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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-17-07 Park Minutes FinalCity of Lake Elmo Parks Commission Meeting Minutes of January 17, 2007 Vice Chairman Steele called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Parks Commission at 7:03 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Blackford, Larson, Wagner, Booher, Commissioner T. Bouthilet and Watters. STAFF PRESENT: Interim Administrator T. Bouthilet, Assistant Planner Matzek, and Recording Secretary Anez. ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Johnston and Consultants Rich Gray and Berry Farrington from TKDA. Election of Officers Vice Chairman Steele explained the duties of each office and called for nominations for the Parks Board. Commissioner Watters nominated Commissioner Steele seconded by Commissioner Wagner for Chairman of the Parks Commission. No other nominations were forthcoming. Vote: 7:0. Commissioner T. Bouthilet nominated Commissioner Bruchu seconded by Commissioner Watters for Vice Chairman of the Parks Commission. No other nominations were forthcoming. Vote: 7:0. Commissioner T. Bouthilet nominated Commissioner Watters seconded by Chairman Steele for Secretary of the Parks Commission. No other nominations were forthcoming. Vote: 6:0:1, Abstain: Watters ~ Modesty. Agenda Add a statement on Sunfish Lake Park at 7 and a new section for Old Business after City Council Updates. Under Old Business, add Minnesota Land Trust to number 1. M/S/P, Watters/Larson to approve the Agenda as amended. 7:0. Minutes Commissioner Blackford distributed changes to the minutes on page 3, paragraph 7 under Ms. Farrington for addition of another paragraph. Commissioner Booher said on the last page regarding his comments that it should say canoe racks not rent canoes. He said the city could have canoe racks at a lot of the lakes within the city and that should be a consideration. Under Agenda in the minutes of the last meeting, Chairman Steele said that Recognition of Chair should be Resignation of Chair. Page 2 in middle where it says Trail Guide Plan integrated, he urged that the development of the Village Area Master Plan should be done while considering and consulting with the Trails Plan that was developed last year by the Parks Commission. M/S/P, Wagner/Watters to approve the Minutes of December 18, 2006 as amended. Vote: 7:0. Heights Park Petition Assistant Planner Matzek reviewed the history of Heights Park that was developed in three phases. The park was added in the third addition. Minutes had residents asking for the park to be a passive park. Later it was said not to give this park a passive designation without consideration of the Parks Commission. In 1995, a staff report mentioned an active park. There was no formula or recommendation from the Parks Commission other than mention that this park would not be excluded as an active park. Last year, a petition was received asking for improvement of the park. The Parks Commission allocated CIP dollars for this and next year. Some neighbors were not consulted. A second survey was distributed to all the residents. From that a larger number of residents identified that they would not want improvements to Heights Park. The Assistant Planner asked for a recommendation from the Parks Commission with how the city should proceed. Chairman Steele explained the Parks Commission role to the audience in attendance. Commissioner Larson asked if audience members represented both surveys, and how they would like to negotiate this dilemma. Dawn Brady Mrs. Brady said she conducted the first survey and said she distributed her survey only to the third addition because she thought the park was developed for and concurrent with the third addition. She said the residents of 27th Street didn’t want the park when it was developed. She said she thought the second survey was coercive with false statements such as residents might have to pay for the park through assessments. Mrs. Brady said she stated her concern in a letter she sent to the city. She questioned about passive and active parks. She read from some of what she called the misleading statements from the second survey. She said there is disagreement in the neighborhood and there is no association. Commissioner T. Bouthilet said the cost for park development comes from dedicated park funds and cost of maintenance comes from the General Fund. Interim Administrator T. Bouthilet said park maintenance comes out of the General Fund and it is not separated by park. He said there has never been special assessments to a neighborhood for a park. All park maintenance dollars are spread out throughout all taxpayers in the city. Mrs. Brady said in the past nothing was done to maintain the park. A neighbor hayed the field. As a taxpayer she asked if that is how the city maintains the park. Commissioner T. Bouthilet said oftentimes residents of the city have a “not in my backyard” attitude. Strategically, he said it makes sense to have a park in a specific area for the greater good. We have to look at both existing and future residents in this neighborhood. Thomas Dillon Mr. Dillon said there already two parks in the neighborhood, the park on County Road13 which is not highly utilized and Tablyn Park. He said the residents should utilize the existing parks and the city should upgrade existing parks in the area. Rich Ross Mr. Ross said he lives on 26th; he conducted and administered the second survey. The concerns he had were to survey everyone in the neighborhood. A majority of the neighbors live on 26th, 27th, and Imperial bordering the park. He said there could be potential assessment of fees for construction and fees for maintenance in the future. Could the city assure there would never be any assessments to the neighborhood in the future? That was only one of several issues he outlined in the survey. Privacy and easy access to backyards that are normally obscured from the public was another issue. Access to the park is limited without going over private land. Coincidentally foot traffic is a big concern for residents bordering the park. A safety concern is regarding a fairly deep pond in that park area. The pond is fairly well obscured by brush. He said he made an attempt to have a better representation of residents and to feed thoughts of other considerations of how it might affect the residents. He said he is open to development if everyone has input. Commissioner Larson asked if there was a procedure or a map that gives a border to the neighborhood served by this park. If you know the borders, you know the population. He said the city should determine who are the stakeholders for that neighborhood park. What about a third survey? He would like to have a consensus that everyone agrees upon. Mrs. Brady said there are a group of parents that wants the park developed and a group that would like it to remain a passive use. Chairman Steele asked if it was unrealistic to find a consensus among them. Commissioner Wagner suggested that staff help formulate a plan to get the two sides together. Commissioner T. Bouthilet said Heights Park was created with dedicated park land and is in the comprehensive park plan. The initial plan was that the CIP would fund some minor improvements and only $25,000 is budgeted for it this year. Commissioner Larson said you are not necessarily talking about developing the entire park. There are many parks with developed areas and natural areas. Twenty-five thousand dollars would buy a small play structure so children do not have to cross Highway 13. Mrs. Brady asked if a passive park means there is no maintenance. Chairman Steele said that maintenance is a matter for staff. Commissioner Blackford said she walked through it and the pond was rather hidden and it shouldn’t be near a play structure. Commissioner Watters said the city just allowed the park to be farmed because there had never been a request for improvement in the past. It was not planned for a hayfield. Rich Ross Mr. Ross said the play structure idea for $25,000 is relatively minor, and a majority of neighbors have play structures in their private yards. He said a passive park is wild with natural grasses. Commissioner Blackford said there was a part of the area that was bare ground that had never been farmed. Mr. Ross said every year it regrows. Mr. Dillon said it would be nice to develop it as a prairie like in the park reserve. Interim Administrator T. Bouthilet said there was no formal letter sent to all residents. He asked if the commissioners want a survey or a public meeting where every resident is notified so we have a broader view. There are a wide variety of options and a conclusion can be found that is amenable to everyone. Assistant Planner Matzek said some people thought a third survey would not be effective. Commissioner T. Bouthilet said the neighborhood is polarized now. Jean Sluss Mrs. Sluss suggested the plans be made before the comprehensive park plan is finished. Some people were encouraged by a ball field versus talk of a tiny play structure. Maybe they could receive some input on what is possible in the space. Commissioner Larson said there were structures, costs, and space required on a sheet distributed by staff a few meetings ago. The Assistant Planner Matzek said she will discuss it with Parks Superintendent Bouthilet. M/S/P, T. Bouthilet/Wagner to direct staff to work with residents in a public meeting format to find resolution and formulate a recommendation to how this park should develop. Vote: 7:0. Comprehensive Parks Plan Update Ms. Farrington distributed Map 7 which was not included in the packet. Mr. Gray reviewed the park planning to date and explained Map 7. Chairman Steele asked how this Park Plan is gelling with the Village Area Master Plan. Mayor Johnston said twenty acres are already dedicated for community playfields. Ms. Farrington said that Bruce Jacobson had spoken about east and west parks when explaining the Village Area Master Plan. Chairman Steele asked if parks in the area below 10th Street are going to displace the development plans. Mr. Gray said there is target density for the overall area. Greater population will mean a greater need to serve that population. Commissioner Booher asked about the mandate of the area south of 10th Street. The Mayor said about 1000 acres slated for development. The city has the option to require developers to dedicate 7% for parks. The requirement will be for 3 or 3.5 units per acre overall. Mr. Gray said that amount of land is roughly in keeping with the Park Plan. Ms. Farrington explained a parkway that would link the parks throughout the city. It would have one-half mile segments without a street crossing that would work with the Trails Plan. They are asking for direction on whether this is something desirable. Commissioner Larson wanted to be sure an off road trail goes through completely; he said the roads don’t have to go through. Mr. Gray said traffic calming tools can be used for vehicular traffic. The parkway is a stronger solution for connecting neighborhoods along with trails. The mayor said one of the highest priorities for the Village Plan is for Highway 5 to be converted to an urban street between Schiltgen Farm and Manning Avenue instead of a freeway. People who develop neighborhoods do not want those types of connections. Stonegate residents demanded vacation of three stub roads that would have connected them to other neighborhoods. The concept of a parkway sounds beautiful but that isn’t what people seem to want. The commissioners were more in favor of non-motorized connections and a trail that varied in width like a very long park. Mr. Gray said the parkway came directly from the trail plan and follows it very closely. Ms. Farrington said they will eliminate text about vehicles and change the name from parkway to greenway. Mr. Gray said you will look at right-of-way width such as 60 feet and it will come out of that seven percent of park dedicated lands. Chairman Steele asked about the process of developing trail versus park land. Mayor Johnston said the process of developing a trail has to come from somewhere. Assistant Planner Matzek said the Village Area Master Plan addresses park amenities but it does not hurt to add it to the Park Plan. 20+/- acre field within Sunfish Lake Park. Commissioner Blackford said we should first look at the Land Trust before we look at developing that 20 acre field. She said she had a conservancy report that was available for everyone. Jim Blackford Mr. Blackford thanked the Parks Commission to put the measure before the City Council to put Sunfish into a Land Trust. That park is a solution for a lot of the city problems. This is one of the best pieces of land in the city that is under our control. This is our piece that is natural and very critical. There is a strong group of people in the community that would strongly oppose any development to the park. Commissioner Blackford identified that is the land that is disturbed in Sunfish. Commissioner Larson said it is being farmed. Chairman Steele said it is in a nature corridor. Commissioner T. Bouthilet said we should not be so absolute about it. This is another area of 20 acres, and we need to meet the needs of the people who are going to be living there. If someone lives in a small development is it going to hurt anything to have a one-half acre tot lot? Tapestry did not need anything because they have Sunfish. We aren’t looking at preserving natural areas and we need to focus as much on that as we do on recreation. Commissioner T. Bouthilet said the majority of park acreage in the city are natural now. Ms. Farrington said they do not have an agenda for the park area, but they need a consensus on this 20 acres. Commissioner Booher said we should not impact the natural area. He suggested pavilions, a swing set, or maybe a volleyball net. Commissioner Blackford suggested that if any building were to be built there it should be a nature interpretive center for educational opportunities, a low building complementing the woods. She suggested creating indigenous wildflower gardens marking trees and getting rid of buckthorn. Commissioner Larson said there should be a corridor of open space around the park. A buffer zone for movement of wildlife as well. He would like an environmental center. The city could work with other agencies to do it. There are natural habitats that need protection. Chairman Steele said he would like to see an ice rink, an interpretive center, some very low impact use and for the city to be mindful of completing the wildlife corridor between Sunfish and Lake Elmo Park Reserve. Commissioner Watters would like to see the area returned to nature. If we have to have a building it would have to be low impact. An ice rink with a warming house and low lights would be okay. She suggested an archery range or other quiet sports. She would also like to see an off-leash dog run. She loves the gravel road and would like no pavement within 500 feet of Sunfish Lake Park. She did not believe ballfields were appropriate there. Commissioner T. Bouthilet said he agrees it should be low impact, perhaps a warming house for skiers and skaters. Not for ballfields there. We shouldn’t shut the door to a nearby neighborhood park with play structures. Commissioner Wagner said she would like to see an interpretive center and skating/skiing with a warming house, low impact, no lights, and other quiet activities. She said structures should be low and inconspicuous. Susan Dunn Mrs. Dunn said the disturbed field outside the natural area of Sunfish is more than 20 acres. It is a part of Sunfish Lake Park. You should have a calming experience when you arrive there. She would like to see no high intensity use within the gateway into Sunfish Lake Park. She thinks ice skating should be where the population lives. She can see a warming house or an interpretive center. She will provide information to the Assistant Planner. The mayor said the city has is faced with a decision. If the City chooses not to use this 30 acres for an active park, the city will have to spend $2.5 million to acquire the same thing. The taxpayers are going to say here are 30 acres of farmland now that is centrally located, why would we spend the money to buy something we already have? Ms. Farrington said to give any changes to Assistant Planner Matzek. The Open House is February 15 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. City Council Update There were no updates relative to Parks. Old Business Minnesota Land Trust Assistant Planner Matzek said she thought the Land Trust easement for Sunfish Lake Park was being delayed until the Park Plan was complete. This will be brought back to the Park Commission for further discussion when this Park Plan is completed. Commissioner Wagner agreed that the commission agreed to revisit this when the plan was finished. Adjourned at 9:16 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kimberly Anez Recording Secretary