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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 13, 20111685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 • WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US Andover Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Agenda July 13, 2011 Andover City Hall Council Chambers 7:00 p.m. 1. Call to Order 2. Resident Forum 3. Approval of Minutes — June 8, 2011 4. Recap of Andover Family FunFest 5. 2011 Site Selection Process © 6. Update - Maintenance of Open Space Sites 7. Other Business a. Next meeting 8. Adjournment x REGULAR ANDOVER OPEN SPA CE AD VISOR COMMISSION MEETING ® July 13, 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: Kim Kovich, Jim Olson, Bruce Perry and Suzanne Van Hecke Commissioners absent: Drago Flores, Val Holthus Also present: City Planner, Courtney Bednarz RESIDENT FORUM No one wished to address the Commission. APPROVAL OFMINUTES June 8, 2011 Motion by Kovich, Second by Perry to approve the minutes. Motion passed 5 -0 (Flores, Holthus absent). 0 RECAP OFANDOVER FAMILYFUNFEST Commissioner Perry stated that Scott Protovinsky and other Public Works staff should be commended for their help in getting the booth set up and taken down. He added that they brought everything out and made sure they had everything they needed. He added that the maps should be updated and larger maps of the sites would be helpful. Commissioner Van Hecke stated that maps like the location maps in the newsletter articles would be helpful in talking to residents. She agreed that large maps of each site are needed. Commissioner Kovich stated he talked to a resident about biking in Martin's Meadows and tried to explain from the large map how to get to the site. Commissioner Perry stated that having things to give away might bring more people to the booth. 2011 SITE SELECTION PROCESS Mr. Bednarz introduced two new properties to the Commission noting that due to computer issues the maps needed to be made from the county web site. He stated the first site is along Hanson Boulevard near the north municipal border and three configurations were suggested by the property owner. Commissioner Kovich stated that parts of the site are heavily wooded and somewhat overgrown. He added that access is good and you can see across the site from the dead end of 177 Avenue NW. He questioned whether the westerly portion of the site should be considered due to the narrow access and separation from the rest of the site. © Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes — July 13, 2011 Page 2 Commissioner Van Hecke stated that the site has excellent visibility and potential for access but seems pretty far north. She asked if people would travel this far north to visit the site. Commissioner Perry stated that he agreed that the site is too far north. Commissioner Olson asked why the proposed site did not extend to the westerly property line. Mr. Bednarz stated that he believed the owner was intending to retain ownership of the creek through that area of the property. Commissioner Perry stated that the value of the property would need to be considered. The Commission discussed the location of Cedar Creek to the north of the site. Commissioner Van Hecke asked if the Commission was interested in the 5 acres near the intersection of CSAH 58 and Hanson Boulevard. The Commission was not interested in this part of the site. Mr. Bednarz stated that the second site is also along the northern municipal border and a quarter mile from the eastern municipal border. Commissioner Perry asked if there was access to the site. Commissioner Kovich stated that 181 Avenue dead ends at the farm to the west and there is a minimum maintenance road into the site. He added that trees have been put across to block the access in the past. Mr. Bednarz noted that there is 160 acres of state owned land to the north of the site. Commissioner Van Hecke asked what the land was used for. Commissioner Sabel asked if it was school district land and if the state was considering selling this and other sites. Commissioner Olson stated that the state has determined that school districts can sell land to help address their budget issues. Commissioner Perry stated that the evaluation criteria should be applied to the site when the additional information is available. The Commission determined that they would review the sites in more detail at the next meeting with the additional information. They also stated that site visits could be conducted, with permission © from the owners, in September. The Commission discussed the joint workshop with the City Council. ® Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes —July 13, 2011 Page 3 Commissioner Sabel stated that the Council seemed more interested in the Selmer property based on the scoring than the Aasness property. Commissioner Olson stated that the Council suggested site visits to evaluate the Kuiken and Selmer properties but the Selmer property is landlocked and they have not had success finding access to it. Mr. Bednarz stated that the Council seemed interested in a larger piece that could include the Aasness piece, but not without the Selmer property and the land in between. He stated that the Kuiken family had been brought through the city process three times and is no longer responding to inquiries. Commissioner Olson stated he felt the Council was looking for the Commission to justify their recommendation to get them past the scoring which they were not able to do. He added that the score is the determining factor. Commissioner Van Hecke stated that they needed to bring pictures and make a better presentation to explain their recommendations in the future. © Commissioner Olson stated that more properties are becoming available and they will have to continue to review and rank them and bring the information back to Council. He thought about asking for an appraisal of the Aasness property but it did not seem like the Council was interested in the property. Chairperson Sabel stated that she did not think the city would be able to acquire more than two properties and although there has been a negative effect on property values, there were still more opportunities for the city. Commissioner Perry stated that Councilmember Knight had been concerned with the potential for hunters to use the open space sites and that something needed to be done to prevent that. Chairperson Sabel stated that the Commission will need to keep looking and move forward. Commissioner Kovich stated that the scoring should not be the only factor, by visiting the site there were more things that they learned and it really turned out to be a nice piece of property. He added that the trails in White Pine Wilderness lead directly into it and there was already a nice loop trail that would enhance the whole experience. Chairperson Sabel noted that it would be excellent for snowshoeing and skiing. She reviewed the Commission's intent to do site visits in September and suggested they meet at 6pm to allow sufficient daylight. She also suggested former Chairman Deuschle receive copies of the information © and an invitation to come with them. UPDATE - MAINTENANCE OF OPEN SPACE SITES ® Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes — July 13, 2011 Page 4 Mr. Bednarz stated that they were still without a name for the newest open space site. He stated that the previous owner objected to having the site named after someone else. He also noted that the previous owner had just provided a list of suggested names. For the record, he stated that the owner did not request naming rights as a part of the transaction, although this was specifically discussed at that time, and that he had not previously had any naming suggestions despite several attempts by staff to solicit them. To this point the previous owner's only suggestion had been that the name should be at least slightly different than the name of the development; White Pine Wilderness. The Commission reviewed the list of suggested names and discussed variations and other names for the open space site. The discussion included whether the words Andover or open space should be included. Commissioner Van Hecke stated that the word `preserve' carried more relevant meaning to her than open space. She stated it was closer to their intent which was to preserve the natural areas that were there. Chairperson Sabel stated that using the city's name seemed more like an advertisement. Commissioner Van Hecke asked if the Martin's Meadows sign included language like `open to the public or `public welcome'. Mr. Bednarz stated it did not. Commissioner Kovich stated that this language or something similar should be used on the sign to make sure people knew that they were free to enter the site. The Commission continued the discussion concerning a name for the newest open space site. Motion by Perry, Second by Kovich to recommend naming the site North Woods Preserve. Motion passed 5 -0 (Flores, Holthus absent). Mr. Bednarz asked the Commission if they had ideas for the upcoming newsletter. Commissioner Van Hecke suggested the location maps be included. Chairperson Sabel stated that the fall colors should be mentioned. She added that they may want to think about having activities, such as a nature walk for people to participate in. Motion by Kovich, Second by Sabel to adjourn. Motion passed 5 -0 (Flores, Holthus absent). The meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Courtney Bednarz