HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 05-12-1981Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Park and.Recreation.Advisory Commission
May 12, 1981,, 7:00 p.m.
Page: 20
Present: Chairman Rice, Commissioners Chesebrough, Edwarda:, Threinen,
Mullan and Dvorak
Staff Present: Eric Blank, Rick Busch, Jane Sletten and Nancy Helgeson
Others Present: John Christian and Don King, Hennepin County Park Reserve;
Damon. Farber, Design Consortium, Inc.; residents of the
Timber Shores neighborhood.; Jerry Hauer, McCombs -Knutson;
Brauer $ Associates representative
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Rice called the meeting to order at 7:OS p.m. in the Plymouth.
City Center Council Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Chesebrough questioned the Appreciation party for Alan.
Brass and then seconded a motion made by Commissioner Threinen to
approve the minutes of the April 2 meeting.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Association Representatives. None were present at this
meeting.
b. Rick Busch and Jane Sletten. Rick announced that adult softball. had
started and that the teams would be using mostly Plymouth Jr. High
fields. Commissioner Edwardsmentioned that she had received some
complaints from women players on the Carlson Company team regarding
the officiating at one of their games. Rick explained that the
umpire was new and.was officiating his first game.. He then said.that
the Grand (.')pening for the playfi.elds would be held on June 27 and
that different youth groups would be playing various sports throughout
the day. Otheractivitieswill be planned as well. Jane had not yet.
arrived; her report will be covered later in the minutes.*
c. Hennepin. County Park Reserve. John Christian and Don King were at the
meeting to report on the Medicine Lake Regional Park, Pike Lake Park
and the Regional Trail Corridor. Don King, landscape architect,
had several, drawings s° ling the locations of the proposed facilities.
He announced that the park acquisition status looked good for
Medicine Lake Regional Park and that most of the property had already
been acquired. He further explained several components of the park
site including surface water characteristics, slope analysis, forest
cover, soils analysis, Etc., The extreme eastern side of the park
will be used for a boat access and beach. There will be 800-900
car parking capacity and the park will accomodate up to 3,000
people. Commissioner Chesebrough asked about winter useage of the
park and was told that there would be ski touring on the trail,
sliding hills, snowmobiling and the lodge/shelter building will be
open during the winter months, also. There will be no overnight
provisions for campers.. The only access to 36th Avenue will be
for emergency vehicles.
Mr. King then stated that the Eagle/Pike Lake Park would constitute
2.80 acres with 160 acres in Plymouth. Access would be from 63rd
Avenue at the Zachary Lane/Co Rd'. 10 intersection. `The trail through
Timber Shores will entex this park at this entrance.
3. b. Jane Sletten arrived and reported on the success of the spring
programs and stated that horseback riding lessons and kite flying
had been very popular classes. Horseback riding is being offered
again this summer.
FRAC Minutes of May 12, 1981
Page 21
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTIONS
Director Blank had nothing to report on, this item.
S. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Pla field ,Update; Oakwood, Plymouth Jr. High and LaCompte have been.
99% completed., At Fernbrook, crews are rototilling, picking rock,
and laying sod. The lights are up at Ridgemount and grading is
underway. The Zachary Lane plans and specs have been approved.
with bids opening on May 28. The swapping of land with the church
will be completed: by June 10. Chairman Rice suggested that FRAC have a
meeting with the Athletic Associations after this year to hear any
concerns they may have regarding the new pl.ayfields..
b. East Beach 'Concept Plan Approval.. The Council has asked that this
plan be changed to include the addition of an access for ice houses:.
COMMISSIONER DVORAK MOVED AND COMMISSIONER THREINEN SECONDED A MOTION
TO ENDOPSE THIS PLAN AS PROPOSED. Commissioner Chesebrough wondered
if the existing play area could be expanded. Commissioner Willan
requested that the 11antings along the east side be evergreens and
also asked that the architect make certain that the handicapped.
bathrooms meet the state code. Commissioner Chesebrough stated
that the beach area in the plan is smaller than what currently
exists, and Director Blank said their intention was to narrow it
down and.plant grass. THE 'VOTE WAS TAKEN AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH
ALL AYES.
c. Mission, Timber Shores and Schmidt Lake Parks - Review Final Plans
and Speci:tications. Damon Farber was present to review the final
plans and specifications for these three neighborhood parks.
TIMBER SHORES Mr. Farber stated that the fishing docl. would be
constructed by the Twin Cities Tree Trust in order to save money..
Although the residents had requested that the dock be moved further
south, Mr. Farber explained that because of the steepness of the
grade, it couldn't be moved as far as they wanted, but plans would.
be made to more it as far as possible. COMMISSIONER CHESEBROUGH
LOVED AND COMMISSIONER THRETNEN SECONDED -A MOTION TO ADOPT THE
FINAL PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE TIMBER SHORES PARK WITH THE
ADDITION OF MOVING THE DOCK AS FAR SOUTH AS POSSIBLE AND ADDING.
MORE PLANTINGS. MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
MISSION HILLS PARK - It was noted that space for a shelter exists
within the site should the residents later request that a shelter
be added. Commissioner Mullan stated his concern over maintenance
of the parking lot and favors widening Zachary Lane. Director Blank
annow ced that Zachary Lane would eventually become four -lane.
COMMISSIONER CHESEBROUIGH MOVED AND COMMISSIONER EDWARDS SECONDED A.
MOTION TO APPROVE 7M, FINAL PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR MISSION
HILLSPARK. MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. Comments then came
from Commissioner Dvorak being against the parking lot and
Commissioner Mullan being against the parking lot, too. Chairman
Rice asked staff to get an assessment by spring of next year
regarding what sorts of activities go on in park parking lots.
Commissioner Chesebrough questioned why there is no access from
the north and requested that the Planning Commission provide this
information to PRAC.
SCHMIDT LAKE 1'_ARK Mr. Faber stated that no alterations had b^, -)n
made to Schmidt Lake Park except for the deletion of the parking
lot and moving the tot lot down slig%tly. Director Blank said
PRAC.Minutes of May 12, 1981
Page 22
that three "BIG.TOYS11 have been selected for all three sites and
that the slide had been removed from this park to allow for a
wave" slide. The parking lot will eventually be installed when
the road is put in COMMISSIONER MULLAN MOVED ANDCOMr1ISSIONER.
CHESEBROUGH SECONDED A. WfION TO APPROVE FINAL PLANS AND
SPECIFICATIONS FOR SCHMIDT LAKE PARK. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH
ALL AYES.
Director. Blank said that he thinks, we are under budget over-all
for the three parks. but that Mission Hills may be $5,000 over
because of additional cutting and filling.
d. Location of Trail Along 45th Avenue Between Nathan and Zachary Lanes.
Director Blank reviewed his memo of May 6, 1981; and,showed a map
to the Commission of this trail as he proposes it and as Jerry Hauer
proposes it. Director Blank feels this trail should be located on
the south side of 45th; Avenue because it then allows for better
access to Zachary Lane Elementary, more access to businesses
and because the trail could be built at this time with the proposed
developments. As Director Blank is proposing, the trail will run
south through the Schmidt Lake neighborhood park, through Zachary
Lane playfield (allowing access to the school), across Zachary
Lane, continuing along the south side of 45th Avenue to Nathan
Lane, and then south to the Four Seasons Mall, crossing County Road.
9, leading to Pilgrim Lane School. Mr. Hauer of McCombs -Knutson
then spoke in favor of putting the trail on the north side of
45th Avenue stating that one of their preliminary plats dating hack
to 1976 shows the trail on the.north side. Since the Sagamore
division is directly between the trail along 45th and new County 9,
Mr. Hauler believes that half the residents will use: 45th (if it's
located on the north side) and the other half will use the trail along,
new County 9. Director Blank isn't sure if the trail will follow
new or old 9 ane, fain stated that he thinks the school is'a major
destination pointt—ild a main reason for locating the trail on the
south side of 45th Avenue. Commissioners stated that they thought
there were some unanswered questions regarding this trail, and in
light of this, most of them favored Director Blank's proposal..
COMMISSIONER DVORAK MOVED AND COMMISSIONER CHESEBROUGH SECONDED
A MOTIONTO SUPPORT DIRECTOR BLANK'S RECOMMENDATIONS AS SET' FORTH.
IN HIS MEMO OF MAY 6, 1981. MOTION CARRIED WITH FIVE AYES. COMMIS-
SIONER EDWARDS VOTED NAY.
e. Deerhaven Development Park Dedication. Director Blank reviewed his
memo o May 7, 1981, which regards the Deerhaven developer asking
the City to acquire the wet lands for a nature center, thus eliminating
the park dedication fee. Director Blank is not in favor of accepting
this land for the following reasons: limitations of natural resources,
the developable land is too small, the area currently under water
will be preserved and protected by the DNR, and finally, this
would be inconsistent with City ordinances. COMMISSIONER MULLAN
MOVED AND COMMISSIONER CHESEBROUGH SECONDED A MOTION TO SUPPORT
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO NOT TAKE PROPERTY FROM THE DEiRHA%IEN
DEVELOPMENT AS OUTLINED IN A MEMO DATED MAY 7, 1981. MOTION
CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
II
PRAC Minutes of Wy 12, 1981;
Page 23
f. Annual Report Approval. COMMISSIONER THREINEN'SECONDED A MOTION MADE
BY COMMISSIONER EDWARDS TO APPROVE `INE 1980 ANNUAL RETORT. MOTION
CARRIED WITH ALL AXES. Director Blank suggested the Commission
prepare a Goals and Objectives Chapter for next year's r1port.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. New Plats. There were no new plats available for this meetir--
b. Compre ensiye Paris Plan Brauer. Following the adjournment,
Brauer and Associates held a separate meeting with PRAC members.
7. COMMISSION r 2ESE,NTATION
It was suggested that a timetaole for meeting with.the Athletic Associations
be discussed at June's meeting.
8. STAFF COWMICATIONS
Director Blank said that he had received a request for fencing around
Oakwood Playfield from a resident and that this resident sight be calling
the Commissioners.
Director Blank will be contacting Mfrs. Alan Brass to arrange for a. time
to have an appreciation party for Alan..
lo next PRAC meeting will be June 11 at 7,00 p.m.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.