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EVERTON AVENUE STUDY COMPLETE All involved declare it successful After four neighborhood meetings, the planning study for the sense this is what we did here." Peterson also appreciated the Everton Avenue neighborhood has been completed and is opportunity to meet the people involved. "I think it was ready to be presented to the Planning Commission. helpful to put a face on everybody and make the process per- Approximately 1600 acres in the southwestern quadrant of conal," he added. the city, the Everton Avenue neighborhood is defined as the area located north of County Road 8 (Frenchman Road), The primary concerns addressed by the study were: south of 165th Street, east of Elmcrest Avenue, and west of Highway 61. 1. Transportation. Specifically, the location of future col- lector roads was a primary issue. After much discussion and Community Development Director John Rask served as pro- consideration, it was recommended by a large majority of the ject manager and was the primary Hugo staff contact with the participants to shift the collector roads east of the existing local engineering and planning firms of SEH and WSB who Everton Avenue. Everton Avenue was originally planned as were hired to help with the study. Each m attend- the collector road. ed by 30-50 people, including resident wn s, devel- opers, City staff members, and City embers. 2. Storm water management. The study looked at three According to Rask,"Essentially what the pr ess invo ed -things: storm water management,wetland management, and to come up with a land use plan for the nei oo Y t � � a fl, plain study. Of most interest was that there is a large ' amount of flood plain in this area that is incorrectly mapped. Rask felt the project was very successful primarily because ofThis project TW identified those areas,and an application has the strong citizen involvement. "The eighborhood partici- been submitted to revise the Federal Emergency Management pated," he said, "and we got a lot very meaningful public Agency (FEMA) map."-The other interesting part calls for a input." City Council Member Chuck Haas agreed. "l think regial stogy water ponding system for the neighborhood, it was an excellent process,"'stated Ha I think everyone as opposed to doingindividuals:, all ponds throughout the felt a sense of ownership. And I t everybody felt that in area. �� some way they got something o . of the process that was ben- eficial to them—that was of`value:'° . 3. Preservationor open spac and creation of trails and park,'s. Cus y calls for establishing two greenway corri- I Al Landowners and developers in the arca Nvere also pleased with dors`tl risscross the neighborhood. Some of these the process. Len Pratt, a homebuilder with Pratt Homes of areas could be used for the$'torm water management ponds. White Bear Lake, who is also a landowner in rhe study area The need for another neigh orhood park directly west of the and is co-developing the Victor Gardcrns dcwdopment, said, Creelwlew l'reservc develop hent was also established. "I thought it was a great process. 1 think the tone was prop- erly established in the beginning— that evervbodv was going 4. Sewer and water. The study looked at how the infra- to get a chance to ask questions. And the information that structure would be provided for sewer and water to serve was being disseminated was shared with everyone at the sanne development in the area. It also c s for the development of time,so everybody felt they were on a� vel playing field.' He pilaus for extension of sewer and wa er as development occurs. added that people seemed to appreciate the organized, ratio- nal approach. 5. Land use. Three land use alternatives developed by the City were discussed with the neighborhood. None of the Jim Peterson, a project manager and developer for Trail Head plans received any serious opposition; therefore, the three Land Development Corporation, who has a piece of land plans will be forwarded to the planning commission for dis- under contract in the area,-appreciated the timing of the cit- cussion and recommendation to the City Council. izen involvement. "Ideally the time for people to effect change in the City is during the planning process," he stated. EVERTON "It's a lot easier and certainly less adversarial, and I think in a Continued on Page 4