02/01/1994 - City Council Special
00033
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF
EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
Eagan, Minnesota
February 1, 1994
A Special City Council meeting was held on Tuesday, February 1, 1994, at 5:00 p.m.
in the Eagan Municipal Center Building. The purpose of the meeting was to review two
development issues: a continuation of the January 25, 1994, meeting at which Larry Laukka
and Peter Jarvis discussed the Centennial lakes and Edinborough experience in Edina, and
a discussion of a memorandum outlining development and redevelopment issues for an area
in southeast Eagan. Those in attendance were Mayor Egan, and City Councilmembers
Awada, Hunter, Masin, and Wachter. Also present were Director of Community
Development Reichert, Director of Finance Van Overbeke, Director of Parks and
Recreation Vraa, Cable Coordinator Reardon, Chief Building Official Reid, Chief of Police
Geagan, Senior Planner Marnin, City Planner Sturm, and City Administrator Hedges.
CONTINUED DISCUSSION/DOWNTOWN VISION
Continued discussion from the January 25, 1994, meeting focused on the need to
create a consolidated downtown, possibly in the Pilot Knob Road/Yankee Doodle Road
area. City Councilmembers did not wish to develop a third node within the community but
favored one, high-density development area incorporating parking, shops, etc.
Director of Community Development Reichert provided an update on the status of
the O'Neil property. She also addressed the importance of creating a solidified vision,
including possible development alternatives, densities, etc., regardless of location. Ms.
Reichert described the need for further analysis of the legal boundaries encompassing a
downtown proposal and noted that financial options available for the City to purchase and
develop the land would also require investigation. All the objectives related to the
development of a downtown area, Director of Community Development Reichert explained,
are consistent with the objectives of the commercial study, and should be reviewed in unison
with that Study.
City Councilmembers determined that all four quadrants of Pilot Knob and Yankee
Doodle Road should be examined for possible downtown development. They recommended
bringing in experts to review the possible development options. City Councilmembers
agreed that higher densities of the downtown would be required to finance development,
and called for an analysis of market conditions to determine the ability of a downtown to
support higher density. All City Councilmembers recognized the need to maintain flexibility
in developing the downtown vision and plan.
PAGE TWO/SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING 00033
February 1, 1994
GUN CLUB ROAD DEVELOPMENT ISSUES
Director of Community Development Reichert provided background information on
the Gun Club Road area. She explained that Independent School District 196 has suggested
and is considering the area for an elementary school. She added that Halley's Addition
could be redeveloped for the school and park, thus enhancing the residential standard of the
area and surrounding neighborhoods. She said there are a number of community revenue
sources available for the City's use in that area.
There were a number of concerns regarding the compatibility of a school and the gun
club. Such concerns will have to be addressed in the process. The City Council noted that
the area under discussion is a gateway to Eagan and as such, would require quality
development. Future densities involved with development of the west side of T.H. 3 and
the south side of Fitz Lake were also discussed.
City Councilmember Masin provided a MACTA update to the City Council. She
explained that Congress is addressing certain cable issues that the National Cable
Commission has taken positions on. The NCC has a number of concerns, particularly: the
removal of local control over right-of-ways, the loss of franchise fees, the impacts of a
telephone company taking over the cable industry. She said the NCC has stressed the
importance of being a leader at the local level and recommended lobbying our congressional
delegation.
There being no further discussion, the Special City Council meeting was adjourned
at 6:30 p.m.
February 1, 1994
Date City clerk
L 14-C
If you need this information in an alternative form such as large print, audio tapes, etc.,
please contact the City of Eagan, 3830 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55122, 681-4600, TDD
Phone: 454-8535.