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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 14, 20114 It V NL6 Y O F 6V R; © 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W.. ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 . (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 • WWW.CLAN DOVER. MN.US Andover Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Agenda September 14, 2011 Andover City Hall Conference Room A &B 7:00 p.m. 1. Call to Order 2. Site Visit — PID 01- 32- 24 -13- 0001/177 Ave NW / Flintwood Street NW —PID 01- 32- 24 -12- 0001 /181 3. Return to City Hall 4. Resident Forum © 5. Approval of Minutes — August 10, 2011 6. 2011 Site Selection Process a. Discuss Site Visits b. 13563 Crooked Lake Blvd NW 7. Update - Maintenance of Open Space Sites 8. Other Business a. Next meeting: October 12, 2011 9. Adjournment REGULAR ANDOVER OPEN SPA CE AD VISORY COMMISSION MEETING September 14, 2011 MINUTES The Regular Meeting of the Andover Open Space Advisory Commission was called to order by Chairperson Gretchen Sabel at 7:45 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners present: Drago Flores, Val Holthus, Kim Kovich, Jim Olson, Bruce Perry and Suzanne Van Hecke Commissioners absent: There were none Also present: Courtney Bednarz, City Planner A site visit was conducted with the owners of PID# 01- 32 -24 -13 -0001 and PID# 01-32-24-12 - 0001from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 pm RESIDENT FORUM No one wished to address the Commission. APPROVAL OFMINUTES 0 August 10, 2011 Motion by Olson, Second by Holthus to approve the minutes. Motion passed 6 -0 ( Kovich present). 2011 SITE SELECTION PROCESS The Commission discussed the properties from the earlier site visit. Chairperson Sabel asked if a biological survey, similar to the one that the city hired an ecologist to perform on the original study areas, should be performed for the sites. Commissioner Perry asked if that would help in completing the evaluation scoring of the properties. Commissioner Flores stated the properties they visited gave the feeling of a great experience as he walked through. He noted the size of the area and variety of the plants and topography added to the experience. Commissioner Olson stated that the properties should be compared with the other sites that had been evaluated. Chairperson Sabel noted that the Council would want to ensure that any parcel selected for preservation was of high quality and the Commission would be challenged to demonstrate that they would not be settling for something less than that. Commissioner Kovich stated that the evaluation scoring of the Dalske property would be improved if the evaluation assumed access through the southerly property to CSAH 58. © Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes — September 14, 2011 Page 2 He also noted that the adjoining 160 acres to the north owned by the DNR added to the attraction of the area. Commissioner Van Hecke asked staff to verify the plans for the 160 acre area to see if the properties could work together. She asked the Commission if the remote location detracted from the desirableness of the properties. Commissioner Kovich stated the access to the south side is an asset as well as access from the northwest comer of the northerly site. He asked that an evaluation score be generated assuming both sites would be preserved. Commissioner Holthus stated the properties had a lot of history, including the recent fire and the changes that caused to the area. Commissioner Flores noted the sites were in the process of regenerating and this was part of the experience. Chairperson Sabel asked for an update of the area north of the Aasness property. Mr. Bednarz stated that he had been in contact with two landowners between this area and Hanson Boulevard. He added that ownership of property needed to be finalized but this was a positive step in working toward getting access to the area. The Commission discussed the value of properties in this area of the city. Commissioner Kovich stated the Aasness property could more easily be developed. Commissioner Olson noted that a concept plan had already been prepared showing a road through the area. He stated the importance of their presentations to the Council noting that without having visited the sites, the Council tended to rely on the evaluation scoring. He added that they needed to demonstrate the subjective values that they observed during site visits for the Council to understand their recommendations. He added that this should be done first, before evaluation scoring is presented. Commissioner Van Hecke stated that more photographs needed to be used in presentations to the Council. Commissioner Olson stated that one of the concerns of the Council from their last recommendation was that the area was too large or that it would be too far to travel from one end to the other. Q Chairperson Sabel asked how a conservation easement could be used to complement their efforts to preserve property. Commissioner Kovich stated that someone would need to have funding up front to purchase development rights and for long term maintenance. © Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes — September 14, 2011 Page 3 Commissioner Olson stated that the Minnesota Land Trust, whom they had met with in the early stages of the Commission, could help property owners establish conservation easements. Mr. Bednarz stated that the owner also has the opportunity to record development restrictions at Anoka County and the value and taxes of the property should be reduced. He added that in previously working with Mr. Aasness on this it was difficult for the Anoka County Assessor to accept the development rights would be removed and the value should be reduced. Commissioner Van Hecke asked if scoring should be added for a site's proximity to resident's homes. She noted there is a benefit both for accessibility and being adjacent to the open space and being able to visually enjoy it. Commissioner Kovich stated that their goal was first to preserve outstanding natural features and to make minimal improvements for the areas to be enjoyed by residents, unlike the development of parks. Commissioner Olson stated the open space areas were for the benefit of the city as a whole. © Chairperson Sabel asked if rural residential development would help to preserve the natural features. Mr. Bednarz stated that the typical mode of 2.5 acre development is quite destructive to the natural features with the arrangement of 330 foot by 330 foot lots, streets and large storm water ponds. He added that alternative methods of rural development would be needed to preserve natural features. Commissioner Olson stated that city and watershed requirements force the sites to be completely changed when development occurs. Chairperson Sabel asked for a description of the property along Coon Creek that was on the agenda for consideration. Mr. Bednarz provided a summary of the property noting the size at approximately 3.3 acres with the majority upland and containing a forested area and an existing home. Commissioner Kovich stated it would seem to make a better park than open space. Commissioner Perry noted that most of the area was upland. © Chairperson Sabel stated that there were already a number of parks in the area and this site may not enhance the recreation opportunities already available. The Commission determined that this property would not be added to the list for further consideration. © Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes —September 14, 2011 Page 4 Chairperson Sabel stated that the properties currently under consideration included the Dalske and Engelson properties, the Selmer property and surrounding area and the Aasness property. Commissioner Kovich stated that they would need to determine how much property could be preserved with the available funding. Mr. Bednarz asked if the Commission would like him to contact the property owners to discuss valuation. The Commission agreed. UPDATE - MAINTENANCE OF OPEN SPACE SITES Chairperson Sabel asked for a summary of maintenance activities within the open space sites. Mr. Bednarz provided an update noting that there have been issues with ATV's in Martin's Meadows along the utility corridors. © Commissioner Perry noted that the site had been mowed several times and asked if there were enough visitors to the site to warrant the expense. Chairperson Sabel stated that the trails needed to be maintained at least periodically or they would be lost to overgrowth. Commissioner Kovich stated that the trails help direct people where they can and cannot go on the sites. Commissioner Perry stated that he believed the Martin's Meadows property was for the future when development of the surrounding area occurred. He stated that they seemed to be rushing to use the property before it is ready. Commissioner Holthus stated she believed they needed to allow the public to use the sites. Commissioner Kovich agreed that the site would get more use in the future but also that it needed to be minimally maintained until then. Chairperson Sabel asked if more thought had been given to providing a fence between the access to North Woods Preserve and the adjacent residential properties. © Mr. Bednarz stated the estimate for materials was $1100. He added that signs would be installed to mark the boundary and a trail would be maintained to help direct people through the site. He suggested they see if these measures would be adequate before constructing a fence. © Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes — September 14, 2011 Page 5 OTHER BUSINESS Chairperson Sabel stated the next newsletter article could include information on the rules of the open space sites and specifically the issue of ATV's and snowmobiles and the fact that the utility easements were not public property. Commissioner Van Hecke agreed. She also stated that a photograph of the entrance to the sites would help people identify where to go. She noted that the maps in the most recent newsletter were too small to read and the photograph did not make use of the available space. Commissioner Flores stated the Commission should consider an annual walkthrough of the open space sites to evaluate progress and determine if changes need to be made. The Commission agreed that this should be done. Motion by Perry, Second by Holthus to adjourn. Motion passed 7 -0. The meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m. © Respectfully submitted, Courtney Bednarz H