Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Cliff Lake Development Controversy - 8/26/1987
Cliff Lake cont
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Traffic, property values, quality of life worry neighbors
by S. Maus Bettenga the sound of cows, now I wake up Preliminary plans of Roffman for the stores may be close to the generated so close to an elemen-
Neighbors are upset and to the sound of semi-trucks roar- Develpment Group include a walking path and' wondered tary school. Also, the types of
they're letting the city know it. ing by," she said. Droberg said landscaped area and walking about pedestrian safety. people who will hang around at
A large group of residents was she sleeps with ear plugs and path near an existing lake. "How Jeanne Barutn lives on the center could be dangerous."
expected to attend the Advisory two fans running to drown out many times do you go to Target another corner of Shale Lane Plans show no access off Cliff
Planning Commission meeting the traffic noise. and then :ay, `Let's go to the and Rahn Road and has two Road with three entrances off
Aug. 25 to express concern over "I think it is a terrible place to park' " Swanson asked. She also children 3 and 6. "My biggest
a 325,000 square-foot shopping put a shopping center," said pointed out that loading docks concern is the traffic that will be TRAFFIC: To Page 2A
center proposed for the intersec- Michelle Swanson. She and her
r tion if to and ask roads. family live on Badger Court, Project fails to meet code
"I want to ask people eople on on the about two blocks from the pro- Staff report: Pro)
Planning Commission whether posed center.
they care about those of us who "I can find no redeemintt by S. Maus Bettenga tion submitted. by the applicant, city, the report said.
live on the other side of the qualities to the project. Eagan rians suamittea ay it appears tnatat;omprenensive A December 1984 copy of the
' freeway," said Joy Droberg. She does need a Target but many of developers of the Cliff Lake and Land Use Guide Plan amend- city's zoning map shows the Cliff
and her husband have lived at the neighbors think there are Galleria Towers project do not ment and planned development Lake site as a planned develop-
the corner of Shale Lane and better places for it. I think near meet zoning guidelines, accor amendment will be required. meat with a community shopp
Rahn Road for more than 13 Town Centre would be the ding to a city staff report. "Staff believes this planned ing center designation. The nor-
years. perfect place. It's already zoned The report, released Thurs- development amendment con- thwest and northeast corners of
"When I first moved out here for it, it would help draw people day, is the staff's evaluation of stitutes a `rezoning' because of the parcel are zoned for multiple
Cliff was a dirt road and so was to the stores already there and the proposed 325,000 square-foot the inconsistency in land use bet- housing. City officials said zon-
Rahn. It was good to get them the existing roads could handle shopping center at Cliff and ween the planned development
paved. But I used to wake up to the traffic." Rahn roads. "Based on informa- and site plan" submitted to the REPORT: To Page 2 A
2A
Report: Plan amendment needed to build
From Page 1 quire extensive grading and that
ing on the map was the most up could create storm water runoff,
to date version available. water quality and erosion con-
Ryan Construction and Hoff- trol problems.
man Development Group, joint • Traffic distribution was also
developers of the project, are a concern and further study k
proposing a 114,300 square-foot would be necessary to determine a
Target store; a 62,000 square the effects of increased traffic.
foot grocery store, possibly a • Schools in the area would be x~
Cub Foods; and 64,000 square affected in varying degrees, they
feet of tenant shops in the first report said. Rahn Elementary is
phase of construction. Future across the street from the pro-
phases could include 23 acres of posed project; Thomas Lake
~nultiple housing. Elementary is less than a mile
In analyzing the developer's east; and Metcalf Junior High is `p 11 t
olans, city staff cited several about a mile west.
potential problems. Since there • Effects on the neighbors 4 $
would be no access off Cliff cited by the staff included per- 0
Road, all traffic would enter sonal safety and privacy, change
from Rahn Road. in the physical environment; use
• "The proposal may have two of recreational facilities; attrac
specific, though unrelated im- tiveness of the neighborhood; '
pacts on the city's park and and mobility.
recreational system," the report • Other potential problems
said. If Rahn Road was widened, recognized were the danger of~ t
most likely it would be to handle increased traffic to pedestrians .
increased traffic, street parking and buses; proximity of the site
for users of the softball fields to the Rahn playground; and ia; t
would probably be eliminated. social interaction between j
• Certain areas of the develop- students and shopping center
ment are being dedicated for patrons. T-
Apurposes of public parks trail The question of whether or not w", try E
easements or storm water a new Environmental Assess 4f
holding areas. However, ment Worksheet (EAW) would
developers failed to show all of have to be completed was also photo by s. Maus aettenga
the approximately 16 acres considered. Developers had an Proposed site of Cliff Lake and Galleria Tower at Cliff and Rahn roads.
which they had agreed to set EAW prepared in May 1982 for
aside as park dedication, the the proposed Eagan Hills West
report said. Planned Development. 1982 study was not site specific, ty of the new project. analytical needs and conformed
• Staff members were also Staff members believed a new use specific or project specific Developers maintained the with environmental review
concerned that the site would re EAW was needed because the and did not anticipate the densi- 1982 EAW was sufficient to meet rules.
Traffic: Neighbors worried about project
Across From Page 1 but she said the family would for the project but it fell through
CITY Rahn. Two entrances would be consider moving if the project when a rezoning request was
across the street from activity was approved. denied by the City Council.
Fields at Rahn Elementary "None of the neighbors we've "I don't believe we got both
_Lines School. Rahn classroomswest of talked to is in favor of it," Swan- sides of the Diffley Center
the fields would be exposed to son said. She added that com- story," Swanson said. "It just
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u students would have trouble con- fley Center project was a far bet- so fast."
centrating. ter location for a major shopping A city staff report on the Cliff
Finalists named for award Another concern she has is the area. Lake and Galleria project was
Janet Shickell, Tom MacFarland and Marilyn Tubbs are value of homes in the area. Bieter Corp., which owns ap- released Thursday. Neighbors of
finalists for the first annual Community Volunteer Service "Right now, the value of our proximately 90 acres at Diffley the proposed project said they
Award sponsored by the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce and home is up. But if a commercial Road and Interstate 35E, propos- would be at Tuesdays meeting
t area goes in that close, they'll ed a 735,000 square foot shopping to learn more about planned con-
the Burnsville Jaycees. probably go down," she said. center in February. Target and struction, traffic patterns as well
The winner of the award will be named Sept. 9 at the Chamber Her husband grew up a few Northwest Racquet and Swim as express their concerns.
of Commerce lunch at the Burnsville Holiday Inn. Don Shelby of blocks from their current home Club would have been anchors
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