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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-04-25 Evironmental Quality Commission Meeting MinutesAGENDA EDINA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSION MONDAY, APRIL 25, 1977, AT 7:30 P.M. EDINA CITY HALL I. Roll Call. II. Approval of the March 28, 1977, EQC Minutes. III. Old Business: A. Interlachen Hills 3rd Addition. IV. New Business: A. Bredesen Park Feasibility Report. V. Reports: A. Committee Reports. B. Watershed District Proceedings. VI. Other Business. VII. Others Wishing to be Heard. VIII. Adjournment. EDINA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSION MONDAY, APRIL 25, 1977, AT 7:30 P.M. EDINA CITY HALL I. Members Present: John Telfer, Chairman Pro Tem, James Bentley, Clifford Johnson, G. E. McCracken, Paul Mucke, Del Johnson, and Wendy Weden. Staff Present: Gordon Hughes, Planning Director, and Nancy Rust, Secre- tary. II. Approval of the March 28, 1977, EQC Minutes. Mr. C. Johnson moved for approval of the March 28, 1977, EQC minutes as submitted. Mr. Mucke seconded. All voted aye. Motion carried. III. Old Business: A. Interlachen Hills 3rd Addition. Mr. Hughes recalled that approximately two months ago, the EQC reviewed a plan for the Wallace Kenneth property located at County Road 18 and Lincoln Drive in northwestern Edina, He said that at that time the EQC had recommended approval of the 42-lot subdivision, which included 22 single family lots, 18 double family lots, two multiple family lots, and two outlots. He further noted that a large portion of the site was located in the flood plain of Nine Mile Creek, and the EQC and Planning Commission had recommended to the City Council that Outlots A and B be dedicated to"the City based on their potential for future use which could be in conflict with the 20 percent encroachment regulation of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District and the City's flood plain ordinance. He said the City Council heard the request on March 21, 1977, and, after lengthy discussion, agreed that if Mr. Kenneth were able to prepare final development plans, a developer's agree- ment, and the deeds for Outlots A and B on the proposed development, the City Council would consider both preliminary and final approval at one time. This deci- sion was based on Mr. Kenneth's agreement to dedicate both outlots to the City. Mr. Hughes said that following this hearing, however, Mr. Kenneth reviewed the proposed development plans and would like to modify them by adding eight additional two-family dwelling lots on the west side of Lincoln Drive and extending the south line of Lot 41 fifty feet southerly. He said these modifications would result in added flood plain encroachment; however, Mr. Kenneth has indicated he will offset this added encroachment by removing an equal amount of flood plain encroachment on Lots 41 and 42. Mr. Hughes said staff has computed the amount of encroachment and found it remained at 20 percent. Therefore, staff has recommended approval of the proposed modifications to the subdivision and rezoning request for the fol- lowing reasons: 1. Net flood plain encroachment remains at 20 percent. 2. The eight additional R-2 lots will allow the proponent to utilize Lincoln Drive to the fullest possible extent. Approval is contingent on: EQC Minutes of 4-25-77, Page 2 1. The proponent must remove fill from Lots 41 and 42 as shown on the attached plan such that net flood plain encroachment does not exceed 20 percent. 2. Lots 1 through 13 should be excepted from the final plat or identified as an outlot until access is provided from the east. 3. Acquisition by the City of Edina of the remaining portion of Outlots A and B. Mr. Hughes reported that the Planning Commission heard this request on April 19, 1977, and, after reviewing it, decided to hold over the request to their June 1, 1977, meeting for further review of the eight additional double bungalow lots and roadway patterns. The Planning Commission also asked Mr. Kenneth to stake out Lincoln Drive. However, since that time staff has been in contact with Mr. Kenneth on this matter, and it is his feeling that the development plans had not changed substantially since the first time it was reviewed and felt he had received some assurance from the City Council that if he did come back with this type of plan, they would react favorably. Therefore, Mr. Kenneth has asked a hearing date be set for May 16 when he would have final plans available. Mr. C. Johnson stated he felt the two cul-de-sacs contained in the plans would hinder traffic and felt a continuous Lincoln Drive would be more desirable from a traffic standpoint. However, from an environmental standpoint, he noted that the plan conformed with the City's and Watershed District's regulations. Mr. C. Johnson thus made motion for approval of the proposed modifications to the subdivision.andrezoning request for the reasons and with the contingencies as stated in the staff report. Mr. D. Johnson seconded. All voted aye. Motion carried. IV. New Business: A. Bredesen Park Feasibility Report. Mr. Hughes said he had received a copy of the feasibility report which was the result of a cooperative agreement entered into by the City and Nine Mile Creek Watershed District approximately a year ago. He recalled that at that time, he prepared a plan for Bredesen Park which basically followed the guidelines of the Mud Lake Task Force of 1973. Mr. Hughes said the feasibility report recommends that open water areas be separated from the floating bog areas by a low level dike, similar to what was done at the Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield. This dike would be constructed from spoil excavated when forming the open water areas. Mr. Hughes indicated the area on the north side of Mud Lake would be open water and the area on the south would remain as floating bog (1/4 to 1/3 of the total area would be open water). He further said they have few wildlife species in the park which rely on open water, and this would improve if open water was created. Mr. Hughes said staff had received permission from the Watershed District to work with their attorneys for the purpose of drafting a petition requesting the Watershed District to undertake the development of Bredesen Park Nature Center. The cost of this development would be divided wherein the Watershed District would assume 100 percent of the water management related work, 50 percent of all improve- ments to adjacent land areas, and 25 percent of all flood plain acquisition projects, EQC Minutes of 4-25-77, Page 3 and it was very possible the City could recoup some funds already spent on the Mud Lake acquisition. Mr. Telfer was concerned the Nature Center would take on a man-made appearance which would make it uninteresting due to the construction of open water areas. Mr. Hughes said the intention of the plan is to increase the diver- sity of the area, utilize the educational benefits to the fullest extent and have a variety of habitats in the area. Mr. Hughes continued that the current plans were not meant to be adopted as the final plans. He noted that elimination of the open water areas may be a valid option when considering more detailed plans, He further noted they intend to work closely with the Watershed District on the project. Mr. Mucke moved to recommend acceptance of the report and that the City proceed to petition Nine Mile Creek Watershed District requesting them to undertake the development of Bredesen Park Nature Center. Mr. C. Johnson seconded. Miss Weden asked the possibility of constructing islands in the open water areas to en- hance the area. Mr. Hughes said it would and should be done. All voted aye. Motion carried. V. Reports: A. Ad Hoc Committee for New Commission, Mr. Hughes reported that an ad hoc committee meeting consisting of John Telfer, Del Johnson, and Clifford Johnson of the EQC and Sam Hughes and Helen McClelland of the Planning Commission was held after the April 19, 1977, Planning Commission meeting. The intent of the meeting was to draft an ordinance establishing the new commission which will consolidate the EQC and Planning Commission. Mr. Hughes said he has now prepared a draft ordinance to be used as a guideline, and the committee members would receive it shortly, Mr, Hughes said if the committee could get together in the next two weeks to discuss the ordinance, it might be possible for the City Council to discuss the committee's findings in the near future. Mr. Telfer asked if it were possible to involve the other EQC ale Planning Commission members in this process. Mr. Hughes said ,that after it was discussed by the committee, the results could be taken to both commissions for their comments. The EQC generally agreed with this. B. Watershed District Proceedings. Mr. Hughes reported the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District's annual field trip was scheduled for May 2, 1977, at 2:00 and the meeting place was at Henrici's located on Highway 100. He said the tour would generally cover work completed at Lake Cornelia and Bredesen Park as well as other projects in the district, and if anyone was interested, they should contact John Dickson. Mr. Hughes also repotted the Watershed District had received the same feasibility report on Bredesen Park as was discussed earlier, and they were en- couraging the City to proceed with the petition on the project and are very interested in undertaking it. EQC Minutes of 4-25-77, Page 4 VI. Other Business: A. Burning of Prairie at Bredesen Park, Miss Weden asked about the burning progress at Bredesen Park as well as what work would be done at Lake Cornelia and Bredesen Park during the summer. Mr. Hughes said that burning probably could not be undertaken until the Bredesen Park project was further along, Also, at Lake Cornelia, they would be working primarily on the trails and at Bredesen Park, they would be working primarily on the surrounding fence. Miss Weden then reported that her term with the EQC had expired and that Jim Roberts, a student at Edina West High School, would be replacing her beginning next month. B. Memorial for Barbara Casselman. Mr. Telfer recalled they had informally discussed the possibility of a memorial for Barbara Casselman who passed away April 16, 1977. He felt that a tree planted in her memory with a plaque would be appropriate. Mr. Hughes said they could recommend this to the City Council. Mr. Bentley moved to recommend to the City Council the planting of a tree in the memory of Barbara Casselman. Mr. C. Johnson seconded. All voted aye. Motion carried. VII. Others Wishing to be Heard. None. VIII. Adjournment. Respectfully submitted, Nancy J. Rust, Secretary