HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-15-10 Commission minutes finalFINAL
Lake Elmo Park Commission
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
March 15, 2010
Vice-Chair Blackford called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Steele, Booher, Zeno, Blackford, Larson, Dobbs
STAFF PRESENT: Project Assistant Kriegler
Agenda
Agenda was approved (Larson / Zeno, 6-0)
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Minutes
January 20, 2010 minutes approved as amended (Dobbs / Zeno, 5-0 with Steele and
Booher abstaining) Add: Motion: Recommendation to accept the prairie restoration
proposal submitted by Minnesota Native Landscapes (Dobbs / Zeno, 5-0).
Appointment of Officers
This item was deferred due to member attendance and the lack of accurate information
related to term expirations.
Review and discussion on Sunfish Lake Park parking area / Area Two concept
plan and planning
The 2010 Park Capital Improvement Program includes funding for “boulders, gate and
landscaping”, rain gardens, information kiosk and signage at Sunfish Lake Park. These
improvements have been scheduled with the primary goal of “managing” the parking
area and providing information for the purpose of enhancing a park users experience.
As indicated in the S.F.L.P. conservation easement, facilities and amenities shall be
constructed with materials, textures and colors that are “natural” in character and
consistent with natural surroundings.
Staff presented a concept plan that included a native / interpretive garden, information
kiosk, soft footpath, scattered boulder gathering area and trees in the area identified as
the Picnic / Short Turf – Open Play Area in the Area Two Concept Plan, rain garden and
boulder placement for the purpose of defining the parking area.
Park Commisioners made the following comments: advocate for a shorter grass seed
mix with densely planted wildflowers to showcase the area closest to the parking area;
the information kiosk should be located on the northside of the parking lot until the prairie
begins to mature and become an attraction to users; any boulder placement should
consider sun angles.
Commissioner Blackford suggested that that members of the commission meet onsite
for the purpose of an informal site visit, specifically to begin to consider a possible
location for a modest shelter / interpretive center.
MOTION: Prairie restoration contractor is to be directed to utilize a short grass seed mix
in the area immediately south of the parking area (to be referred to as Area Two A), (6-0,
Dobbs / Larson).
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Update on City Trail Plan inventory and planning
Carol Kriegler reported that with Kellie’s return work is continuing on the trail inventory
which is designed to assist in the prioritization of the development of base trails and trail
segments, identification of ROW issues in need of resolution, and the identification of
land acquisition needs.
Eders Century Pines Subdivision and Park Dedication
The Commission reviewed what is the preliminary and final plat related to Eder’s
Century Pines subdivision. City Staff’s recommendation is that the applicants of the
Eder’s Century Pines Subdivision pay cash in lieu of park land dedication and that the
fee be determined by a set fee of $3,600 per lot, in this case $10,800.00.
The proposed subdivision is to re-subdivide 78.5 acres of land that is located west of
Keats Avenue, east of Julep Avenue and to the north and south of 47th Street. The
purpose of the subdivision is to facilitate the division of the family farm property among
the remaining family members. There is no planned development with the request.
MOTION: Support city staff’s recommendation of cash in lieu of park land dedication
and that the fee be determined by a set fee of $3,600 per lot (Approved 6-1, with Zeno in
dissent) Mike expressed that he doesn’t like being bought out of something we might
want in the future.
Adjourned 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Kriegler,
Project Assistant