03/20/2006 - Advisory Parks & Recreation CommissionAdvisory Parks Commission
Approved April 17, 2006
ADVISORY PARKS COMMISSION
EAGAN, MINNESOTA
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 20, 2006
A regular meeting of the Advisory Parks Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m. on
February 16, 2006 with the following Commission Members present: Joseph Bari, Phil Belfiori, Margo
Danner, Terry Davis, N. Mark Filipi, Duane Hansen, Muhammed Lodhi, Dorothy Peterson and Ryan
Zipf. Member Richard Pletcher was not present. Staff included Superintendent of Operations, Cherryl
Mesko; Forestry Supervisor Gregg Hove and Recording Secretary Lori Kimball.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Superintendent Mesko recommended that the request to pursue an RFP for a Master Plan for
Patrick Eagan Park be added to New Business. Member Peterson moved, Member Filipi seconded, with
all present members voting in favor to approve the agenda as amended.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 16, 2006
Member Filipi moved and Member Danner seconded, with all present members voting in favor to
approve the minutes of February 16, 2006.
VISITORS TO BE HEARD
Tom Garrison, Director of Communications, provided a demonstration of the new webcasting
capabilities that are now available to view all commission and council meetings. Garrison stated that
Eagan is the first city in Minnesota to be connected to this service and explained that people may view
meetings live or they may choose to view tapes from previous months. Garrison demonstrated how a
viewer may "jump to" a specific point of a meeting without having to watch the entire meeting. He
opined that the ease of webcasting might help citizens become more connected to City government, since
approximately 40% of the population currently does not watch government meetings. Garrison responded
to questions by Chair Davis and Member Danner regarding their experience with dial-up internet access.
Garrison asked for feedback from viewers regarding their experience with the webcasting.
DIRECTOR'S DEPARTMENT UPDATE
In Director Johnson's absence, Superintendent Mesko provided a brief overview of department
activities for the past month.
CONSENT AGENDA
Oldre Addition-Hafstad Realty
Member Filipi moved and Member Bari seconded, with all present members voting in favor to
recommend to the City Council the following:
1. This development shall be responsible for a cash park dedication
2. This development shall be responsible for a cash trail dedication.
3. This development shall be responsible for a cash dedication in lieu of on-site water quality
ponding.
Advisory Parks Commission
Minutes of Regular Meeting of March 20, 2006
Page 2
4. Individual Lot Tree Preservation Plan shall be submitted at the time of building permit
application for Lot 1.
DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
Natures Point - Epic Development
Superintendent Mesko provided a brief background on this item stating that Epic Development
requests the approval of the following pertaining to property located west of I-35E on Taconite Trail.
• Comprehensive Guide Plan Amendment to change the land use designation upon 4.34 acres from
QP to LD residential;
• Rezoning of .58 acrew from Agricultural to Public Facilities, 4.34 acres from Agricultural to
Residential Double and 7.62 acres from Residential Single to Residential Double.
• Preliminary subdivision of 12.8 acres to create 30 lots for construction of 28 twin homes and
• Conditional use permit to allow a cell tower in the Public Facilities zoning district and a Variance
of 290 feet to the required 300 foot setback for a tower from a residential zoning district.
It was noted that in August 2004 the applicant submitted an incomplete application for a similar
development on this site. A petition was submitted with 57 signatures in opposition of the project based
in part on removal of significant trees. In March 2005 the applicant submitted an application for a
Planned Development consisting of 34 lots. The application was withdrawn after the public hearing at the
Advisory Planning Commission.
Forestry Supervisor Hove discussed tree preservation and showed an aerial picture, stating that no
tree mitigation is required since tree removal is less than the allowable amount. A tree inventory shows
315 significant trees in the inventory of which 147 will be removed. The applicant intends to preserve
trees through transplanting 22 trees. Supervisor Hove recommended that if these trees are successfully
planted, a one year maintenance agreement should be provided by the applicant or tree spade contractor.
Hove stated that there is the possibility to preserve additional trees, especially larger oak trees, without
major development revisions. It was recommended that a walk through of the site occur with the
applicant, an engineer and a certified arborist, to explore the possibility of preserving 10 more trees.
The developer proposed to meet water quality requirements primarily by constructing two stormwater
ponds that will pre-treat most of the runoff from the site before it enters existing wetlands and then the
City's stormwater drainage system. To address runoff from the development directly to wetlands from a
small portion of the site, a water quality cash dedication should be required in lieu of treatment ponding.
It was noted that according to the wetland delineation report that there are two jurisdictional
wetlands associated with this site. Water Resources staff confirms the delineations as reported. Neither
wetland is proposed to be impacted by draining, filling or excavation.
After brief discussion by the commission, Chair Davis thanked the developer for working so hard
on preservation issues. Chair Davis moved, Member Peterson seconded, with all present members voting
in favor to recommend to the City Council the following:
This development shall be responsible for a cash parks dedication on all newly created lots.
This development shall be responsible for a cash trails dedication.
This development shall be responsible for constructing two ponds to treat stormwater runoff
as proposed. The ponds shall have maximum depths of six feet and 10:1 aquatic benches
beginning at the normal water levels.
This development shall be responsible for a cash dedication in lieu of treatment ponding for
the remaining area of the development that will drain untreated to wetlands.
Advisory Parks Commission
Approved April 17, 2006
5. The wetland delineation report should be formally accepted as submitted.
6. This development shall be required to maintain a minimum 30-foot natural undisturbed
wetland buffer around the two wetlands.
7. A walk-through of the site shall occur with the applicant and his representative (this should
be an engineer and a certified arborist) to explore the potential of additional tree preservation.
8. Acknowledge that the applicant will preserve, through contractual tree transplanting with a
90" tree spade (minimum diameter), twenty-two (22) existing spruce trees (#135, 136, 138,
139, 171, 172, 175, 176, 177, 180, 186, 191, 192, 193, 197, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, and
205), to be moved to areas indicated on the submitted Preliminary Tree Mitigation Plan.
Transplanted trees will be maintained (mulched and irrigated) for a period of one year by
applicant or hired contractor. Before a tree preservation plan is approved, a tree spade
contractor shall be hired by the applicant to verify, in writing, the ability to successfully move
these larger trees.
9. The applicant shall be required to contact the City Forestry Division and set up a pre-
construction site inspection at least five days prior to the issuance of the grading permit to
ensure compliance with the approved Tree Preservation Plan and placement of the Tree
Protection Fencing.
OLD BUSINESS
There were no items to review under Old Business
NEW BUSINESS
Patrick Eagan Park Master Plan
Superintendent Mesko introduced this item, saying that the Statements of Qualification and
Quotes (SOQQ's) were reviewed by the Commission at the workshop prior to this meeting. Commission
members determined that they were comfortable with moving this item forward to the Council. Member
Peterson questioned if the changes in wording that were made during the workshop would be reflected in
the item presented to City Council. Superintendent Mesko stated that the changes to the document would
be forwarded to the Commission prior to Council review to make sure they accurately reflect the
Commission's recommendation. Chair Davis moved, Member Peterson seconded with all with all present
members voting in favor to recommend to the City Council that the process begin to develop the Master
Plan for Patrick Eagan Park.
WATER RESOURCES UPDATE
Water Quality Management Plan Update
Member Belfiori provided an updated on the Water Quality Management Plan, stating the
committee met in early March with a primary emphasis to finalize the overall goals of the Water Quality
Plan. The committee will meet again in early April to go over specific policies under each of those goals.
Belfiori opined that after the April meeting, the group should have a good idea of the overall direction of
the committee and move into the master plan in the summer.
OTHER BUSINESS AND REPORTS
There were no items to review under Old Business.
Advisory Parks Commission
Minutes of Regular Meeting of March 20, 2006
Page 4
ROUND TABLE
There were no items to review under Round Table.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to conduct, Member Danner moved, Member Peterson seconded with all
members voting in favor to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Secretary Date