HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026.05.07 Bald Eagle Estates HOA Letter May 7, 2026
Erin Baylock, Project Manager
Washington Public Works
11660 Myerson Road North
Stillwater, MN 55082
RE: PROPOSED HARDWOOD CREEK TRAIL EXTENSION
Erin Baylock-
As Board of the Bald Eagle Estates Homeowners Association,we are writing to advise you of
our objection and concerns relative to the proposed extension of the Hardwood Creek Trail as it
adversely impacts our private property. On May 4, 2026,we held our annual meeting of
homeowners in our Association.Two documents were shared with homeowners: the Project
Timeline made available at the April 8 Public Meeting; and the drawing showing the proposed
trail relative to our property, recognizing that you have stated that you do not yet have a final
plan for the trail, so this is a preliminary drawing. As you are aware, some Association
homeowners also attended the April 8, 2026, Public Meeting at Hugo City Hall and expressed
their concerns.
Our Association is an over-55 community of homeowners who specifically chose their homes
here for reasons including privacy, safety, and natural setting surrounded by trees, proximity to
wetlands and wildlife. The trail extension proposed will eliminate some of these valuable assets
of our properties. While we do understand that a final trail plan does not yet exist, we collectively
have several significant concerns relative to the design scheme presented thus far. Among
these are the following.
1. The path of the trail will run parallel to the railroad tracks and Highway 61 fronting all our
properties. It will most certainly necessitate the removal of the majority, if not all, of the
trees, shrubs and foliage adjacent to our entire private road. Loss of these trees and
foliage will adversely impact the aesthetic value of our properties in addition to removing
both the visual and sound barriers of the railway, but more importantly, Highway 61.
2. Our private road was not designed and built to handle the kind of equipment that will be
needed to construct the trail extension. It will most certainly be destroyed if it is used by
such equipment.
3. Loss of privacy. The trail without any barriers (trees, fencing) eliminates the privacy
homeowners currently have.
4. Loss of Safety/Safety Concerns. With said loss of privacy there are concerns for safety
as the trail allows easy public access to our currently private, protected community. With
the trees gone and a public trail running along our properties, our elderly homeowners
have concerns about opening our properties to easier access resulting in more fears for
safety.
5. Parking lot. Our community has a private parking lot used for visitors which is a valuable
asset to homeowners. This is particularly important for family celebrations and holidays.
Of concern is how this parking lot will remain private for use by homeowners and their
guests only once the trail is constructed. Parking by trail users in either our parking lot or
on our roadway are a concern to us.
6. Trail maintenance -concerns about littering, animal waste, etc. if it spills onto our
property.
7. Property Values. Construction of the proposed trail will adversely affect our property
values.
These are the broad stroke concerns and objections our Association has to the proposed trail
construction. We recognize that you do not yet have a final design and that when you do, you
plan to bring that plan to us with the specific impacts it will have to our property fully delineated.
At such time there may certainly be other concerns that we may raise. However, we want to
make it clear that the proposed trail, even as preliminarily presented, has significant loss and
adverse impact to our homeowners and Association.We object to the trail running through our
private property and urge you to look at other design alternatives that do not require it to do so.
We appreciate you keeping us advised as your planning process proceeds.
Sincerely,
Bald Eagle Estates Homeowners Association
I.
Tammie Smith, Presi nt (Jim Steele, ice President
'G ' 1 d� Q
&Jnnt I< Pen�R6 strand --Mary n Hines
Board Member Board`1 ember Boar Member
Cc: Washington County Commissioner Fran Miron, District 1
Council Member David Strub, Ward 3
Mayor Tom Weidt, City of Hugo