Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Proposal for Blackhawk Plaza Shopping Center - 5/27/1985 7 tH UAN
HRONICLE
a Current newspaper
Week of May 27, 1985 Vol. 6, No. 22
Bringing you the news of the people, the neighborhoods and business of Eagan TWO SECTIONS
roposal for
shopping
center stirs controversy
by Amy O'Marro June 14 meeting. U turns. We feel this is
is Eagan developing too fast? Council members expressed dangerous, and should be con
sidentslivingnearthecn~ , oncerns about the develop- sideredover the county
t.rnr.n
t fits ner of Diffley Road and In- meat's effect on the landscape, to maintain its road s,,
terstate 35E, where a shopping to St. John's Cemetery he said.
center is proposed, say it is. southwest of the development, John King, one of sevei ; i -
• i`''~ '~,i° ~a ',9„ The residents spoke and about the design of a service en- sons speaking against the pro
i presented a petition of 184 trance and the increase of traf- ject, cited several key reasons
signatures opposing develop- fic on Diffley and Blackhawk for the residents'opposition. "It
ax; ment of Blackhawk Plazashop- roads, would add to the aready heavy
ping center Tuesday during an Dakota County will not allow traffic on Blackhawk. The road
Eagan City Council meeting. for a break in the median strip is accessible to Blue Cross, it is
Blackhawk Plaza would con- on Diffley Road for an access in- difficult enough now at 4 p.m.
sist of a four-story hotel, shopp- to the plaza, Assistant City "The road is the primary
ing center, two restaurants, a Manager Richard Heiti said, pick-up and drop-off place for
drive-up bank and service sta- "The road is a county school buses. We are opposed to
tion. An application for a highway to be used as a high a liquor license because of in-
preliminary plat and two condi- volume traffic route, the county creased traffic hazards.
tional use permits was made by wants as few breaks as possible Stalland said despite the
Peter Stalland Photo by Amyo'Marro company President Peter to maintain that volume. strong neighborhood opposi-
Stalland. The City Council con- "This causes operational pro- tion, state and federal law gave
tinued the application to its blems, people will be making property owners the right to
Deficit '85m'86 develop property that was c
as
budget proposed zoned zoned. The site was
zoned because of its proximav
for School to Interstate 35E, he added.
District You have e to have good
191 drainage to go in and around the
By Diane Gonzolas to about $2.7 million, to reflect those changes. cemetery. The black topand the
The Board of Education for General fund expenses set At its regular meeting the development had (better not)
School District 191 will be asked at about $nd million are and Christie said the general fund board approved a reading of pro- disturb those grave
sites," said
to approve another deficit revenues at about $26 million. balance has been declining over posed revisions in the district's Mayor Bea Blomquist.
budget for the another
school District Business Manager the past 10 years. And, he said, mission statement and educa- Councilmember Theodore
budget the deficits cannot continue in- tional goals. It also canvassed Wachter said, "The zoning has
year. Carter Christie said the proposal definitely, the returns from the May 21
The board spent about two will be up for adoption at the "We're either going to have to school board election and been place for a number
of
hours reviewing the proposed board meeting June 6. But, he control costs or find another adopted a resolution of apprecia- years, making the
decision of
budget during a workshop ses- said, the figures could change source of income," Christie said. tion for the district's volunteers, the council
hard. He's
sion before the regular board because many factors are still The budget allows for the con- Thursday's meeting was the (Stalland) had the zoning for
20
meeting Thursday. The budget undecided - the Legislature has tinuation of programs and ser- last one for student represen- some years.
calls for expenditures of about not finished its work, enrollment vices provided this school year, tative Peter VanNest who is We want to correct the
safe-
$35.8 million and revenues of figures are unknown and staffing It also includes funding for about graduating from Burnsville ty problems. I'd like
to see an
about $34 million. That will levels and salaries have not been $250,000 worth of program im- High School this year. The board
decrease the district's fund made final. Christie said the provements recently approved presented him with a school bell PROPOSAL: to p, 3A
balance from about $4.5 million budget will be revised in the fall by the board.
for his work.
FEATURFS
Rev. Donald Burns io,.ks toward his 35th
anniversary. Page 8Ao Opinion . , 4A
Engagernents , . , iM
make Conference voted to not a flow District
!96 into the Conference ending dreams fora ~A Sports . . . i8~
new home. Page 18A, Conimun>Etv calenda~~ 23A
I Ift N_ Now
3A
Proposal stirs controversy
PROPOSAL: from p. 1A City Council news
u~..wo vta tttrnttna.Y vu. L nVwu
like to see a study on the impact through the parking lot. Stalland said his proposal had
it would have on traffic. I think "We certainly aren't going to met all city ordinances.
the impact on the cemetery will approve a traffic circulation "Doesn't the city attorney have
be negligible," he said. that looks this bad on paper," he the right to approval if it meets
Wachter also was concerned said. all requirements?"
about the circulation of traffic Blomquist added, "I'd like City attorney Paul Hauge
within the plazas parking lot. this to come back with a draw- said he had not examined the or-
He said trucks entering a ser- ing of traffic circulation. And, dinances and didn't know if he
vice entrance would not be able I'm not in favor of a four story could make an approval for the
to turn around behind the shop- hotel. If you are going to apply proposal.
ping center and be forced to exit for signage or various pylons, "This may meet city re-
the folks deserve to know." She quirements," Blomquist said,
also asked for a finding on the "But to tell the truth, this is a
Memorial Day number of school buses stopp- confusing, congested, messy
ing on Blackhawk. looking plan."