HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 12, 2008
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6 REGULAR ANDOVER OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
7 MARCH 12, 2008
8 MINUTES
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11 The Regular Meeting of the Andover Open Space Advisory Commission was called to order by
12 Chairman Deric Deuschle, Mm:ch 12,2008, 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown
13 Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota.
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15 Commissioners present: Gretchen Sabel, Jim 'Olson, Winslow Holasek (arrived at 7: 15
16 p.m.), Bruce Perry and Kim Kovich
17 Commissioners absent: Jody Keppers
18 Also present: City Planner, Courtney Bednarz
19 Others
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22 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
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24 February 13,2008
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26 Commissioner Sabel stated her name was misspelled on page 2, line 18.
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28 Commissioner Kovich noted on page 3 the motion should read 6 ayes, 1 present (Kovich)
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30 Motion by Perry, seconded by Kovich, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried on a
31 5-ayes, O-nays, O-present, 2-absent (Holasek, Keppers) vote.
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34 UPDATE ON DISCUSSIONS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS/NATURALAND SCENICAREAS
35 GRANT APPLICATION
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37 Mr. Bednarz reviewed the owner discussions for possible purchase of land with the Commission.
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39 Mr. Bednarz reviewed the Kuiken family and their sod farm and explained that there is a lot of
40 floodplain that is being offered. The two parcels contain, twenty-five acres of upland property on
41 roughly eighty acres. He noted that this was something to be considered. There is also a farm road
42 across both parcels which the Kuiken Family would either want access to for sod farming or to sell
43 an additional 40 acre parcel and end the sod farming operation.
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45 Mr. Bednarz explained that ifthey are going to have a grant application by the end of the month the
46 Kuiken property is the only option.
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48 Commissioner Kovich asked how much of the Kuiken property is natural undisturbed land. Mr.
Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting
Minutes - March 12, 2008
Page 2
1 Bednarz showed an aerial map indicating what is on the property.
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3 Commissioner Holasek arrived at 7:15 p.m.
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5 The Commission discussed the surrounding parcels around the Kuiken Family parcel to find out if
6 they could contact those owners for purchase of their property.
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8 Chairperson Deuschle did not think that the Commission could even negotiate trading land for sewer
9 for the Leeman Lake area. Commissioner Kovich thought they should let this parcel wait and let the
10 owners know there is interest but the City cannot service them with sewer and water.
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12 Chairperson Deuschle thought the biggest opportunity at this time is not just the sod farm area that
13 the Kuiken Family owns, but also the forest areas nearby.
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15 Commissioner Perry thought the Kuiken property was not the best land to apply for a grant with and
16 he did not know if they wanted to apply for a grant using this property.
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18 Chairperson Deuschle indicated he was not comfortable enough to go forward on a grant with the
19 land offered. Commissioner Perry agreed.
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21 Commissioner Kovich wondered why they would use this area for a grant application.
22 Commissioner Perry stated he did not think that they should apply for a grant just to apply. He did
23 not think these parcels are good enough.
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25 Commissioner Kovich thought they needed to look at the City some more to find better places to
26 purchase. He thought it would be best if they purchased land that looked nice and was desirable to
27 everyone instead of land that looked like it was picked in a hurry.
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29 Commissioner Olson stated they did not have a lot ofluck contacting people on the other parcels so
30 their scope was limited to less desirable property. It would be prudent to spend more time on
31 looking at more desirable parcels. They also want to spend more time on developing the area around
32 the Kuiken property in the future.
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34 Motion by Perry, Seconded by Kovich, that the City not move forward with the Scenic Areas Grant
35 Application for 2008 due to the following:
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37 l. The land was not desirable enough to be the first parcel purchased as open space.
38 2. Other property owners may show more interest regarding purchase of their parcels with
39 additional time.
40 3. It would be prudent to spend more time on looking at more desirable parcels.
41 4. The Commission wanted to spend more time working on parcels around the Kuiken property
42 in the future.
43 5. The Commission felt the purchase would look rushed to the community.
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Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting
Minutes - March 12, 2008
Page 3
1 Motion carried on a 5-ayes, O-nays, O-present, 2-absent (Holasek, Keppers) vote.
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4 ESTABLISHMENT OF CORRIDORS
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6 The Commission and Council briefly discussed establishing preservation corridors at the joint
7 meeting on February 26th. It was generally agreed upon that the Commission should look at this
8 more closely.
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10 Chairperson Deushle noted they need to formally recognize the corridors and how they want to
11 go about doing that. He wondered if there was a possible corridor going up Bunker to Leeman
12 Lake.
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14 Commissioner Kovich wondered what their definition of a corridor should be. Mr. Bednarz
15 stated it was his understanding that part of what the Council wanted was a more formal guide to
16 use when development is proposed. Corridors are also areas that connect parks or other features
17 like lakes or Coon Creek.
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19 Commissioner Kovich asked if their corridor would be a corridor to connect open space. He
20 thought wetlands would provide a connection of open space especially in the area that was
21 discussed previously (Kuiken property).
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23 Chairperson Deuschle stated even if they recognize areas as corridors, it does not mean they have
24 to purchase it for open space.
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26 The Commission discussed wetland areas along Coon Creek as a possible corridor.
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28 Commissioner Kovich thought the area along the Rum River that included the three parcels they
29 looked at for open space could be considered a corridor.
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31 Chairperson Deuschle thought the wetlands are natural corridors to follow but some of this is to
32 connect the natural features ofland together. He thought between the wetlands and floodplain
33 put together with the natural areas, the corridors will work out well.
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35 Commissioner Kovich recommended the area along the Rum River become a corridor.
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37 Chairperson Deuschle thought they may want to look at the planning grant through the
38 Community Conservation Assistance Grant Program.
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40 Commissioner Perry thought they should also set a goal from now to March 2009 to look at other
41 parcels in the City for a grant next year.
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43 Commissioner Kovich wondered if the Commission could make some suggestions to staff of
44 parcels that might be worth looking at to purchase as they drive through the City. Mr. Bednarz
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Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting
Minutes - March 12, 2008
Page 4
1 thought that would be a great idea.
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3 Chairperson Deuschle thought that would be fine as long as they were not burdening staff too
4 much.
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6 Commissioner Kovich pictured a corridor where wildlife and nature naturally moved through an
7 area. Chairperson Deuschle thought they may want to consider a corridor a greenway area
8 because that is more natural open areas flowing together.
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10 Motion by Sabel, seconded by Perry, to proceed with the Community Conservation Assistance
11 Grant Program for 2008. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, O-nays, 0-present,2-absent (Holasek,
12 Keppers) vote.
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15 OTHER BUSINESS
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17 a. Next Meeting
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19 . Outline a timeline of what the Commission plans on doing in the next year to plan for
20 the 2009 DNR Grant.
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23 Motion by Sabel, Seconded by Kovich, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting
24 adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
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26 Respectfully submitted,
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28 Susan 'Osbeck, Recording Secretary