HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/17/1990 �
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CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
April 17, 1990
Minutes of the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
held April 17, 1990, at the Apple Valley Community Center.
PRESENT: Chairperson Greg Kopischke; Committee Members John DiRico (left
at 9:lOpm) , Tina Rankin, David Gross (left at 9:lOpm), Ann
Wyllie (arrived at 8:35pm) ; Parks and Recreation Director Randy
Johnson; Associate City Planner Meg McMonigal; and ten members
of the general public.
ABSENT: � Russ DeFauw and Charlie Maus
1. Chairman Kopischke called the meeting to order at 7:37 pm.
2. Approval of the Agenda..
Randy Johnson requested two changes in the agenda: delete the
1990 group picture under item #6.A. ; and include an update on the
bike: pathways. for Dakota County.
MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by John DiRico to approve the
agenda with the noted changes.
VOTE; Yes - 4, No - 0
3. Approval of March Minutes.
MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by John DiRico to accept the March
minutes with the following changes:
1. Page 3, paragraph 3, second sentence - should begin a new
° paragraph and read For the Apple Ponds development, money for the
purchase of the land would come in as the building permits from
the development are paid for.
2. Page 5, paragraph 4 - delete the second sentence.
3. Page 5, paragraph 7 - delete the second sentence.
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. 4, Page 6, paragraph 1 - change the word Some to The, to make the
sentence read The committee members do not Zike the idea of
selling park Zand.
5. Correct the meeting date from March 17 to March 20.
" VOTE: .Yes - 4, No - 0
Item #4.A. Old Business - Apple Ponds Development Information
Meg McMonigal reviewed the Apple Ponds memo sent to Randy Johnson
March 29, 1990.
52 units out of a possible 247 have been platted in this development
equaliing 63�. The committee/city should take action to purchase the
par�C property when 75� (102) of the allowable detached, single family
units have been platted.
Ms. McMonigal will check periodically on the progress to keep the
committee up to da.te on the development.
Item #5. A. New Business - Ceda.r Kno11s Mobile Home Park Request for
Additional Park Land
Randy Johnson reviewed the series of issues and events that brought
the. l0: members of the public to the Parks and Recreation Advisory
Committee meeting tonight. They are interested in the area near 127th
Street and Germane Avenue. The area is under consideration for
rezoning possibly as commercial or multi-family developments.
Meg McMonigal stated that there are some inconsistencies between the
zoning and the long-range plans for approximately 50 cases in the
city. They are being considered on a case by case situation. The
Planning Commission is trying to change either the zoning or the
long-range plans or both. The 127th Street and Germane Avenue section
is one of those areas.
The area is currently zoned retail business, meaning that a 157,000
square foot shopping center could be built on this property.
The Planning Department recommends against such a facility because of
the traffic impact, it would not be economically viable, and it's not
needed in this area.
The property owner wants to maintain the retail business zoning.
At the last Planning Commission hearing to change part of the land
from retail to multiple residential, several members of the public
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-' brought up the issue of a park in this area. They were directed to
the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee meeting.
With the Planning Commission's recommendations, the southern area
along 127th and west of Germane Avenue would remain retail leaving the
small store that is currently there. Access could be either from
127th or Germane. When the developer comes in, the city will do a
� traffic count to help determine the best access. 127th Street is
considered a neighborhood collection route and traffic counts are
not available at this time.
Joe McCluskey asked Ms. McMonigal why the Planning Commission is
recommending a change from retail business to residential for this
area. She responded that the City Council stance is to continue with
the downtown effort for a business district.
This is one of the iargest population density concentration areas
within the ci'ty of Apple Valley with the apartment buildings,
townhouses and mobile home park. However, there still remains a lot
of open space.
The public representatives feel that there is a lot of privately
owned open space that is not available to all individuals in the
area. Cedar Knolls Park has a tennis court, playground equipment and
some heavily wooded land. They are proposing a city park for children `
to play in that is not wooded.
Another proposal from people in the area is to include a park-and-
ride section for the mass-transit system.
Tina Rankin pointed out that apartment building and retail business �
zoning is not in the realm of the Parks and Recreation Advisory
Committee. .
There are limited funds available for park use and the Committee must
consider all parks in the city. They have adopted the national
standard of a 1/2 mile radius for parks. Some areas of the city do
not have parks yet. People living in the area of the mobile home
park have Briar Oaks Park on the north and Cedar Knolls Park on the
southeast.
Greg Kopischke paraphrased the memo Randy Johnson sent as an
informational tool to the Committee on April 12, 1990. He also added
that the people in this area also have Pennock Park on the other side
of Cedar Avenue.
The public representatives were concerned with the traffic flow on
127th street and feel that it is a real safety concern for children
having to cross this street to get to a park.
Mr: Kopischke stated that the park dedication allows $15,000 per acre
for park land. A minimum four to five acre park in this area with
land selling for $20,000 would cost approximately $100,000. Land
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.' fees may be more depending on the zoning.
One of the representatives asked what the City bases park land
requirements on?
Ms. McMonigal explained that the City considers the acreage of the
residential development t�imes 10$ of the land to find the required
" dedication amounts.
Technically it would be a Planning Commission issue to require the
private community owners to provide additional private park space for
highly populated property. The City does take into consideration the
area schools and county parks in addition to the city parks.
Some of the representative felt like they were tresspassing on private
property when they went through the mobile home park to use Cedar
Knolls Park and would like to see an easement to Briar Oaks. They
feel that Briar Oaks Park is noL easily accessable.
Randy Johnson explained that when the land for Briar Oaks was
purchased, the City attempted to obtain a right-of-way from the
private property owners on the south side of the park, but they
rejected the idea.
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Mr. Kopischke stated that when the Briar Oaks Park property was under
consideration, the Committee struggled with the idea of purchasing
the property because of the accessability concern. They also
questioned whether the city needed another park in the area. However,
they felt there was a need and this park along with Cedar Kno11s Park
would provide sufficient area to service the population in this area.
Fran Wallin of the public representatives questioned the Gommittee:
1) Do other parks have time stipulations as to how long a person can
use the facilities? There are a number of parking spaces at Cedar
Knolls Park, but only four are for park users. The others are for
park-and-ride users. 2) When planning park amenities, does the
Committee plan for children vs, teen/adult use? She believes the
only available items at the park include a walking trail, a bar-b-
que and a picnic table.
Randy Johnson asked the representatives for input as to the
items/amenities they would like to see at Cedar Knolls Park. Someone
mentioned an archery range.
It may be a possibility, if an area could meet the safety
requirements. Mr. Johnson stated that there is an archery range at
Scott Park.
One of the citywide goals for 1990 is to locate other areas for park-
and-ride accomodations. Galaxie Parks is another example of the same
situation that exists at Cedar Knolls.
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Changes probably will not occur until 1991 because of the "Opt Out"
of the metropolitan transit program the City is presently considering.
Many of the surrounding communities are also involved with the
program.
. Mr. Johnson pointed out that the people on the Parks & Recreation
� Advisory Committee love parks, but reality is that it's very
expensive to purchase land. If the owner of the property (127th and
Germane) would be willing to donate the land, the City could be
willing to accept it.
Fran Wallin asked if it would be possible to trade the land from the
old bmx bike track at Cedar Knolls Park for the 127th Street and
Germane Avenue property.
Randy Johnson explained that it would be a difficult process to sell
or transfer ownership of any park property, especially if any State
or �Federal funds were used to purchase or develop the park.
David Gross stated that it seems the first and foremost concern of
the residents is the safety of people getting to and from the parks.
He suggested that possibly a crosswalk could be instailed, maybe some
additional signage for the park. The speed limit which is 35mph
could possibly be lowered to 30mph.
Additional playground equipment for the Galaxie Avenue and 127th
Street area was addressed. Mr. Johnson noted that there is some
playground equipment already in the Cedar Knolls Park. Additional
equipment could cost approximately $15,000.
A good example of 'the new equipment now being installed in the parks
would be the Hayes Park playground equipment. That installation cost
approximately $12,000 in 1989. A ma�or portion of the
manufacturer/installer price is to cover the insurance liabilities
for the companies.
Mr. Johnson will pursue the idea of an easement for the Briar Oaks
park with the private property owners along Geneva Way again.
John DiRico asked if there were not sidewalks along Galaxie Avenue.
He does not consider a 1/4 to 1/2 mile walk along the sidewalk as
unaccessability to a park.
Cedar Knolls encompasses 10.3 acres that is under-utilized.
Carol Valentine of the public representatives stated that better
access and upgrading the area for safety would be an advantage.
Mr. DiRico asked that Randy Johnson contact the Public Works
Department for the needed repairs to the sidewalk and additional
signage along the street noting the area as a park.
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-' Mr. Johnson asked the representatives what kind of amenities they
would like to see in the Cedar Knolls Park. They responded with;
swings, open land for a play field. If they have additional ideas or
suggestions after they poll the neighbors in the near future, they
should address a note to Randy Johnson of the Parks and Recreation
Department for the Gity.
In comparing the 1/2 mile radius standard for parks to the school
districts requirements for students walking to school, elementary
children are walking 1/2 mile to schools everyday. Bus service is
not available to students living 1/2 mile or less from their
neighborhood school.
Mr. Kopischke thanked the members of the public for attending the
meeting and told them that the Committee appreciates public input on
park issues. He explained the Comp Plan and the public hearings
that were held to discuss the five-year plan before it was adopted by
the City Council in February. Even with the notices posted throughout
the community, no one from the public appeared at the hearings to
discuss the Comp Plan.
Mr, Kopischke asked David Gross to xeview his list of items that the
Advisory Committee and Randy Johnson will be checking into for the
areas in question.
1.) 127th Street adding some park signage� possibly a crosswalk, and
lower the speed limit to 30 mph.
2.) Park signage on the west side of Cedar Knolls Park.
3.) Continue with the grading, upgrade and enhance the Cedar Knolls
Park as we have been doing.
4.) Have the City check into the easement for Briar Oaks Park again.
Mr. Johnson's best guess for the location of the easement would
be through the apartment building complex near the swing set.
Mr. DiRico read over the amenities already located at some of the
other parks within the city: outdoor volleyball courts, horseshoe
pits, exercise trails, basketball courts, picnic shelters, etc.
Carol Valentine asked the Committee to encourage the Planning
� Department to return the parking spaces at Cedar Knolls Park to the
park users from the park-and-ride users.
Ms. McMonigal assured the public representatives that it is already
an issue with the City Council and tonight's information will be
available to the Planning Commission at Wednesday, April 18, 1990.
Ms. Valentine recommended that rather than a retail business in the
127th Street and Germane Avenue area, maybe making that a park-and-
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. ride would be a better use. The park-and-ride parking could then be
removed from the other city parks.
Mr. Kopischke stated that there are a number of issues to be explored;
will the property owners grant the easement for Briar 0aks and at what
cost? Where to find the funds to construct a trail from 123rd Street
to Gantry?
The easement could probably be done with a l0 foot width, though 20
feet would be better.
Mr. McCluskey said that the people from Cedar Knolls mobile home park
have a tremendous interest in these two parks, but he`s not aware of
anyone that has contacted the mobile home park management yet.
Mr. Johnson asked the representatives to sign the visitor sheet and
leave their addresses. He will send a memo to them within a month
with a response to the questions raised this evening.
As the representatives were leaving the meeting, Mario Vaca delivered
to Randy Johnson a petition that the group ,has circulated through the
neighborhood. ' :
Chairperson Kopischke made the motion on the items discussed.
MOTION: by Greg Kopischke, seconded by Ann Wyllie recommending
against acquiring either by purchase of by donation any
land in the area in discussion.
VOTE: Yes - 5, No - 0
Meg McMonigal distributed a copy of a letter addressed to Mayor
Branning from Diane Vaca. It states the resident's �ustifications
for having a park and a park-and-ride in the area of 127th and Germane
Avenue.
Item #5. B. New Business - Verbal Report on Pennock Corridor Zoning and
Park Requests
Randy Johnson reported that the development of the Pennock Avenue
property (Mrs. Schultz's property) came up at the City Council meeting
on March 22. With some pressure from the public and from the
developer, the Council has decided that a park may not be needed in
this development. They sent direction to the Planning Department to
develop the plat with a street through the develapment, but not
showing any park property.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee has recommended at least
a four or five acre park for this development. Many of the residents
have called the Parks and Recreation Department wanting to know when
the park will be completed.
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Tom Goodwin will present an alternative to the City Council
recommending at least a smaller park (possibly 2 acres) for the
development. Possibly located on Pennock Avenue south of Harwell
Path. The next City Council meeting is scheduled for April 2b, 1990.
Item #6. . Other
Randy Johnson distributed copies of the new park booklet for the
Committee's information. Tony Martinez is credited with the park
drawings from aerial photos.
Three ring binder books are available in the Recreation office for
Committee members for their Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee '�
1990 information.
Greg Kopischke asked about Newell Park changes in terms of other
uses.
Randy Johnson stated that the Committee needs to come up with some
suggestion items. There �should not be an problems with adding
different amenities to the park.
Item #6. B Other - Update on Bike Pathways
Randy Johnson reviewed the information from the bike pathway meeting
held earlier in the day with the County Commissioners.
The city councils from Apple Valley, Eagan, Burnsville and Rosemount
adopted similar resolutions recommending no changes to the current
bikeway system plans. The County Commissioners voted 6 to l to stay
with the existing plans to build off-road bikeways and have the
cities provide the funds for maintenance of the bikeways.
Tina Rankin asked if there was ever going to be a bike trail in the
Cedar Knolls area. Meg McMonigal said she believed that it was
planned, but she would check into it.
Palomino is a county road. When 38 is designated to the county, it
will bring Palomino to a city street. 127th is a city street.
I tem #7. Adj ourn
MOTION: by Ann Wyllie, seconded by Charlie Maus to adjourn the
meeting at 9:47pm.
VOTE: Yes - 3, No - 0
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