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Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Cliff Lake Development Controversy - 8/26/1987 (2)Cliff Lake controversy Traffic, property values, quality of life worry neighbors by S. Maus Bettenga Neighbors are upset and they're letting the city know it. A large group of residents was expected to attend the Advisory Planning Commission meeting Aug. 25 to express concern over a 325,000 square -foot shopping center proposed for the intersec- tion of Cliff and Rahn roads. "I want to ask people on the Planning Commission whether they care about those of us who live on the other side of the freeway," said Joy Droberg. She and her husband have lived at the corner of Shale Lane and Rahn Road for more than 13 years. "When I first moved out here Cliff was a dirt road and so was Rahn. It was good to get them n�vnri R„t T „earl to wake tun to the sound of cows, now I wake up to the sound of semi - trucks roar- ing by," she said. Droberg said she sleeps with ear plugs and two fans running to drown out the traffic noise. "I think it is a terrible place to put a shopping center," said Michelle Swanson. She and her family live on Badget Court, about two blocks from the pro- posed center. "I can find no redeeming qualities to the project. Eagan does need a Target but many of the neighbors think there are better places for it. I think near Town Centre would be the perfect place. It's already zoned for it, it would help draw people to the stores already there and the existing roads could handle the traffic_" Preliminary plans of Hoffman Develpment Group include a landscaped area and walking path near an existing lake. "How many times do you go to Target and then say, `Let's go to the park' " Swanson asked. She also pointed out that loading docks for the stores may be close to the walking path and wondered about pedestrian safety. Jeanne Barum lives on another corner of Shale Lane and Rahn Road and has two children, 3 and 6. "My biggest concern is the traffic that will be generated so close to an elemen- tary school. Also, the types of people who will hang around at the center could be dangerous." Plans show no access off Cliff Road with three entrances off TRAFFIC: To Page 2A, Staff report: Project fails to meet code ity 6. IvittUs Oeu. ii ,a Plans submitted by developers of the Cliff Lake and Galleria Towers project do not meet zoning guidelines, accor- ding to a city staff report. The report, released Thurs- day, is the staff's evaluation of the proposed 325,000 square -foot shopping center at Cliff and Rahn roads. "Based on informa- 11011 JUU1111LLGU ..y L11.. uf>rus..uaas, it appears that a Comprehensive Land Use Guide Plan amend- ment and planned development amendment will be required. "Staff believes this planned development amendment con- stitutes a `rezoning' because of the inconsistency in land use bet- ween the planned development and site plan" submitted to the A December 1984 copy of the city's zoning map shows the Cliff Lake site as a planned develop- ment with a community shopp- ing center designation. The nor- thwest and northeast corners of the parcel are zoned for multiple housing. City officials said zon- REPORT: To Page 2 A Report: Plan amendment needed to build From Page 1 ing on the map vas the most up to date version ; ivailable. Ryan Constrt ction and Hoff- man Developm !nt Group, joint developers of the project, are proposing a 11, ,300 square -foot Target store; :t 62,000 square - foot grocery si ore, possibly a Cub Foods; ani 64,000 square - feet of tenant s hops in the first phase of cons ruction. Future phases could in elude 23 acres of multiple housin analyzing the developer's plans, city staff cited several potential probb Ins. Since there would be no access off Cliff Road, all traffic would enter from Rahn Rot. d. • "The propo ;al may have two specific, thoug h unrelated im- pacts on the city's park and recreational sy item," the report said. If Rahn R )ad was widened, most likely it N ould be to handle increased traffic, street parking for users of t ie softball fields would probably be eliminated. • Certain an as of the develop- ment are bei ig dedicated for purposes of p iblic parks, trail easements cr storm water holding art as. However, developers fai ed to show all of the approxiriately 16 acres which they h td agreed to set aside as part: dedication, the report said. • Staff mei lbers were also concerned tha the site would re- quire extensive grading and that could create storm water runoff, water quality and erosion con- trol problems. • Traffic distribution was also a concern and further study would be necessary to determine the effects of increased traffic. • Schools in the area would be affected in varying degrees, the report said. Rahn Elementary is across the street from the pro- posed project; Thomas Lake Elementary is less than a mile east; and Metcalf Junior High is about a mile west. • Effects on the neighbors cited by the staff included per- sonal safety and privacy, change in the physical environment; use of recreational facilities; attrac- tiveness of the neighborhood; and mobility. • Other potential problems recognized were the danger of increased traffic to pedestrians and buses; proximity of the site to the Rahn playground; and social interaction between students and shopping center patrons. The question of whether or not a new Environmental Assess- ment Worksheet (EAW) would have to be completed was also considered. Developers had an EAW prepared in May 1982 for the proposed Eagan Hills West Planned Development. Staff members believed a new EAW was needed because the across CITY Lines Finalists named for award Janet Sl tickell, Tom MacFarland and Marilyn Tubbs are finalists ft r the first annual Community Volunteer Service Award spo risored by the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce and the Burns\ ille Jaycees. The win] ter of the award will be named Sept. 9 at the Chamber of Comme ce lunch at the Burnsville Holiday Inn. Don Shelby of Proposed site of Cliff Lake and Galleria Tower at Cliff and Rahn roads. 1982 study was not site specific, use specific or project specific and did not anticipate the densi- ty of the new project. Developers maintained the 1982 EAW was sufficient to meet photo by S. Maus Bettenga analytical needs and conformed with environmental review rules. Traffic: Neighbors worried about project From Page 1 Rahn. Two entrances would be across the street from activity fields at Rahn Elementary School. Rahn classroomswest of the fields would be exposed to traffic noise, Barum fears, and students would have trouble con- centrating. Another concern she has is the value of homes in the area. "Right now, the value of our home is up. But if a commercial area goes in that close, they'll probably go down," she said. Her husband grew up a few blocks from their current home but she said the family would consider moving if the project was approved. "None of the neighbors we've talked to is in favor of it," Swan- son said. She added that com- pared to this proposal, the Dif- fley Center project was a far bet- ter location for a major shopping area. Bieter Corp., which owns ap- proximately 90 acres at Diffley Road and Interstate 35E, propos- ed a 735,000 square foot shopping center in February. Target and Northwest Racquet and Swim Club would have been anchors for the project but it fell through when a rezoning request was denied by the City Council. "I don't believe we got both sides of the Diffley Center story." Swanson said. "It just seems like that came and went so fast." A city staff report on the Cliff Lake and Galleria project was released Thursday. Neighbors of the proposed project said they would be at Tuesday's meeting to learn more about planned con- struction, traffic patterns as well as express their concerns.