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04/21/1998 - City Council Special 00129 MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL Eagan, Minnesota April 21, 1998 A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at 5:00 p.m. in the lunchroom of the Municipal Center building. Those in attendance were Mayor Egan and City Councilmembers Awada, Blomquist, Masin and Wachter. Also in attendance were Senior Planner Ridley, Planner Farnham, City Engineer Matthys, Assistant to the City Administrator Hohenstein, Chief Building Official Reid and City Administrator Hedges. VISITORS TO BE HEARD Mayor Egan acknowledged the audience and there were no visitors to be heard. HIGHWAY 55 AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY & UPDATE City Administrator Hedges stated that over the past 18 months, the City has been approached by several property owners and developers interested in developing property in the "triangle" area bound by 1-494 on the north, TH 55 on the west and TH 149 on the east. He stated that staff has met with many of the property owners individually and has also conducted a series of meetings to address issues related to new, internal roadways and access limitations on TH 55. Ferrol Robinson, representing SRF on behalf of the City of Eagan, made a presentation that included an interim study and alternate study for transportation improvements in the "triangle" area. He further reviewed access facing on the principal arterial, including the proposal of an additional signal light between 149 and 55 and Blue Gentian and 55 at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue and 55. Mr. Robinson stated that meetings had been held with property owners along Blue Gentian Road to discuss the interim use of certain properties as residential. Mayor Egan asked if the road connecting Blue Gentian with 55 is the road improvement proposed for City Council consideration as a municipal state aid designated status. Mr. Robinson stated that the Mayor's reference is correct and the road is referenced as Blue Water Drive. Planner Farnham commented that surveys were mailed out and returned by residents on Blue Gentian Road providing input on future land use and transportation improvements. City Councilmember Awada asked if the road could be temporarily dead ended while the property is in transition from residential to commercial. City Council member Wachter stated that due to the steepness of Blue Gentian Road in the residential area, possibly a dead end would be the best alternative to eliminate truck traffic until the property is developed other than residential. Mayor Egan asked why there is a proposal for Options 1 and 2. Mr. Robinson stated that Option 1 does not impact the residential properties; however, Option 2, which does impact residential properties, is a better alignment for developing the commercial property. He stated that under Option 2, the Wispark Development Company would be allowed to keep their property as a whole parcel for development purposes instead of being divided, causing limitations for development. Mr. Robinson explained other transportation plans that were given consideration for the "triangle" area. He further reviewed the proposed access points on the south side of TH 55 and explained that all construction is proposed within MnDOT's existing right-of-way. City Councilmember Blomquist asked if MnDOT funding is available for the construction. Mr. Robinson stated that MnDOT has a special discretionary fund for this type of capital improvement. It is his understanding that it is the intention of the Director of Public Works to pursue funding for these improvements in the fall of 1998. Mr. Robinson presented the ultimate transportation plan for the TH 55 access study that in his opinion would provide the best use of the business park parcels. He stated that this plan would reroute Blue Gentian Road once the residential properties are removed. City Council member Blomquist questioned whether the topography is appropriate for the new roadway design. Mayor Egan asked a question about the cost if the City constructs Blue Water Drive under the interim study and later, once the residential properties are removed, changes the transportation plan to comply with the ultimate design feature. Mr. Robinson stated that the topography is adequate and further that there would be no design modification to Blue Water Drive from the interim to ultimate design. The major change would be the 00130 Page 2/Eagan Special City Council Meeting Minutes April 21, 1998 relocation of Blue Gentian Road west and south of Blue Water Drive to its current intersection with TH 55. He stated that the redesign of Blue Gentian Road would provide a more orderly development opportunity for the landowners and City in the "triangle" area. Mayor Egan asked staff if the City could exercise eminent domain to accomplish the transportation improvements within the TIF district. Assistant to the City Administrator Hohenstein stated that as long as the City has ample public purpose, it can exercise the right of eminent domain. He further stated that the Blue Gentian Road properties currently are not within a redevelopment district. Mr. Larry Poppler stated that owners of residential properties should be included in these meetings to discuss the "triangle" area. City Administrator Hedges stated that all the residential property owners had been noticed and many participated in the many meetings that preceded this work session and further that a notice was sent to all of the property owners, including the residential property owners on Blue Gentian Road, inviting them to this workshop meeting. Greg Miller, representing Wispark, stated that it is in the best interest of his company that the City move expeditiously with the improvement of Blue Water Drive. He stated that there are some development opportunities that are under consideration by Wispark and the improvement of Blue Water Drive would help with their planning and development of the property. Mr. Jack Hoeschler, representing Dart Transit, asked about the timing for improvements of the frontage road on the south side of TH 55 between TH 149 and Blue Gentian Road. Mr. Robinson stated that the improvement of the frontage road is part of the project for which the City is pursuing funding from MnDOT later this year. Mayor Egan thanked Ferrol Robinson from SRF, the property owners from the "triangle" area and staff for the update on the proposed roadway improvements that will impact the entire "triangle" area and TH 55 between 149 and Blue Gentian Road. He further stated that proposed action for Blue Water Drive will be scheduled for a regular City Council meeting agenda and that the City will continue to work in partnership with all the property owners in the "triangle" area in a effort to jointly master plan the area. SKYLINE DISPLAYS PARK Director of Parks & Recreation Vraa stated that the owners of Skyline Displays have presented a plan to the City for the development of "Discovery Park" on their property located at the northeast corner of Lexington Avenue and Yankee Doodle Road. At the request of the property owner, the City has had a meeting with a designer that was hired by Skyline Displays to review the concept plans for the proposed park. He stated that the concept plan was presented at the March Advisory Parks Commission meeting and that on Monday, April 20, Commission members walked the site and discussed plans/concerns for the proposed Discovery Park. Director of Parks & Recreation Vraa provided a brief review of the 32 features that are proposed for Discovery Park and stated that proposed trailways would connect with the Catholic school site providing opportunities to maximize use of the park with the school. Director of Parks & Recreation Vraa stated that one of the aspects of the proposal is that the park dedication fee for this development would be used for the construction of the park. He stated that neither a budget nor a timeline was developed for the park's construction, which would likely be spread out over several years. He further stated that Skyline Displays is hoping that once the project is approved, other Eagan corporations will step forward to help finance the park's development. Director of Parks & Recreation Vraa stated that there were a number of issues discussed at the APrC meeting, including issues such as scheduling, maintenance, capital improvements and the related. City Council member Awada asked who is responsible to pay the cost of the Discovery Park development. Director of Parks & Recreation Vraa stated that Skyline Displays is proposing to use the cash donation in the amount of $100,000, that would normally be paid to the City to help finance a portion 001.31 Page 3/Eagan Special City Council Meeting Minutes April 21, 1998 of the parks improvements. He further stated that it is the intention of Skyline Displays to approach other companies for capital contributions. City Council member Masin asked how the community park was developed in the City of Burnsville by Skyline Displays. Director of Parks & Recreation Vraa stated that a playground was constructed on land owned by the City of Burnsville as an asset, which is different from the Discovery Park proposal whereby Skyline Displays would retain ownership of the property. Mayor Egan stated that the Discovery Park proposal needs to be further reviewed to determine what uses the City can accept as parkland. City Councilmember Masin asked if the proposed Discovery Park could be used for area events, given the amount of parking proposed for the Catholic school and Skyline Displays. Senior Planner Ridley stated that Skyline Displays envisioned the proposed Discovery Park to be used for weddings and other similar uses. Mr. Jack Hoeschler, representing Dart Transit who was the owner and developer of property acquired by Skyline Displays, stated that their park initiative is extraordinary and Dart Transit is hopeful that more corporations like Skyline Displays will consider their business park for development. He stated that once all the parcels are developed on the 200 acres, he estimates the total cash donation to the City might be $500,000-$600,000. Mr. Hoeschler suggested that the City consider leasing the property as one option and further commented that the trailway system proposed for the property will have the critical mass given the Catholic Church and Skyline Display developments. City Councilmember Blomquist stated that the concept is exciting; however, it is necessary to work out a legal agreement between the City and Skyline Displays. She further stated that the only feature proposed for the park that should be further questioned are the community garden plots, stating that if they are not properly maintained, they could visually impact the proposed Discovery Park. Director of Parks & Recreation Vraa stated that staff and the APrC will continue working on the various issues raised by the Commission and the City Council. Mayor Egan stated that he is extremely excited to have Skyline Displays as a corporate citizen; however, he raised a question as to what happens to Discovery Park if it is necessary for that corporation to locate to a larger site in future years. Mr. Jack Hoeschler stated that the City should not forget foundations, which have the ability to raise money for a park similar to the proposed Discovery Park. He stated that it might be easier to raise money for a private park instead of a public park, similar to efforts he was involved with recently in St. Paul with the Riverfront development. Mayor Egan thanked Mr. Hoeschler for his comments and asked the City Administrator and Director of Parks & Recreation to continue reviewing the proposed Discovery Park development with the APrC and Skyline Displays. VISITORS TO BE HEARD Mayor Egan asked Mr. Larry Poppler if he was present to address the City Council under Visitors to be Heard. Mr. Poppler stated that he has been researching the methodology for special assessments for street improvements and has several concerns he would like to address with the City Council. He further stated that he would have preferred an opportunity to address the Council on the subject. ADJOURNMENT April There being no further business. the meeting was adjourned at 6:30 II ~~te 1998 ~Clerk' TLH