. Hammes Estates Proposed Park Facilities (Johnson)
Zuleger noted that this is the third iteration of the park plan. A concept was presented on August 19, which the
commission approved 6-0. The plan included small neighborhood park/tot lot. Since then the plan has been
revised and staff advised them to return to park commission in order to move toward preliminary plat.
The new concept has decreased from 172 lots to 164, and includes additional trails and a proposal to expand
and utilize city own parcel near Goose Lake that will house a shelter, tot lot and fishing pier. Traditional
parkland dedication per city comprehensive low density urban district is 10%, which would be 7.8 acres in this
development. The current plan would include more than 11 acres eligible for parkland dedication, if all parkland
dedication is consumed by 100’ buffer trail it may be necessary to find an alternate/additional funding.
Steele questioned how the plan could connect into the larger trail plan for the city. Johnson discussed
connections to surrounding developments.
Brian McGulrich, with the Hammes West Development, addressed the commission. He noted that the
development is intended to promote an active lifestyle. Considering house prices will range between $400 and
$800k (not starter homes), McGulrich believes that a tot lot wouldn’t serve most of the neighborhood.
Therefore the park plan was modified to extend the trail system to cater to walkers, runners etc., and added the
concept for Goose Lake to give the development character. Ryland Homes partner in the development –
driving force behind giving it more of a neighborhood feel.
Amended motion.
M/S/P: Steele/Silvernale: Approved plat as is contingent on the addition of a tot lot, picnic shelter, berm
along the road, linkage of trail into cul-de-sac on north and west, and the pier. Approved 5-0
Motion amended to include the commission’s support of the connection to Stonegate, per Johnson’s
recommendation.
b. Easton Village Park Plan (Johnson)
Staff asked the Park commission asked to review four critical questions regarding the Easton Village Park
Plan: 1. What type of facility should the city plan for in terms of community park in village? 2. How much
acreage is required to site those facilities? 3. In terms of what applicant is presenting, is that location of
parkland appropriate? 4. Are there any expansions of Reid Park that may be appropriate to include with this
development?
According to park plan, the area is slotted as a community park or community sports complex. The area
subject to airport Safety zone, meaning that passive parks are allowed, but state rules do not allow areas or
events where people congregate. The City is working with MnDOT on a specific plan/zoning that would allow
for a limited amount of residential activity in the area.
The current development plan includes 224 single family lots. The developer has presented two general park
areas: 5.1 acres in the northwest corner of site, and a 0.5 acre park area near proposed entrance of the
development. Pure parkland dedication would be 9.8 acres; more land than currently proposed.
Steele shared that he envisioned the area more like a English garden type of park with ponds, trails and a
band shell. Zuleger added that the council sees the village green area closer to Lake Elmo Avenue, and that
the section in Easton is more likely to be developed into a sporting complex. Zuleger added that the Old Village
Comp plan was just approved in December and that there will be a Downtown redevelopment meeting in
March.
Steele expressed concern about the sports complex being so close to housing. Hietpas noted that the amount
currently allocated in terms of acreage wouldn’t be large enough to accommodate a sports complex.
Steele suggested taking cash in lieu of park space because residents will be served by nearby park space
(Reid). Zuleger agreed that accepting cash to augment and add to existing parks is a good idea. He expressed
a shortage in staff and resources presents a challenge to add more acreage to the park system.
Hartley asked if the developer would help the committee/City develop Reid Park.
Developer Tom Walter addressed the commission. He confirmed that what he is hearing is that they were
looking for walkability. Walter discussed a redesign option replacing the allotted park space with one or two
pocket parks, increasing connectivity with cul-de-sacs and trails, and getting pedestrian traffic from east side to
Reid Park.
Commission thinks only one pocket park is necessary (further to the north, east), if there is good connectivity
into Reid.
Walter answered the commission’s question that they could not build facilities in Reid Park – they would give
money in lieu of space, and it would be up to the commission to make further improvements.
c. EMWREP “Clean Water” Geocache trail in Sunfish (Zuleger)
East Metro Water Resource Education Program wants to do a clean water geocache trail in Sunfish Lake Park.
It is being brought to the commission for their approval. Chair Weis has already approved the idea.
M/S/P: Steele/Hietpas: Approve of the EMWREP Clean Water. 5-0
d. February Meeting Date Change (Zuleger)
The regularly scheduled park commission meeting in February falls on a federal holiday – Presidents Day and
the commission is being asked to choose another meeting date. Meeting date changed to Wednesday, Feb. 19
at 6:30 pm.
e. February 11th Workshop with City Council (Zuleger)
Zuleger informed the commission that per ordinance there needs to be an annual meeting with the park
commission and council. Zuleger suggested that the park commission has a 2.5 hour workshop with the
council on Feb. 11th to discuss the key points of the plan of work. The primary issues to be discussed will be
park revitalization, park utilization, trails, forestry, and the Sunfish Lake Park plan of work.
f. Jamaca Storm Planting Update (Hietpas)
Hietpas informed the commission that they did not receive the funding for the planting. 20 applications were
received and 16 were approved; Lake Elmo was not one. Zuleger asked why. Hietpas said that it might be
because their project wasn’t as closely tied to water quality as some of the other projects, and that not enough
funding was available to support all of the projects.
Hietpas said that the money that they currently have could be used to purchase and install plants and also to
get them in, and that there was a time frame in which the funds needed to be spent.
Steele asked if they could tap into the capital fund to supplement.
Item will be added to February agenda for further discussion.
Old Business
a. New Development Review Process (Zuleger)
Zuleger expressed to the commission that when talking about park strategy in new developments should not
break them down into subcommittee. He would like to see development issues addressed by the committee as
a whole. Steele responded that he feels some matters are better suited for smaller committees but agrees with
Zuleger toward development.
Hietpas added that the commission needs a greater amount of background information in order to make
development decisions.
Steele stated that he would feel more comfortable if the commission could nail down a design of central green
and the sports complex in order to find out how much space is needed. He believes this will better equip the
park commission to determine a location to place the parks.
Frick asked if the park plan needs to be revisited as it was developed in 2006. Zuleger replied that, yes, the
commission should reassess.
b. Trail Committee Update (Johnson)
Johnson has been serving as the primary staff person assisting the LERT subcommittee. Johnson talked about
breaking the trail plan into segments and what funding options are available. His role is to help get a plan in
place that the county will support. Johnson stated that city staff has met with county staff members who are the
key players in parks and trails, who support the efforts of the LERT.
Met Council is currently working on a regional bikeways plan, which will fit into what the trail committee is
looking to do. Johnson stated that the main message from Washington County was “Where have you been for
so long?” The City will soon be sending the County a formal letter to initiate a master planning process.
Johnson will email a summary from the meeting with Washington County to all commissioners.
c. New Park Signs (Zuleger)
Zuleger reviewed several past meetings on signs. Zuleger presented a sign design was low maintenance to
meet the request of public works, and that maintained the style previously presented by Carol Kriegler. The
template of the sign would be a monument sign displayed at each park. The proposed sign company is located
in Oakdale. Steele asked to remove the park designation from the sign design. Zuleger said that with a motion
from the commission they would have a prototype sign available to present at next meeting.
M/S/P: Frick/Silvernale: Approved sign design with modifications as discussed. Approved 5-0
Staff Report and Updates
a. Park Commission featured on “Mayor Show” (Zuleger)
Zuleger told the park commission that the city is ramping up cable programming. One new show will be “The
Mayor Show.” Zuleger said that episodes will feature parks. There will also be a 13-minute video featuring our
parks.
b. Public Works Update – Sunfish Gate (Zuleger)
As soon as the snow clears the gate will be installed, as reported by Bouthilet.
Meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Alyssa MacLeod, Recording Secretary