01/16/1996 - City Council Special4a~9
JOINT MEETING
EAGAN CITY COUNCIL AND
ADVISORY PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
JANUARY 16, 1996
A special City Council meeting was held on Tuesday, January 16, 1996 at 5:00 pm with the
Advisory Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission. Councilmembers present included Mayor
Egan, Councilmembers Hunter, Wachter, Masin and Awada. APRNRC members present included Lee
Markell, Stephen Thompson, John Rudolph, Ken Tyler, Michael Vincent, George Kubik, Jonathan Widem
and David Szott. Staff present included City Administrator Tom Hedges, Parks and Recreation Director
Vraa, Community Development Director Reichert, Finance Director VanOverbeke and Police Chief
Geagan.
UPDATE ON DISCUSSION WITH DART TRANSIT
RE: 200 ACRE PARCEL AT LEXINGTON AND YANKEE DOODLE
After introduction of this item by Mayor Egan, Administrator Hedges explained that a series of
meetings have been ongoing with Eagan staff and representatives of DART Transit in an effort to determine
the feasibility of the City acquiring all, or a portion of, the 200 acres at Lexington and Yankee Dood Road.
Administrator Hedges continued that the Council will be requested to consider expending funds to hire EGS
to further study options for a golf course within the City. It was felt that more analysis is needed before the
issue of a golf course can be acted upon.
In a meeting with Dart Transit earlier today, it was noted that they had provided some potential
development options for the 200 acres site, Hedges continued. One scenario showed the possibility of
incorporating anine-hole golf course on the Dart property and another none-hole course on the Carriage
Hills property south of Yankee Doodle. Dart had expressed their desire to maintain part of the property for
possible residential surrounding the course and retail on the southwest corner. Dart opined that the
residential and retail use on their site would make it more palatable for them to consider sale of a portion
of the site for a golf course. Hedges reiterated that the Council is being requested to consider more
analysis by EGS so that multiple options can be reviewed before proceeding with any decision.
Director Reichert reviewed a memo sent to the Council with three suggestions to proceed. The first
was to have the EGS analysis identify what scenarios could be worked out for public use on the Dart
property as well as how or if the Carriage Hills golf course could be incorporated in the City's overall plan
for public space. The legal ramifications for maintaining Carriage Hills golf course as a public facility need
to be reviewed by legal staff. Another consideration is how any of these decisions will impact the land use
issue for the Unisys property. The property has been purchased and concept plans have been received;
they are the same plans submitted by )oe Miller two years ago, Reichert added. Joe Miller has indicated
they are not particularly interested if the City is still looking at potential acquisition of a portion of the
Unisys site for public use, Dart's position, Reichert continued, was that they may make land available for
purchase of a golf course but the land would be sold at single family land rates (Dart suggested $2/sq.ft.)
and they would like consideration given for single family inclusion for development of the site. Reichert
concluded by stating that the analysis and legal opinion are critical in helping to determine what offer can
be made for any of these properties.
Administrator Hedges noted that he had received a call from )ohn Haro, Superintendent of ISD 196
expressing concerns for the impact that single family development on the Dart property and/or Carriage
Hills golf course would have on the schools. In the school's projections they had identified the Dart
property as industrial and Carriage Hills as a golf course, not anticipating the potential for adding more
students to the district in these areas. If the zoning is changed in these two areas, Hedges continued, the
impact on boundaries and capacities of schools could be significant.
Eagan City Council Workshop
January 16, 1996
Page 2
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Mayor Egan asked if re-zoning becomes a time sensitive issue is there a way to move quicker on
the Dart property and Carriage Hills property. Councilmember Wachter stated he did not want to proceed
with acquisition of any of these properties without a referendum that would reflect the prices these property
owners are asking. When asked what the price would be for the entire Dart property, Administrator
Hedges responded that Dart would sell the entire 200 acres outright for $17 million.
Commission Member Markel) asked what the price for the property would be if it was condemned.
Administrator Hedges stated that Dart had previously stated that they were acquiring the property for
corporate growth and the market value, for tax purposes, is $2.1 million. The cost for condemnation
would not be that high, Hedges added. It was also noted that if a golf course were split, Dart would sell
the golf course portion north of Yankee Doodle for approximately $20,000/acre. Mayor Egan stated that
Dart had talked about using this site as a corporate headquarters. Director Reichert explained that Dart is
looking at making a profit and then re-investing in another property for its future growth. Councilmember
Awada suggested condemning the property and swapping another parcel for it. Mayor Egan stated that the
analysis done by EGS can perhaps come up with financing options. Administrator Hedges stated that he,
Director VanOverbeke and Director Reichert will work on those issues.
Councilmember Wachter expressed his concern for the potential of residential so near
industrial/commercial use of trucking firms. Administrator Hedges noted that other inquiries in the past
have resulted in the City Council expressing their preference that no residential development occur north of
Yankee Doodle Road. Councilmember Wachter opined this process is moving too fast. Administrator
Hedges suggested that once the study is done, the Council and staff can deal with comprehensive plans for
these developments.
Commission member Widem opined that a municipal golf course is a very critical issue for the City
in that it is a large component missing in Eagan. He felt that obtaining a golf course and building one from
scratch is a no-lose situation in that the dollars spent up front will be recovered through it's use and would
also become a great connection to the north part of the city. Widem did not feel that the acquisition of
Carriage Hills was a good option, however.
Councilmember Wachter asked how successful municipal golf courses are. Director Vraa
responded that there are approximately 25 in the metro area, some more successful than others, but the
majority are doing quite well. Perhaps the analysis from EGS will more clearly define that information,
Vraa concluded. Councilmember Awada stated that the idea of a golf course split by Yankee Doodle Road
sounds appealing if it can be tied together with a walking bridge or some other transportation method.
PRESENTATION BY APRNRC FOR POTENTIAL PARK REFERENDUM
APRNRC Chair Markel) explained that the Commission has been proceeding with their review of a
potential Parks Bond Referendum as directed by the City Council. He noted that the Commission has been
looking at a referendum ranging from $2-7 million for parks and open space land acquisition. The
Commission is looking for direction from the Council as to how they would like the Commission to proceed
with this issue. The Commission has indicated a desire to work with the Trust for Public Land to contact
land owners in an attempt to obtain option of property the City is interested in acquiring.
Commission Member Vincent added that the Commission made a list of properties that will provide
the most benefit and flexibility in the park system plan. There are no pre-conceived ideas by the
Commission for what will be done with these properties. Member Vincent reviewed the five parcels of land
which have been identified by the Commission for priority acquisition. Vincent concluded that the City
needs to be pro-active in acquiring land rather than waiting until it is no longer available.
Eagan City Council Workshop
January 16, 1996
Page 3
Commission Member Markel) explained that once a dollar amount has been identified for a
referendum, the Commission is interested in having a random survey performed to test the interest in a
referendum by the community. Councilmember Hunter asked if there were some figures on the impact to
homeowners for various referendum dollar amounts. Director Vraa responded that the impact on a home
valued at $100,000 fora $2 million referendum would be approximately $11/year, $4 million would be
approximately $25/year and $6 million would be approximately $36/year.
Member Vincent stated the Commission is looking for support from the Council for an open space
land acquisition referendum and is asking the Council to identify the dollar amount they are comfortable
with. Councilmember Hunter asked if the City was short of open space. Member Vincent responded that
the Commission isn't looking at necessarily keeping the open space as that, but would like to keep the
option of not defining specific potential development on each site. Depending upon the open space
referendum amount, Markel) added, the City could come back to the community in future years for
development of those sites. Councilmember Hunter stated he would not support multiple small
referendums and opined that it would be a mistake to do one for $2-3 million only to come back to the
public for additional dollars in 2-3 years.
Member Vincent reiterated that the Commission is looking for direction from the Council. The
Commission is looking at a potential $5-6 million referendum and have identified several key properties
they would like to obtain an option on. Councilmember Hunter stated that if the timing for a referendum is
to be this spring there needs to be a broadly defined use for each open space that is proposed for
acquisition. Vincent explained that it is the Commission's strategy to procure options on the properties they
would tike to acquire, using the Trust for Public Land, so that the referendum can identify specific parcels
to be acquired. Mayor Egan stated his agreement with the concept but Director Reichert expressed her
concern that the city will not be able to get a friendly option from all the property owners. Reichert felt
that acquisition would most likely have to occur through condemnation. Director Vraa stated that the
Trust for Public Land will negotiate with property owners on behalf of the city and acquire options if
possible. Director Reichert stated that this would be a good strategy to try for acquisition.
Commission Member Szott stated that the City needs to make it very clear to residents what the
dollar amount of the referendum will be. Director Vraa added that the Commission had included in a
potential bond $2.5 million for the acquisition of the Dart Transit site for potential development of a golf
course but had not incorporated any portion of the Caponi property as part of this referendum.
Councilmember Awada stated that philosophically she is opposed to the purchase or development
of a golf course using tax dollars. Administrator Hedges stated that the City can sell revenue bonds to
acquire land for a potential golf course if it can be self sustaining. If there is too much debt load, Hedges
continued, than it must go to a referendum. This issue can be clarified once the EGS study has been
completed. Mayor Egan stated that whatever decision was made relative to a potential municipal golf
course within the City, consideration of Carriage Hills must be incorporated.
Mayor Egan stated that it appears to be the consensus of the Council that they concur with the
Commission's recommendation for a bond referendum. Commission Chair Markel) clarified that they will
focus on a $6 million referendum. Director Vraa clarified that there will be a random sample of the
community on their opinion of a referendum. Councilmember Wachter stated he was not opposed to open
land acquisition, but wanted to make sure there was development incorporated in the referendum.
Councilmember Hunter agreed. Councilmember Awada stated that her personal preference was not to
include golf course land but to include land for a community center. In response to a question as to when
the Commission should report back to the Council, Councilmember Wachter suggested a workshop again
on February 20.
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Eagan City Council Workshop
January 16, 1996
Page 4
COMMITTEE UPDATE ON FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION
The workshop time had expired, therefore this issue was continued to the regular City Council
meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The workshop session was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
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