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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/01/1978 � • . . CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARK COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 1, 1978 PRESENT: Chairman Roger Wangen, Mike DesParte, Ellen Milos, Dave Miller, Ginny Sterling, Mike Bassett, Gary Gronfor representing the Diamond Path residents was present. ABSENT: Bob Naegeli , Joe Bell . Chairman Wangen called the me�ting to order. MOTION: of DesParte, seconded by Miller to approve the minutes of the July 18, 1978 me�ting. Yes - 4 - No - 0. 1. Review Preliminary Plats of Pilot Knob Estates & Diamond Path Fourth Addn. PRE.PLAT REVIEW PILOT KNOB ESTATE: Mike Bassett reviewed the proposals and located the areas on the map. The & DIA. PATH 4TH question in the Pilot Knob Estates is whether the City should take cash in lieu of land for park dedication. The Diamond Path Addition park dedication has been satisfied under the Trans Union Planned Development Agreement. In the Agreement they dedicated 28.2 acres of parkland and $23,400.00. The money is in the park fund at the present time to be used at� developing the park in that area. The consideration for this area is to look at the feasibility of including a trail behind the present singl� family homes along Easter Avenue. Gary Gronfor, a representative of the Diamond Path residents stated that the people that live � the area have a number of concerns. He reviewed the background of the Diamond Path oppos- ion. They are concerned about the density and the amount of green space. The residents feel there should be more tot lots or mini parks in the area. The majority of the people that live in the homes adjacent to the proposed trail were polled and they were in favor of the bike path being built by the developer. They are concerned that the children will be using the parks on the east side of the area from the quad homes -- and would like that area to provide for parks there. They do not feel the $23,400 is sufficient money for the parks. The people would rather see the land than the money set aside. The,� are concerned about the amount of useable ;:park in the Diamond Path area; the ponding area takes up a great deal of the land in the park. They would like the trail and more parkland for the area. Chairman Wangen questioned why the residents would want a trail in their backyards and side- walk in the front. It was noted that the developer has changed the lots which were originally proposed for single family or duplex units to all single family and he is opposed to installing a trail between the single family lots. Mike Bassett stated that he is concerned about the City maintaining alot of trail that does not go anywhere. He stated that he does not look favorably on the trail at this time. Wangen questioned the safety of the homes with the trail in the rear; it is not providing a buffer between single family & multiple dwellings and questions if the people really want the trail s�!stem there. Gary Gronfor stated that he could go back and ask the residents if the�r feelings have changed since the lots were changed to all single family. MOTION: of DesParte, seconded by Miller to recommend that the trail be eliminated behind the proposed single family homes in Diamond Path Fourth Addition as designated in the Trans Union Development Agreement for the purposes of reducing the main- • tenance problems, the trail has no destination and is not a part of the trail plan for Apple Valley, and it will reduce the vandalism possibilities. DISCUSSION: Milbs feels it is a redundant proposal . Gronfor stated that the City's Trail System should be brought to the attention of the residents. Miller asked how many people are aware of the trails. Gronfor stated that they are aware of the trails because of the use that the Trail gets going from the Diamond Path area to Diamond Path School . Pag� #2 Park Committee Minutes • • � 8/1/78 VOTE ON MOTION: Yes - 5 - No - 0. 1�fike DesParte questioned the proposed density. Wangen stated that it has been the polic� of the Park Committee to have larger parks as the small parks present a problem for maintenance as well as development. He sees a need for recreational areas in th�s area and recommended that the �lanning Commission rev��ew the density. Mike Bassett stated that the Planning Cor�nission is looking at the density and they are looking to the Park Committee for a recommendation regarding the parks for this area. They would like to know what the Park Co�unittee proposes for parks for this area. Mike DesParte stated that since the City feels that the tot lots are problem- atic, he feels the density should be reduced to provide for more green space for the children that will be living in the area. Milos stated that if the Comnittee has reasons for not putting in tot lots, how can we ask the developer to put them in. Also, if the figures show that we have sufficient parkland in that area, she questioned the need for more park area. Mike Bassett stated that tot lots are a maintenance type of problem for the City. The only possible difference is the open space area would be controlled by the Association. You could enco�rage or recommend that the developer put in some tot lots throughout the development to be maintained by the Association. Gronfor stated that the residents would be in favor of having the developer put in tot lots. Mike Bassett reviewed the park land which has been dedicated in this area, he also reviewed the Section 25 area & facility requirements from the Five Year Park System Plan. If 1,900 units are proposed for this area at 3.5 persons per unit that is less than 7,000 people. The Park Cor�nittee needs input from the area residents as to what they would like to have in the parks in this area. He further stated that the last bond issue had abou� $120,000 planned for the Diamond Path Park; a good tot lot costs about $10,000. Milo� questioned spending a lot of money on tot lots because the children grow up so fast. A tradeoff for �e trail was discussed -- since Trans Union has met the City's requirements for park dedication, e money for the trail could be used for some type of play area for the quad homes. Mike Bassett stated that he feels there is a fair amount of park land in the area -- we cannot require the developer to dedicate more land for parks. MOTION: of Milos, seconded by DesParte to recommend that the developer be asked to consider providing recreational areas to serve all ages in the Diamond Path Fourth Addition to service, to be controlled and maintained by an association of the homeowners in the area. YES - 5 - NO - 0. The Pilot Knob Estates Area was reviewed. Mr. Gronfor stated that if you build on the land today, in future years you can't ba�k up and make a playground. He stated that the residents feel that the more parks and more green space that can be preserved the better. They feel that there is too much area set aside that is not useable park space; the one park is mostly a drainage pond. Mike Bassett explained the park area located in �he Trans Union area -- the City's philosophy is to provide three acres of parkland for every thousand people. Chairman Wangen stated t��t the citizens of Apple Valley have to decide if they want to pay for park development. There are no funds available to develop the parks that we now have. The Park Committee is not opposed to changing the guidelines for parkland; however, we must be able to develop the parks that we already have. He noted that the people in the Diamond Path area have to assist the Park Committee in the passage of a bond issue if they want their parks developed as well as in the planning of the parks for their area. E13en Milos questioned the area west of Diamond Path School . She feels that there are miscon- ceptions as to how the "park system" works. At this point it is not a matter of needing more ace; we need to develop what we have at this time. She stated that the people in that area ill be surprised as to how much park land is available once it is developed. Mr. Gronfor stated that the people in the area weren't aware of what was happening with the bond issue last fall , however, they are interested in getting together and working toward the passage of the park bond issue. He also made some comments regarding the number of bond issues -- fire bond, etc . •� Page #3 � � Park Committee Minutes 8/1/78 �ke Bassett noted that the question in the Pilot Knob Estates area is if the Park Committee wishes to take cash in lieu of land or park dedication -- if they ask for land it would be about eight acres. MOTION: of DesParte, NO SECOND, to recommend that the Park Cormnittee request that Pilot Knob Estates developer dedicate eight acres of parkland. There was some discussion regarding taking cash in lieu of land as opposed to the park land dedication. MOTION: of Sterling, secanded by Milos to recornrnend that the park dedication requirements in the Pilot Knob Estates proposed plat be satisfied with cash in lieu of land beca�ase there is sufficient park land in that area in comparison to other areas of the city and the funds are needed for park development. DesParte stated he feels the land is more valuable than the cash. Miller questioned what you do with so much parkland. VOTE ON MOTION: YES - 2 - NO - 1 (DesParte) - Abstained - 2 (Miller & Wangen). Wangen & Miller both stated that they did not know which way to vote; Miller stated that he agrees that the land is a good investment, however does feel there is sufficient park land in that area. �nny Sterling stated that the Park Committee has always made recommendations to the Planning mmission regarding parks for a proposed development. The Committee agreed to table items 4, 5, & 6 of the Agenda until the next meeting. Per previous action, the Park Committee will meet at 8:00 p.m. on August 15, 1978. MOTION: of Milos, seconded by DesParte to adjourn. �