Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-08 PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE Minutes for meeting of: May 8, 2006 ITEM #1. Roll call. Present were Committee Members K. Miller, P. Messinger, T. Goodwin, J. Volimas and J. Hayes. Unable to attend were R. Walia, H. Lovelace and J. Berg. Also present were Finance Director Dennis Feller, Director of Liquor Operations Brenda Visnovec and Recording Secretary Pat Vinje. ITEM #2. Chair opens the public meeting. The meeting was called to order in the cafeteria of Parkview Elementary at 7:04 PM by Chair Miller. Steve Michaud, Parks and Recreation Director, and Dennis Feller, Finance Director, were introduced. ITEM #3. Valley Lake Park improvements. Steve provided a summary of the revised site plan for Valley Lake Park. ITEM #4. Liquor Store. th Dennis discussed the proposed plans for a liquor store to be built at 160 Street and Galaxie Avenue. ITEM#5. Open for public comment. Chair Miller opened the floor to questions and comments from the audience. Q) What will be done about drainage from the liquor store site? A) The plan is to install rain gardens in addition to installation of porous pavers. The water will seep down into the ground. Q) Will drainage run into Valley Lake? A) No, there cannot be untreated discharge into Valley Lake. Q) Has the liquor store project already been approved? Why build another one so th close to the existing one on Cedar Avenue near 160 Street? A) No, the liquor store has not been approved. The project will go through the approval process like any other development project. The existing liquor store th near Cedar Avenue and 160 Street was built in 1986. It consists of 5,000 square feet, has the highest volume of sales per square foot of retail space compared to other municipal liquor stores, parking is limited and Dakota County is considering spacing guidelines which would limit entrance and exit into the liquor store as right in and right out only. Comment from audience member - Member of the audience responded he had called the County and they are considering a spacing guideline study to be done in three years which will take 1½ years to complete so do not use that as reasoning for moving the liquor store. Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee Page 2 May 8, 2006 Q) Why can?t the liquor store be moved to the Super America site? A) Issues include parking, access, and limited size. Q) Will the park improvements still be funded if the liquor store is not built? A) Not by the liquor store. Improvements currently budgeted include one shelter and public restrooms, paving of parking lot, single loop trail and lighting. th Q) Why can?t the City of Apple Valley put in a park on the other side of 160 Street? A) They have, you just can not see it from the road. Q) How many liquor stores are in Apple Valley parks? A) The number one goal for the City of Lakeville liquor stores is control. The City works with MADD, SADD and other groups on controlling and educating the public regarding alcohol consumption. The City has discussed the liquor store in this area with the Police Department and they agree the installation of cameras in the parks creates a safer environment and is a great idea. Comment from audience member - He disagrees with the sentiment he is hearing from the audience. The revised park plan is better than the original plan. There will be other commercial activities at that intersection and the proposed liquor store is upscale. The City has done a fantastic job. What was asked for was given. Municipal liquor stores benefit residents? taxes. The City operates clean liquor stores vs. other retail alternatives for the site. Q) Will there be sewer and water at the park? A) Sewer will be run from the south through the park to the park restroom building and liquor store. Water is available along County Road 46. Q) Is there a way to put the liquor store by the Holiday station? A) The impact on the park would be greater with the liquor store at that site. The County?s spacing guidelines would allow only a right in and right out access. Q) The site where the proposed liquor store is to be built is not park property? A) That is correct. The site is zoned high density multiple family residential. The City acquired the parcel. Comment from audience member - An audience member identified himself as a resident of the corner lot next to the proposed liquor store site and he supports the liquor store run by the City. Additional comments from audience members indicated a City operated liquor store is preferred over a tobacco store or fast food restaurant. Q) Audience member who lived near the Garner Avenue entrance expressed his jealousy of some residents getting a berm to separate their homes from the liquor store. It is a beautiful plan and the park needs help. There is a fence nearby which is falling down and is an eyesore. A) Provide address and the City will address the issue of the fence. Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee Page 3 May 8, 2006 Q) Is anyone assigned to patrol the park area nightly or daily? Garbage cans and picnic tables are constantly being moved and knocked over. A) The City?s Park Ranger Program will address these issues. There will be four rangers on duty and they will be working a day shift and night shift. If the City is aware of the problems, we can be proactive. Another fishing pier and placement of heavier trash barrels should help out the situation. Comment from audience member ? Audience member spoke of the increase in lighting, security, paving and police patrol are all welcomed improvements to the park. Q) The area that was originally to be proposed as ball field, can it be mowed? A) We will be planting trees throughout the park and some naturalized plantings. The area in question can be mowed once every 3 to 4 weeks depending on what is planted in that area. Comment from audience member ? Natural MInnesota plants would be nice like our state was at one time. Q) Is the height of the liquor store berm 8 to 9 feet high? A) The minimum berm height will be 6 feet, but plantings will be higher. Q) Will the existing playground remain? Can it be added onto? It is smaller than the previous one. A) The playground is new and is one of the more expensive ones in the park system. Individual pieces could be added onto it such as a rock climbing wall. Q) Will there be lifeguards at the beach? A) The City Council adopted a policy of no lifeguards, which is similar to many cities in the area. Antlers Park and Orchard Lake Park beaches do not have lifeguards. Q) Is it possible to separate the trail from the beach? Roller bladders run into people waling along the trail. A) We will look at the plan and possibly run the trail behind the playground. Q) Will the sumac be removed? A) It will be removed but can be relocated. Plantings will be extended or a berm installed and sumac replanted. Q) What is the point of having the liquor store at this location? A) It will be located at a controlled intersection. Q) Why are you trying to make this park nice now? This area has felt left out for many years. A) There has been a significant amount of funding put toward Valley Lake Park. The addition of trails, new playground, lighting, etc. Pat Messinger has been on the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee for approximately 25 years. She has advocated for improvements to Valley Lake Park and many other Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee Page 4 May 8, 2006 improvements to parks throughout Lakeville. A history of all improvements and their costs is available. Comment from audience member ? The improvements proposed are great. Q) Why aren?t there pictures of what will be done to the park? Why are there no facts? A) There are many choices to be made for park amenities which will be prior to development. The park layout and liquor store is a concept plan. The project including the liquor store will need City Council authorization to move to the next level of planning. Q) The wooded area is the only noise buffer left. Will the berm extend to the church property? A) No, the berm will extend easterly behind the first 3 to 4 houses that are more exposed and have less woods to screen them. The remainder of the back lots will be screened with pine trees and genella maples. Q) The plan appears to indicate that activities are crowded together. Why? A) Planned facilities will be placed far enough apart to keep an open space comfortable feeling yet have good access to other facilities. There will not be a feeling of congestion. Comment from audience member ? The peace and quiet is enjoyed the way the park is now. Comment from audience member ? Less activity will allow enjoyment of walks. A) The restrooms will have an attached shelter with room for 6-8 picnic tables. If three picnic shelters appear to be too much, one will be removed. Q) What is the time frame of changes at the location of Pahl?s Market? A) It is commercial property and the time frame is not known to the City of Lakeville. Q) Who determines when the liquor store goes in? A) Monday, May 15 at 7:00 pm is a City Council meeting. A resolution to authorize the liquor store design, park design and platting of the site is on the agenda. Following that, a Public Hearing will be held at the Planning Commission?s meeting of Thursday, July 6. Anyone living within 150 feet of the project will receive a notice. Q) What happens if the project is not approved? A) No decision has been made. Brenda stated the City of Apple Valley will gain from our defeat. The liquor operations in Lakeville contribute to a 6.5% decrease in property taxes. Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee Page 5 May 8, 2006 Q) What is the current budget for valley Lake Park? A) There is not a separate budget for each park. Q) Will the restrooms be unlocked? A) They will be left open all night if there is no vandalism. In the event of vandalism, the issue will need to be addressed. Q) Will they be winterized? A) Yes, they will be winterized and maintained for 12 month use. Q) The neighborhood is not what it was 20 years ago. Will the police come in and monitor the liquor store? A) The police currently frequent the liquor stores on a regular basis. Comment from audience member ? There will be security in the park and attention is being paid to the maintenance issues. ITEM #6. Time line summary. May 15 ? The concept plan will be forwarded to City Council for preliminary consideration. July 5 ? The Valley Lake Project plan would be reviewed by the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee. July 6 ? Subject to Council authorization, the Valley Lake Project plan would proceed to the Planning Commission for Public Hearing regarding plat and rezoning. August 7 ? Subject to Planning Commission recommendations, the Valley Lake Project plan would be forwarded to the City Council for consideration of the final plat. If approved by City Council, the City would start the bidding process and then onto construction. ITEM #7. New business. There was no new business to report at this time. ITEM #8. Old business. There was no old business to report at this time. ITEM #9. Adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM. Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee Page 6 May 8, 2006 Respectfully submitted, _____________________________________ Patricia J. Vinje, Recording Secretary ATTEST: _____________________________________ Kevin Miller, Chairperson