1480 Violet Ln - Ltrs. from Patti O'NeillMike Maguire
Mayor
Paul Bakken
Cyndee Fields
Gary Hansen
Meg Tilley
Council Members
Thomas Hedges
City Administrator
Municipal Center
3830 Pilot Knob Road
Eagan, MN 55122 -1810
651.675.5000 phone
651.675.5012 fax
651.454.8535 TDD
Maintenance Facility
3501 Coachman Point
Eagan, MN 55122
651.675.5300 phone
651.675.5360 fax
651.454.8535 TDD
www.cityofeagan.com
The Lone Oak Tree
The symbol of
strength and growth
in our community.
City of Eagan
October 8, 2,010
Ms. O'Neill and Mr. Redmond
1480 Violet Lane
Eagan MN 55122
RE: Duckwood Overpass
Dear Ms. O'Neill and Mr. Redmond:
Thank you for taking the time to write the letter we received October 1, 2010. I
appreciate your sharing your concerns about the overpass and future development
on the adjacent property. I want to assure you that, like you, the City is also
concerned about quality of life and maintaining property values throughout the
community.
As you may be aware, the Ring Road concept has been planned for many years
and investment and implementation of the concept has occurred in a step -wise
approach over time for the express purpose of creating a more efficient
transportation system that will benefit the City.
Relative to the future use of the land near the proposed Duckwood overpass, east
of Federal Drive, the City has anticipated development of this area for many
years. That property is and has been zoned for Limited Business use at least since
the 1980's and development rights are not affected in any way by the proposed
overpass improvement.
I understand your concern with the possible impacts development may have on
the area but I wanted you to also be aware of the zoning of the property. Below is
an excerpt from the City Code that describes the purpose of the Limited Business
Zoning District:
Subd. 10. LB Limited Business District.
A. Purpose. Limited Business Districts are areas that are particularly
exposed to residential neighborhoods and are thus suitable to those
businesses compatible with nearby residential use (offices, clinics and the
like).
In addition to the purpose and intent of the LB zoning category, it is important to
note that the LB zone does not allow high traffic /activity uses (e.g. retail users,
.
.
Mike Maguire
Mayor
Paul Bakken
Cyndee Fields
Gary Hansen
Meg Tilley
Council Members
Thomas Hedges
City Administrator
Municipal Center
3830 Pilot Knob Road
Eagan, MN 55122 -1810
651.675.5000 phone
651.675.5012 fax
651.454.8535 TDD
Maintenance Facility
3501 Coachman Point
Eagan, MN 55122
651.675.5300 phone
651.675.5360 fax
651.454.8535 TDD
www.cityofeagan.com
The Lone Oak Tree
The symbol of
strength and growth
in our community.
June 7, 2011
Ms. Patti O'Neill
1480 Violet Lane
Eagan, MN 55122
Dear Ms. O'Neill:
Thank you for taking the time to converse and share your concerns last week with me and Mayor
Maguire regarding the approved ring road project, and specifically your concerns about the removal
of vegetation as part of the project.
First and foremost, please know that we both take your concerns very seriously and appreciate how
proactive you have been in representing your concerns with the City. As Mayor Maguire stated in
our phone conversation, the removal of scrub trees is part of the project that was approved by the
City Council, without the planting of additional trees. While Mayor Maguire understands your
concerns, as one of five members of the City'Council, he is supportive of the direction that the
Council as a whole provided.
That said, if you, your neighbors, and/or your association have an interest in planting additional
vegetation or trees within the public right of way, at your cost, I encourage you to return the enclosed
right of way permit to City Engineer Russ Matthys, who can assist you with the permitting process.
As we discussed, it is very important that you work in coordination with the City should you desire
additional trees in the area.
Please know that the Council has been aware of your ongoing concerns regarding a green space
buffer to the project, and took your concerns very seriously as they considered the project. If you
have any further questions or concerns, I encourage you to continue working with City Engineer
Matthys, who can be reached at (651) 675 -5646. It is our sincere hope that you and your neighbors
will fmd this last segment of the ring road to be a beneficial improvement to the community and your
neighborhood.
Sincer
VAN't-Wk2
Thomas L. Hedges
City Administrator
cc: Mike Maguire, Mayor
Tom Colbert, Public Works Director
April 10, 2011
Patty O'Neill
1480 Violet Lane
Eagan, MN 55122
Thomas L. Hedges,
City Administrator
Municipal Center
3830 Pilot Knob Road
Eagan, MN 55122
Dear Mr. Hedges,
RECEIVED JUN 14 2011
Thank you for responding to my concerns regarding the removal of trees along 35E in front of the Villas of Violet Lane,
our townhouse development, as part of the construction of the 35E freeway bridge. As you know, I was opposed to the
freeway bridge. With 5 bridges crossing 35E within less than a 2 mile stretch of freeway, Eagan can boast that it has
more bridges per capita and mile than New York City with a population of 14 million people. Congratulations!
However, to add insult to injury, the bridge has now resulted in the removal of the trees that provided noise abatement
and a green space shielding us from the freeway. The tree removal was never discussed at a council meeting that I
attended or at the open house regarding the overpass. As I expressed in my conversation with you and the mayor, my
concern is that our townhouses will not maintain their value and will be more difficult to sell now that we have no buffer
between us and the freeway. Certainly, as city representatives, you must also share this desire to maintaimproperty
value from a property tax standpoint that benefits all of Eagan. I am truly amazed that the city has secured funding for
5 bridges and cannot find funding to replace a stand of trees. Replacing the trees is a reasonable alternative to
expensive concrete barriers that line freeways along residential areas in some local communities.
Concerned members of our townhouse association would like an opportunity to express our concerns about the city
council and mayor's perspective on this matter. I understand that there is an opportunity for residents to present
concerns to the city council following council meetings that are televised by cable to the residents of Eagan. I would like
your office to send me information about how we can participate in one of these sessions to share with the mayor, city
council and other residents of Eagan our point of view . Thank you.
Sincerely,
Patty O'Neill
cc: Tamara Anderson, President, Villas of Violet Lane Townhouse Association
Mike Maguire, Mayor
Tom Colbert, Public Works Director
C!ty of Eaaan
Mike Maguire
Mayor
Paul Bakken
Cyndee Fields
Gary Hansen
Meg Tilley
Council Members
Thomas Hedges
City Administrator
Municipal Center
3830 Pilot Knob Road
Eagan, MN 551 22 -1 81 0
651.675.5000 phone
651.675.5012 fax
651.454.8535 TDD
Maintenance Facility
3501 Coachman Point
Eagan, MN 55122
651.675.5300 phone
651.675.5360 fax
651.454.8535 TDD
www.cityofeagan.com
The Lone Oak Tree
The symbol of
strength and growth
in our community.
June 21, 2011
ti
Ms. Patty O'Neill
1480 Violet Lane
Eagan, MN 55122
Dear Ms. O'Neill:
I received your letter of response on June 15, 2011. Per your letter, I understand that you
and members of your townhouse association would like an opportunity to address the City
Council.
There are two opportunities to be heard by the City Council. The first option is to attend a
Council Listening Session, which take place from 6 -6:30 p.m. prior to each regularly City
Council meeting. The Listening Sessions are intended as an informal opportunity for
residents to discuss items of concern or,interest that are not on the agenda that evening.
The next two Listening Sessions will take place on Tuesday, July 5 and Tuesday, July 19
in the Eagan Room (second floor conference room) at City Hall.
Additionally, as you mentioned in your letter, there is an opportunity at the end of regular
City Council meetings where residents can address the Council under Visitor's to be
Heard. This part of the meeting is televised (with the exception of filing period in advance
of elections). Given that each agenda is unique, there is no way to know what time
Visitor's to be Heard will begin, so you may need to wait for some time until the Council
gets through the agenda.
You and your fellow association members are certainly welcome to address the City
Council with your concerns. If you are looking for a predetermined time to attend, where
you can speak informally with the City Council, I encourage you to come to a Listening
Session; otherwise, you are welcome to speak under Visitors to be Heard.
Thomas L. Hedges
City Administrator
cc: Tom Colbert, Public Works Director
April 10, 2011
Patty O'Neill
1480 Violet Lane
Eagan, MN 55122
Thomas L. Hedges,
City Administrator
Municipal Center
3830 Pilot Knob Road
Eagan, MN 55122
Dear Mr. Hedges,
RECEIVE
JUN 14 2011
Thank you for responding to my concerns regarding the removal of trees along 35E in front of the Villas of Violet Lane,
our townhouse development, as part of the construction of the 35E freeway bridge. As you know, I was opposed to the
freeway bridge. With 5 bridges crossing 35E within less than a 2 mile stretch of freeway, Eagan can boast that it has
more bridges per capita and mile than New York City with a population of 14 million people. Congratulations!
However, to add insult to injury, the bridge has now resulted in the removal of the trees that provided noise abatement
and a green space shielding us from the freeway. The tree removal was never discussed at a council meeting that I
attended or at the open house regarding the overpass. As 1 expressed in my conversation with you and the mayor, my
concern is that our townhouses will not maintain their value and will be more difficult to sell now that we have no buffer
between us and the freeway. Certainly, as city representatives, you must also share this desire to maintain-property
value from a property tax standpoint that benefits all of Eagan. 1 am truly amazed that the city has secured funding for
5 bridges and cannot find funding to replace a stand of trees. Replacing the trees is a reasonable alternative to
expensive concrete barriers that line freeways along residential areas in some local communities.
Concerned members of our townhouse association would like an opportunity to express our concerns about the city
council and mayor's perspective on this matter. I understand that there is an opportunity for residents to present
concerns to the city council following council meetings that are televised by cable to the residents of Eagan. I would like
your office to send me information about how we can participate in one of these sessions to share with the mayor, city
council and other residents of Eagan our point of view . Thank you.
Sincerely,
cc: Tamara Anderson, President, Villas of Violet Lane Townhouse Association
Mike Maguire, Mayor
Tom Colbert, Public Works Director