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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 9, 2011CI Andover Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Agenda February 9, 2011 Andover City Hall Council Chambers 7.00 p.m. 1. Call to Order 2. Oath of Office 3. Introductions 4. Resident Forum 5. Approval of Minutes — January 12, 2011 © 6. Discuss Draft Management Plans a. Martin's Meadows b. White Pine Wilderness 7. Update on Discussions with Property Owners 8. March -April Newsletter Article 9. Other Business — QCTV Spot a. Next meeting 10. Adjournment C 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 • WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US REGULAR ANDOVER OPEN SPACEADVISORY COMMISSIONMEETING February 9, 2011 MINUTES The Regular Meeting of the Andover Open Space Advisory Commission was called to order by Chairperson Gretchen Sabel at 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners present: Drago Flores, Jody Keppers, and Kim Kovich, Jim Olson, Bruce Perry and Suzanne Van Hecke Commissioners absent: None Also present: City Planner, Courtney Bednarz RESIDENT FORUM No one wished to address the Commission APPROVAL OFMINUTES 10 January 12, 2010 Motion by Kovich, Second by Perry to approve the minutes. Motion passed 5 -0 (Flores, Van Hecke present). DISCUSS DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLANS a. Martin's Meadows Chairperson Sabel stated that draft management plans for both open space sites were included in the packet and asked for comments from the Commission. Mr. Bednarz added that a schedule for their completion was also attached and the intent was to make the draft plans available for public comment as well. Commissioner Flores asked how land cover types are determined, is an Oak forest determined by a percentage of oak trees compared to other plant types, for example. Mr. Bednarz stated that the land cover is determined by the dominant plant type although others may be present. He added that at the Martin's Meadows site they were able to have a professional ecologist tour the site and document the plant communities. . Commissioner Keppers stated that the handouts he had prepared contain summaries of the different plant communities that are common to Andover and would be a good resource for the Commissioners. © Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes — February 9, 2011 Page 2 Commissioner Kovich suggested the plan should include discussion on how to address the snowmobiling issue at Martin's Meadows. He added that the section on signage would be appropriate and that a combination of signs and snow fence should be considered. Commissioner Van Hecke asked where snowmobiles can legally be operated in the city and where they could access the Rum River. Mr. Bednarz stated that snowmobiling was still permitted north of 160 Avenue and north of 157 Avenue west of Round Lake Boulevard. There is access to the river at Viking Boulevard and in the City of Anoka. It was noted that the access to the river near the 7 th Avenue bridge at the north end of town was on private property. Commissioner Flores stated that the Commission should strive to create awareness that snowmobiling in the open space is not allowed as it may be an activity that people have been doing for generations. He asked what the penalty for violating this would be. Mr. Bednarz stated that it would be a misdemeanor. He added that enforcement is difficult but not impossible. Commissioner Perry stated that there is less snowmobiling in Andover than there used to be. Chairperson Sabel stated that it would make sense for the management plan to include Grow Oak View Park as it shares the same features and provides access to the site. No motorized vehicle signs could be placed at the west edge of the park as well. Commissioner Kovich was not sure that the parks were part of the Commission's purview. Commissioner Keppers stated that it makes sense to include the park and to manage the sites together. Commissioner Sabel added that they should make sure the Park and Recreation Commission would support this idea. Mr. Bednarz stated that he would ask staff to discuss this with the Park and Recreation Commission at their meeting next Thursday. Commissioner Kovich asked if the park would be converted to open space so that it would carry the same restrictions on development and could be used to apply for grants for trail connections, removal of invasive species and signage. 0 Commissioner Flores expressed concern that the park land could be developed in the future. Mr. Bednarz noted that the City Code has the same regulations for both parks and open space. He added that the park could remain dedicated park land without threat of development and that it could also be included in grant applications. © Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes —February 9, 2011 Page 3 Commissioner Van Hecke asked what priority was given to access when properties were being considered for preservation. She stated that merging the area with the park for access and trail connections was important to prevent a secluded area that people could not use or might not know was there. She asked what the Commission's definition of open space was. Mr. Bednarz stated the only formal definition is provided by the bond referendum question. Beyond that there was agreement that ball fields and playground equipment would not be part of the open space, but that trails and benches would be. Commissioner Keppers stated the primary objective is to preserve land from development, to preserve and maintain the natural features and to provide an opportunity for the public to enjoy the area. Commissioner Flores asked if the University of Minnesota would be interested in visiting the sites and providing advice. He added that they should get groups like the boy scouts and kids involved helping with trails or other projects to build a sense of ownership. Commissioner Olson stated that he had been working with a group at the High School who had expressed interest in the White Pine Wilderness site due to its close proximity to the school and the potential for educational opportunities. b. White Pine Wilderness Chairperson Sabel asked if the page showing a potential future park location should be included in the plan. Mr. Bednarz stated that this was added to document discussions by the Commission, Park and Recreation Commission, Council and the property owner during the time the open space purchase was being considered. Commissioner Flores asked when the park would be established. Commissioner Keppers stated it would occur at the time the area was platted for development. Commissioner Flores stated it was a benefit to have a park area next to open space and asked if this should be considered as a matter of general practice. © Chairperson Sabel asked if they had selected White Pine Wilderness as the name for the site. Commissioner Keppers stated that he believed they wanted something different than the name of the development and that they had discussed seeking public input. Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes —February 9, 2011 Page 4 Commissioner Van Hecke stated that the management costs are much lower on this site and noted that visibility and access were better. She asked about the criteria used to evaluate the site. Chairperson Sabel asked that the new commissioners be provided with the review criteria established by the Commission. Commissioner Olson described the process of scoring properties with the criteria. He added that the criteria are set up to cover all types of desirable features and it is unlikely that any one site would have all of them. UPDATE ON DISCUSSIONS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS Mr. Bednarz provided an update on properties that were discussed with the Council since the Commission last met. He stated that the Council wanted to explore access to the parcel east of Hanson Boulevard before moving forward. © Mr. Bednarz stated that another property owner had asked to have his property discussed by the Commission and presented the details of the site. One important item is that a road is planned to be constructed when the area develops from the north end of White Pine Wilderness over to Hanson Boulevard. Commissioner Keppers noted that the site was directly north of White Pine Wilderness and one forty acre parcel removed from another property that was under consideration. Chairperson Sabel expressed interest in connecting these properties as preserve open space. Commissioner Kovich stated that it may be difficult to cross the wetland to get to the north end of the area. He asked for a score to be provided for the site. Chairperson Sabel referred the Commission to the list of properties which showed the site had previously been assigned a score of 21. She noted that the score may be increased in some of the categories since White Pine Wilderness would improve access and connectivity. She asked staff to update and distribute the table of properties that had been considered by the Commission. Commissioner Flores asked if the Commission was looking more at access or at the area that was to be preserved. © Commissioner Kovich stated that he viewed preservation as the first priority. He added that with land values declining there may be an opportunity to preserve a larger area and allow access to occur as development resumes. © Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes —February 9, 2011 Page 5 Commissioner Van Hecke stated that there would be value for homeowners moving into an area adjacent to open space and that this should be one of the things to consider as locations are discussed. Commissioner Keppers stated that was how White Pine Wilderness evolved from an area that was going to be fully developed. He added that continuing the open space to the north would open it up to more neighborhoods. Mr. Bednarz stated that there are tools beyond purchasing properties that can be used to connect open space including park dedication and trail connections as development occurs. Chairperson Sabel stated that several of the property owners in this area have expressed interest in preservation and there is an opportunity to have a larger connected open space. Commissioner Keppers suggested a scenario including 20 acres adjacent to Hanson Boulevard, 40 acres to the east of it and additional property to the south. The Commission continued to discuss the potential for open space preservation north of White Pine © Wilderness. It was determined that staff would provide additional detail of this area to the Commission to consider and bring to the discussion at the next meeting. MARCH -APRIL NEWSLETTER ARTICLE The Commission discussed the upcoming newsletter article. It was noted that the Commission would be seeking public input on the movement plans as well as suggestions for naming the open space adjacent to White Pine Wilderness. It was determined that the maps should be larger, the open space sites shaded and that contact information should be included. OTHER BUSINESS Chairperson Sabel asked if the Commission was going to do an update for QCTV. Mr. Bednarz stated he had been asked by QCTV for an update and asked the Commission what they might like to do for it. Chairperson Sabel stated that she would be willing to give the update. Commissioner Van Hecke stated that pictures or a slideshow should be included to make the update © more interesting. Commissioner Keppers stated that he would prepare a slideshow for the update. Commissioner Flores indicated that he would share pictures that he had taken. © Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes —February 9, 2011 Page 6 Chairperson Sabel asked if QCTV or they could post the update to YouTube. Mr. Bednarz stated that they would need to get permission from QCTV and he would ask. The Commission determined that the QCTV update would be prepared in about a week. Motion to Adjourn Kovich, second by Keppers. Motion passed 7 -0. The meeting adjourned at 9:12 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Courtney Bednarz CW]