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10/18/2004 - Advisory Parks & Recreation CommissionApproved on November 15, 2004 ADVISORY PARKS COMMISSION EAGAN, MINNESOTA MINUTES OF REGULAR NfEETING OF OCTOBER 18, 2004 A regular meeting of the Advisory Parks Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on October 18, 2004 with all Commission Members present: Terry Davis, N. Mazk Filipi, Joe Bari, Dorothy Peterson, Phil Belfiori, Richard Pletcher, Mazgo Danner, Elizabeth Perry, Mohammed Lohdi and Duane Hansen. Staff present included Paul Olson, Parks Superintendent, Jeff~Asfahl, Recreation Superintendent, Gregg Hove, City Forester, Eric Macbeth, Water Resources Coordinator, and Cherryl Mesko, Administrative Coordinator/ Recording Secretary. APPROVAI. OF AGENDA Item G-3 of the Development Agenda, Sweet Place (Epic Development) was moved for review in November. Dorothy Peterson moved, N. Mark Filipi seconded, with all present members voting to approve the agenda as amended. APPROVAL QY~`~I~S°©~ `1~B~C~1B1~~'~, ~0#I Richazd Pletcher moved, Margo Danner seconded, with all present members voting to approve the minutes of September 20, 2004 with a change made to page 5. VISI~'~RS T~ H~Al There were no visitors in the audience that wished to address the APrC on matters not on the agenda. SUPERINTENDENT'SDPDATE AI~TD'D~PA'RTIVIENT HAPP~I~N~S Recreation Division Superintendent of Recreation Jeff Asfahl presented recent events in the Recreation Division. These include: • Winter league information was mailed out to teams in early October. Registrations for new and returning teams will be Nov. 8 to Nov. 19. • Eagan Parks and Recreation hosted 12 teams for the MRPA Touch Football Tournament. This is the fourth time Eagan has hosted the event. • The Teen Center Anniversary Party has been moved to October 29`x, and will include live music, snacks, and activities, • High school dodge ball participant figures; 30 high schools and 50 middle school. • Kids Night Out begins, offered one time a month. • Friends of the Farm hosted a very successful Lone Oak Days event. Community Center Superintendent of Pazks Paul Olson provided a brief update on happenings at the Community Center: • Open Gym/ Blast has averaged about 25 preschoolers every Tuesday and Thursday. • Four sepazate infomercials have been filmed for BECT, to be aired shortly. • October rentals include 8 wedding receptions, 40 birthday parties, basketball in the gymnasium, an overnight rental, the DLS Lawn and Gazden Show, and the Halloween Hodgepodge. Parks Division Superintenderit of Pazks Paul Olson presented recent events in the Parks Division. These include: • APrC participation in the selection of a consultant for the Park System Plan Update. A consultant was selected from the pool of candidates. • Park staff have begun winterizing irrigation systems and buildings. Advisory Parks Commission Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 18, 2004 Page 2 • Park staff are fertilizing and core aerating athletic fields. • Update on CIP projects; South Oaks Park playground replacement ,Quarry Park rink paving boards, Holz Farm fire protection, Ridgecliff Park court surfacing, Central Park trail lights. • Staff attended the NRPA conference, reaffirming the City is on par with top-notch service delivery. CONSENT' AGENDA Homestead Village -Manley Land Development N. Mark Filipi moved, Joe Bari seconded, with all members of the APrC voting in favor of recommending approval for the proposed development. n~~LOly1vN~r=~i~s Pearlmont Heights - Pearlmont Heights, LLC. Superintendent of Pazks Paul Olson provided background into the development, a rezoning and preliminary subdivision to create 491ots and a preliminary planned division to create 24 twin homes (48 units) with reduced setbacks and reduced public street right-of--way in the northeastern part of section 16. It now contains a single family home with detached accessory buildings. Olson reminded viewers that the public meeting is held at the Planning Commission, that the APrC is to hear issues related to parks, trails, tree preservation, wetlands, and water quality. He then reviewed parks and trails issues pertaining to the site, noting that the subject site lies adjacent to City-owned undeveloped park land. The City parcel is heavily wooded with very step terrain sloping east to west. He noted a 20' proposed easement from the public pond to parkland to the north. He described the park and trail recommendation, no credit being given for the. easement, that the park dedication shall be satisfied through cash dedication, and that the developer shall receive a $1,800 credit for development of a trail. City Forester Gregg Hove discussed the tree inventory for the site, which indicates 174 significant trees on the site. The developer proposes removal of 66.7%, or 116 of the significant trees. City ordinance allows 47.5% removal of significant trees. The applicant proposes mitigation of 129 trees, exceeding the mitigation requirement. Water Resources Coordinator Eric Macbeth reviewed the stormwater runoff issue, and expressed comfort with the proposal and the wetland issues. Developer Timothy Bowman described the central pond with the fountain feature. He mentioned that the basin will be left with its clay, but is unsure of the water level. If the basin can hold a fountain it will be installed in the future. He also discussed tree preservation, showing where trees will be kept over the winter for re-planting in the spring. Member Filipi expressed concern over the access for the easement and asked if signage could be placed that says there will be a trail easement between lots. Bowman said they wouldn't want to see a permanent sign, but the plat map used in sales indicates the easement. He said they would certainly consider a sign. Member Danner asked how high the retaining wall would be north of the fountain pond. Bowman said it would be between ground level and 12' in height. Member Danner asked if the houses are walk-outs. Bowman said that 30 of the 48 are. Member Danner asked if there would be a village green with monument. Bowman showed an area for green space and a picture of the entrance monument. Chair Davis asked about additional pedestrian access. Bowman said there would not be additional access, only along the greenway to the pond and trail access. Chair Davis asked if there would be any options for trail connections. Superintendent Olson said it would require additional trails on the property where trails were not planned. Member Pletcher noted that the property is adjacent to City-owned property, and asked if the property was used at this time. Olson said this is the first opportunity to access the parkland. Pletcher asked the developer to Advisory Parks Commission Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 18, 2004 Page 3 repeat the height of the retaining wall. Bowman said it was anticipated to be 0' to 12'. Pletcher asked if the height of the wall was an issue. Bowman said it would need to meet the City Code for fencing. Member Peterson noted there were no wetlands on site. She asked if there were setback issues with ponding. Macbeth said buffers usually are associated with wetlands. Member Danner noted the retaining wall in the northwest corner of the site. Bowman said the existing home is at the highest point of the site that the wall needs to be there to maintain the integrity of lots proposed. He said distance could be 15 - 25' based on the home built on lots 19/20. N. Mark Filipi moved, Dorothy Peterson seconded, with all members voting to approve the alternatives for Commission consideration, with the addition that temporary signage be placed denoting the trail access when grading is completed. Christiensen Addition - J. Christensen Construction Superintendent of Parks Paul Olson provided background into the Christiensen Addition development plan, a preliminary subdivision of 2.78 acres to create 6 single family units. The land was previously subdivided and , contains Lot 7 of McCarthy Ridge and Outlot A of Oslund Timberline Addition. Olson shared the site plan and reviewed the parks and trails dedication, which will be satisfied through cash dedications. City Forester Hove shared an aerial photograph of the site. The tree inventory showed approximately 1,000 trees on the site, 452 of them considered "significant " He noted the extensive storm damage on the site. He said the proposed development would result in the removal of 357 significant trees, or 79% and City Ordinance allows for 40% removal for this type of development. Tree mitigation for this site is calculated to be 526 Category B trees or the equivalent amount of Category A or C trees. He said the mitigation plan meets requirements, however might be very difficult to put the trees back onto the site; there would be too many trees on each lot.. He expressed concern for off-site trees being impacted. He reviewed additional mitigation issues such as retaining walls and altered grade limits. Member Danner asked to be oriented to the site. Member Pletcher asked how off-site trees were protected. Hove said the existing road would help to mitigate impact. Chair Davis asked Hove to define `significant' trees. Hove said significant trees were hardwood deciduous trees with a 6" diameter or larger, or softwood deciduous with a 12" diameter or larger, or conifers 12' or larger, Water Resources Coordinator Eric Macbeth reviewed water quality and wetlands issues. He noted that because of the size and nature of the residential subdivision, water quality ponding is not possible, thus to meet the City's water quality requirements a cash dedication in lieu of ponding would be appropriate for this development. Macbeth said there may be a natural spring area on the site, and that there is no wetland information about the subsurface water condition. He said Dakota County recently reported deposits of rubber on the site and according to the County's report, there maybe other materials dumped there. Member Peterson asked if it was too late in the year to look for wetland plants to help identify the wetland boundary. Macbeth said the period between October and early April is difficult to identify where the wetland boundaries are. Bruce Hillier of J. Christensen Construction agreed that tree replacement on the site is difficult and the developer will look at a different grading method and retaining walls. He suggested a mitigation plan of 15 trees per lot. Member Perry asked where off-site mitigation would be. Olson said it is usually within the city and at times within the park. Member Peterson asked if staff had seen the new plans. City Forester Hove said no. Hillier said a neighborhood meeting was being conducted at the Eagan Community Center that evening. Resident Don Streif showed a Power Point presentation to the APrC detailing neighborhood concerns with the environmental and safety hazards associated with development of the site, including large trees being removed, disturbances to wildlife habitat, and water problems. He showed an overlay on the proposed development illustrating impacts of the rubber dump, wetlands, trees on adjacent property, and retaining walls. He shared information about access roads which cannot be sized properly. He opined that the developers would need to build a 30' road without touching adjacent property; which would be very difficult, if not impossible. He said the neighbors wanted indemnification; if there are future costs associated with problems that will arise from this development. Advisory Pazks Commission Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 18, 2004 Page 4 Chair Davis asked about the size of the dump site. Another resident said the work was done by Braun Intertec. She said it was site specific, but work was not done on the outlot. Dan added that he believes it is merely the "tip of the iceberg." The unidentified resident said addresses 1538 and 1534 is where testing was done. Dan noted that additional soil sampling should be done. Member Belfiori asked about wetland delineation, if there was a ground water report. Macbeth said no. Chair Davis thanked the residents for the good work on the presentation in a short amount of time. Member Danner noted the potential wetlands and dump site issues neaz the lots off River Ridge Court. N. Mazk Filipi said there were a lot of unanswered questions, such as wetland delineation and changes in the tree mitigation plan that hadn't yet been reviewed by staff. He said he would encourage an environmental assessment. Member Bari asked who pays for an EAW, the developer or the City. Superintendent Olson responded that there were several things that would enter into that decision but only the City Council could direct it. Member Peterson said there were enough holes in the proposal to deny the whole thing, or approve some things but not others. Member Pletcher reiterated that the environmental impacts need to be looked at, that there is concern for tree protection on adjacent property, and the APrC should see how this would be handled. Member Perry noted there was no wetland delineation, either. Member Peterson suggested denial based on issues omitted from the information given to the City; tree mitigation, wetlands, and an assessment of the rubber dump site. A resident expressed that she was most concerned about the water, and who would be responsible for defining wetlands. Macbeth responded that the developer needs to hire a specialist to asses the wetlands, and the City verifies the findings. If there are other questions, the City will solicit advice from other professionals. Discussion focused on whether the APC and Council should consider an EAW based on the dump site issues associated with the proposed development site. Discussion included recommending the APC and Council consider an environmental assessment based on the environmental issues associated with being located next to a dump site. on: Phil Belfiori moved, Elizabeth Perry seconded with all members voting in favor to deny the project based • Lack of wetland delineation • Revised tree mitigation plan that has not been reviewed by staff • Concern for impact to trees on the adjacent property • Concern for treatment of storm water before being dischazged from site, that some alternative options should be presented Elizabeth Perry moved, Joe Bari seconded with all members voting in favor to recommend that the APC and City Council consider an environmental assessment based on the potential dump site on this proposed development. o~n-BUS>aSs There was no new business for the Advisory Pazks Commission to discuss under this agenda item. 't~+V' ~U~SS There were no items under New Business for the APrC to review. WATER^RTSDURCES UPDATE Water Resources Coordinator Eric Macbeth presented the findings of the LeMay Lake Shoreland Habitat at Moonshine Retreat Center project, showing a power point presentation with the project results. Member Hansen asked how long the process took. Macbeth said it took over a year. Advisory Parks Commission Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 18, 2004 Page 5 OTHER BUSINESS AND REPORTS SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATES Superintendent Asfahl described a meeting of the Recreation Subcommittee in September to discuss new techniques and approaches to staff updates to the APrC. There will be a follow-up meeting in November. Member Perry asked to discuss how to advocate for CIP needs identified by recreation staff. PARK SYSTEMS PLAN UPDATE Chair Davis discussed the interview process for the Park Systems Plan Update, noting it had been nazrowed down to one consultant. He said the process would solicit input from various groups and the community at lazge. He asked if there were additional community members that should be identified to help with the group. He requested a list of people by Friday, October 22. Davis noted that the meetings would probably start in November. RO`UND' TABLE Member Perry highlighted some events that are being offered by the Recreation Division, including home school programs, "Mad Science," and "Kids Nite Out" An update of the Northeast Eagan Task Force was presented, stating the group still needs to look at potential park improvements in this area. Member Danner discussed events at the Caponi Art Pazk, noting that the boazd was in place and the Friends of the Eagan Core Greenway presented the Caponi Art Park Boazd with a $3,000 check. Member Peterson requested that Steve Taylor or Paul Graham be put on an upcoming agenda to discuss parks maintenance issues. ADdOLTRNMENT With no further business to conduct, Dorothy Peterson moved, Member Pent' seconded with all members voting in favor to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. • ecretary ~~ ~~ola~ Date Minutes drafted by: Beth Wielde, Part-time Research and Special Projects.