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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-17 CITY OF LAKEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 17, 1993 ITEM 1. -Call to order. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Chairman Illa. ITEM 2. -Roll call. Present were H. Lovelace, L. Lulf, J. Larson, K. Illa, G. Grenz, A. Raymond and P. Messinger. Also present were Park Director Steve Michaud and Recording Secretary Judi Ryan. ITEM 3. -Minutes of February 3 1993. The minutes of the February 3, 193 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting were discussed. There were no additions or corrections and the minutes were approved as printed. ITEM 4. -Citizen comments. Darrell Buerke, representing the Men's Softball Association, was in attendance but agreed to defer his comments until the scheduled park concept presentations were completed. ITEM 5. -Presentation of preferred concept plan for Hypointe Crossing neighborhood park and public comment session. Chairman Ilia explained the City's process for preparing master plans for • new parks. There were approximately ten residents m attendance to respond to the development of a master plan for Hypointe Crossing Park. Staff went on to explain that when this area was platted, no park was proposed or identified for the area, , as depicted in the -Park and Open Space System Plan. At that time, the philosophy was to design larger parks with larger service areas, mainly due to the economics of maintenance. However, due to the cooperation of the developer and the opportunity to receive land that meets neighborhood park requirements and remain consistant with the recently approved Parks and Open Space System Plan, the Parks and Recreation Committee and City Council supported the development of this park area. Barry Warner showed several park concepts, some of which the committee had reviewed at previous meetings. He also discussed the boundaries and natural vegetation existing . on site as well as the topography. , Opportunities are available for a trail, an open space play area, a multi-use hard court, a .picnic shelter, and a play structure. These amenities will serve a variety of age groups from youth to adults. The trail entrance will need to be on the northeast corner of the property due to topography. Several configurations of the park amenities were shown including the preferred concept with the play structure, hard court and picnic shelter tucked further into the wooded area, making the best use of the open play area. Selective tree removal will be necessary to accommodate the roposed facilities. Augmenting the area with a higher quality of hardwoodptrees is recommended. .The open field area would be maintained and a groomed. area • kept .around the play structure and hard court. The intention of the preferred concept is to preserve as many .trees as ossible. A proposed shelter would be on a cement slab, approximately 2~ X 22' , with a cedar shake roof. • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee minutes February 17, 1993 Page -2- Several playground product typpes are available, but ADA standards would be taken into consideration. A FiBar, wood chipped base, is being considered for ,ground .cover below the structure. Staff asked for the neighbors' opinions to determine what age group the structure should be geared for. Colette Gutierrez, 8931-163rd Street W., voiced concerns about teenagers hanging around in the park if there is a hard court, and was also wondering if the area would be patrolled by the police regularly. Staff said .there may be some lighting ,in the park between the homes and the play structure, and also .some security lighting near the open space area. Staff stated that the park .will be geared for all age groups and hoped that the teenagers would also use the park. There is a .good park ranger program in place and neighbors may ,also wish to get involved m the Park Watch program. Ms. Gutierrez is also concerned about the play structure being set into the woods, limiting visibility. Barry Warner said it is the intent to clear out the underlying brush in the woods and remove the lower limbs of the existing trees to make the area very visible from other areas of the. park and from the street. Staff also mentioned other support amenities that may be installed, including .bike .racks, park benches and possibly a fire grate. • Bill .Towle, 8870-163rd Street W., lives on the north end of the. park and feels the design of the park is good and with all the houses and exposure, the neighbors should be able to keep a good eye on the park. Mr. Towle asked about the possibility of a pleasure skating rink being added. Staff said that d_e~ppending on whether the topography. is conducive it may be possible. He will look into lighting .and what rt would cost to install a skating area. Tom Minneman, 16181 Hudson Ave. voiced his apppredation for the interest shown in getting a park in the. neig~iborhood. ~Ie questioned whether any concept plan would be more or less expensive to ~ develop than the others, He was told they are about the. same with the exception of added trail lengths in some plans. The grounds maintenance for each site is also comparable. In response to a question on parking, the residents were told that with a neighborhood tot Iot, driving to the site is not typical and street parking was acceptable,. if necessary. Mr. Minneman thinks the layout is good and also was concerned about being able to see all areas from anywhere in the park.. He .would like to have the play area focus on younger children, as he thinks the older children will take their bikes to the Land of Amazement to play. Committee member Ilia suggested that not too many 10-year old children would probably be allowed to venture as far as the Land of Amazement on their bikes and the play structure should also have facilities that would interest older children m their own neighborhood. Staff mentioned that there is a backstop shown on • the plan which will most .likely not be installed because it would be an invitation for ballgames in too small of an area. • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes February 17, 1993 Page -3- Staff discussed potential funding sources for the project as park dedica- tion and/or possible park bond referendum funds. Barry Warner suggested a possible time line for construction of July 1 through September 1, 1993. Julie. Young, 16275 Hudson Ave., was told that a portable toilet would not be placed at the site. She suggested , that a sand base under the play structure is also a play. source for the kids with their sand toys and. would also like digging toys included, along with some standard sized swings to meet the needs of older children. She would prefer a tubular rather than a log structure as she feels it is safer. Staff mentioned that ..all playgrounds installed are required to meet strict safety requirements and specifications. These standards are constantly being improved. There is a large variety of available structures, , both m materials and rice. The average playground cost in Lakeville is between $12,000 and 15,000. It was suggested that the play structure be split into two units with a sand base under one of them. Committee members Grenz and Raymond asked about how much grading would be required on the property . Messinger said she thought ice staking i~ an important recreation facility and would be in favor of the addition of a pleasure skating rink. Staff mentioned that entry from the street for the • tanker truck may be a problem but would look into that and .also street lighting nearby. Chairman Illa talked about teenagers in the park and loitering. He felt it would be mostly neighborhood kids and would not be a likely community hangout. Mr. Towle mentioned that without a parking lot, it would probably not draw large groups of teens. Illa thanked the citizens for coming and for their comments. Mr. Craig Wilson who lives in the Lake Villa Golf Estates addressed .the committee concerning the lack of a ppark in their neighborhood. Staff said the plattin process for Brackett's 'I~ownhomes is still ongoing and he has discussed the need for a trail with Hennepin Parks. A preliminary drawing has been coin leted for the Brackett's Crossin~g nei hborhood play round area and this is being budgeted for this year. Ne ohations with the developer have been positive. Hennepin Parks staff felt permission to install .the. proposed trail would not be a problem. ITEM 6. -Presentation of .preferred concept plan for Quigley-5ime proposed youth athletic complex and public comment session. Barry Warner .was supplied with information concerning ballfield needs and standards from the Park Department. and came up with various concept plans for the property. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee has had the ..opportunity to review these concepts at previous meetings , and a preferred concept has been chosen. Several citizens and representatives of the LAA were present and were shown the various concept. • Staff explained how the City acquired the property through a donation from an estate. The property is bordered by Z02nd Street, Aronson Park, the Grove Cemetery, and several single family homes. A portion of the property Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes February 17, .1993 Page -4- was the former city dump. The city hired an outside firm to test the site for possible contaminates from the dump and the tests were negative for any toxins in the groundwater. Barry Warner went on to explain that the property is relatively flat so not much grading would be required to provide four youth baseball. fields. It is not the intention of the. park department to Iight ,these fields. The site will also include a tot lot pla~y structure, a picnic area, a hard court surface, ashelter/restroom buildng, parking and a large open space passive area. Looping trails shown on the plan throwghout the park may not all be built immediately. The parking will be for ,approximately 140 vehicles, with a small parking lot for about eight vehicles shown on the south side of the property off of 205th Street. A pond has been created on the pr~o~erty to assist with storm water retention as per a recommendation from Keith Nelson, City Engineer. Staff talked about plans for. a future greenway trail corridor along natural waterways in the city. The impportance of field orientation was discussed. Chuck and Lori Jones, 8610 - Z02nd Street, are the owners of a home which juts into .the park from 202nd Street. Home plate , on the field closest to them would only be about 25' from their property, line.. They suggested that field be reversed so • that balls would be hit toward their home, rather than have all the activity so close to their back yard. They are also concerned because they own Doberman Pinscher dogs and would. like the City to fence their back yard to prevent injuries to park users. Frank Pelach 20280 Holyoke Ave., said he thought the park access shown on the preferred concept is best because it is not so close to the Holyoke intersection.. Neighbors talked about the small parking lot on the south side of the property and discouraged its construction because the street is too dark and they feel it would encourage vandalism and loitering. Committee member Messinger likes where the playground has been situated in the preferred concept and agrees that the field closest to the Jones home should be reversed for their satisfaction. Staff discussed the field orientation with Tom Kuzniar, LBA Commissioner, and said they will work together to build the fields to the best possible standards. Citizens will be kept informed of the progress of this property's development. ITEM 4. -Citizen Comments. Darrell Buerke, representing . the Men's Softball Association, wished to address the committee concerning park hours for Aronson Park. He has been approached by 15 new teams who would like to join the league. Allowing the lights to stay on until 11:00 PM again this year would allow four .more teams in each division which in turn would generate more. revenue to pay for the installation of the new lights. Staff agreed that complaints about lights or noise last year were nonexistent and with the new lights, the glare and light spillage into surrounding neighborhoods will be eliminated. One extra hour of play on four lighted fields accommodates twelve additional new teams. • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes February 17, 1993 Page -5- Committee member Grenz asked about the boundary, areas for team eligibility. Buerke said all teams must meet a minimum residence .requirement of 50 % living or working in the Lakeville area. Committee member Messinger stated she would rather see playing times extended than teams .turned away or ,having to purchase .land and build new additional facilities. Other. committee members said the league had policed themselves well last year but if extended playing time was approved, it should be reevaluated on an annual basis. 93.01 Motion was made by Lulf, seconded by Messinger, to recommend to City Council that the pl~aymg times for Aronson Park be extended one additional hour, from 10:001'M to 11:00 PM, Monday through Friday, for regular league play only for the 1993 season and that this be reevaluated on an annual basis. Motion passed unanimously. ITEM 7. -Staff reports. Staff .reported that with the recent very cold weather, the rinks are being. flooded a ain to try to extend the skating season as much as possible. Renee Brekken returned to work this week from her leave of absence. • ITEM 8. -Unfinished business. There was no unfinished business at this time. ITEM 9. -New business. Pat Messinger asked staff if the maintenance crew was aware of the deer carcass in Valley Lake Park. Staff will bring this to their attention. Staff congratulated committee member Raymond on his appointment to the Dakota County Individual Sewage Treatment Systems Board. ITEM 10. -Announcements. The next regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is scheduled for March 3, 1993, 7:00 PM. ITEM 11. -Adjourn. .The meeting add ourned at 9:50 PM . Respectfully submitted, Ju yan, Reco ng Secretary Kevin Ilia, Chair Jr