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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-16-13 PTRC Minutes CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013 ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair O’Malley called the April 16, 2013, meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Committee Chair Nancy O’Malley, Committee Members Cindy Garretson (arrived at 6:36 p.m.), Phil Kramlinger (arrived at 6:33 p.m.), Don Messerly, Chuck Michaelson, Harold Petersen, Steve Scott, Matt Trites, and John Van Valkenburg. OTHERS PRESENT: Parks and Recreation Manager Michelle Olson, Council Liaison Fran Holmes, City Planner Meagan Beekman and Community Development Intern Matthew Bachler. ABSENT: Committee Member Rich Straumann (excused), Committee Member John Peck (excused) and Jane Larson. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Committee Member Michaelson motioned to approve the agenda seconded by Committee Member Petersen. The motion carried unanimously (8-0). 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 26, 2013 MOTION: Committee Member Petersen motioned to approve the February 26, 2013, minutes as presented, seconded by Committee Member Kramlinger. The motion carried unanimously (8-0). 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Parks and Open Space and Park Preserve Ordinances Community Development Intern Bachler asked that the PTRC review the draft Parks and Open Space Ordinance and Park Preserve Ordinance which was included in their packets and then provide further direction. He explained the Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan addresses demographic and recreational trends that affect the City’s park, trails and recreation needs and that the Comprehensive Plan addresses the issue of protecting open space and outdoor recreation space in the City. He indicated the Comprehensive Plan also created a 2030 future land use map which shows the two districts. There are 576 acres identified as park and open space and a total of 1,472 acres categorized as park reserve, which are all located on the Arden Hills Army Training site on the eastern portion of the TCAAP property. He indicated that staff recommended the separate zoning districts be created for the park and open space and park reserve land uses, because the zoning code did not provide enough guidance on use of park and open space areas. The drafts were created by reviewing what other communities in the metro region have done in their zoning codes to regulate parks and open spaces and also based on Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes April 16, 2013 Page 2 work that was previously done in 2011. He stated that feedback from the Planning Commission has been incorporated. Committee Development Intern Bachler indicated further points of discussion include whether any types of uses or facilities should be permitted that are not currently listed in the draft ordinances, do they contain enough guidance to effectively evaluate potential conditional uses and their potential impact on park and open space land, and any special regulations that might be appropriate. Previously, the Planning Commission had requested that staff include a provision in the Parks and Open Space Ordinance that would require the City to replace any converted or transferred park space with an equivalent amount of park land within city limits. Upon further research staff found that such an ordinance already existed in the City Code. In such cases where the City is looking to transfer park and recreation land to a private entity that would use that land for a different use the proposal would be brought to the PTRC. If the PTRC supported the proposal a public hearing would be held by the City Council and the City Council would need to approve such an agreement by a majority vote. At that point there would need to be a commitment of resources to acquire substitute recreational land so that in the end a substitute amount of land would replace the land that was taken. He reported the existing ordinance adequately addresses this issue. Committee Member Michaelson questioned if a publicly owned golf course would qualify under the permitted uses for either of these areas. Mr. Bachler stated he believed that Attachment C - City Owned Park Facilities and Recreational Facilities under the parks and open space district could be interpreted to include a publicly owned golf course. Committee Member Kramlinger stated he did not feel an owner of privately held land would want the value of the land controlled by the City. Mr. Bachler indicated the City is not proposing that staff retroactively rezone privately held land as parks and open space land use because that would directly diminish the value of that land. Ms. Beekman indicated if the City wanted to dispose of a City owned park or open space they could not just do that but would need to follow the process in place. She stated, the park preserve, however, is owned by the Army and if they want to rezone it, the City has no authority over that land. Committee Member Kramlinger asked whether land is gifted to the City when a new development is made. Ms. Beekman stated the way that park dedication works is the City gets a percentage of the land or value of the land and the City is statutorily required to use that toward the creation of new trails or park connections. Committee Member Michaelson questioned whether the City would have some control over uses if the Army decided to sell some of the land. Ms. Beekman indicated since the land is owned by the Federal Government, if the Army wanted to do something with the land, the City would not have much say in the matter. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes April 16, 2013 Page 3 MOTION: Committee Member Garretson motioned to proceed with the draft ordinances as presented seconded by Committee Member Scott. The motioned carried (9-0). B. Don Messerly Dedication Plaque Ms. Olson asked for input on the specific wording for the Don Messerly Picnic Shelter Plaque. Discussion ensued on the wording. It was the consensus to have the wording read “In recognition of Don’s many years of service, preserving natural beauty and making Arden Hills a great place to live and raise a family, by Council Resolution, August 12, 2012.” MOTION: Committee Member Petersen motioned to approve the wording as amended, seconded by Chair O’Malley. The motioned carried unanimously (9-0). C. Other Unfinished Business None 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Joint Meeting Debrief – 2013 Work Plan Discussion Chair O’Malley stated that she felt the joint meeting went well. Ms. Olson thanked the committee for their work and commended those that presented at the meeting. B. Survey Monkey Question Discussion Ms. Olson recapped that Council had consented to allow the PTRC to put together a survey in order to seek input from the residents on parks and trails. Ms. Olson stated that Chair O’Malley had asked the committee to brainstorm potential questions for the resident survey. Chair O’Malley distributed a list of questions for the committee to review. Discussion ensued regarding what questions to include in the survey and the formatting. The Committee made a few revisions to the questions and the consensus was to move forward on those questions. Ms. Olson indicated she would create the survey in Survey Monkey, the committee could review the survey at the next meeting and it could possibly go to Council for final review in June. C. Off-Site Meeting Discussion Ms. Olson asked the committee for input on where and when to have the PTRC’s off-site meeting. Ms. Olson suggested Floral Park and asked the committee if they were interested in inviting residents. It was suggested having an invite on the City’s website and sending a flyer to the surrounding residents. After further discussion, the consensus of the committee st was to have a meeting at Floral Park on May 21 and to also have a meeting at Hazelnut Park in September and to invite residents in the surrounding areas via a mailing. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes April 16, 2013 Page 4 D. Other New Business Committee Member Messerly asked whether the committee would be interested in turning Lindey’s Park into a prairie. He suggested having prairie blue grass mixed with flowers and indicated he could get some cost estimates. The committee was in favor of the idea and of checking into the cost involved and then bringing back for further discussion. Committee Member Michaelson asked about the fate of the library across from Valentine School. Ms. Holmes indicated Bethel bought the land from Ramsey County and it is not zoned for their use since it is zoned R1 (residential) and there has been no further discussion regarding the property thus far. 5. REPORTS A. City Council Report Council Liasion Holmes informed that since Ramsey County has purchased the TCAAP land staff has been working on an Open House that will be held on May 7 in the Marsden Room from 5:00-7:00 pm. Ms. Holmes reported that the Blue Fox did close on Saturday, April 13, 2013, and Roberts Management Group has a proposal for the development of a 15,000 sq. ft. retail and restaurant multi-use facility. The developer is planning on redoing the entire Lexington Station complex over a 20-year period. Ms. Holmes indicated the Triangle property that was given to the City by Presbyterian Homes has been cleaned up and the old underground gas tanks removed. She indicated there will be a Gateway sign on the south side and that more trees will be planted. Ms. Holmes stated that she is also pushing to have benches and some picnic tables. The committee felt a fountain would also be a nice idea. Council Liaision Holmes reported that due to weather the grand reopening of Valentine Park as been postponed until after July 4 and that it will be coordinated with Committee Member Messerly and his family. Ms. Holmes indicated some open space the City is looking at purchasing are the 3 properties for sale on the east side of Snelling just south of County Road E. Ms. Holmes indicated that Hwy 10 and 96 is now closing on April 22 and that there will be a temporary access for Sherer Brothers. She also mentioned that Lakeshore Place will be getting trees and a retaining wall and that the manufactured homes will be getting a sound wall. Two manufactured homes will be removed because the entrance into the park will be moved. Council Liaision Holmes informed that the E Street Flats is going in at the old Holiday Inn location. She indicated it is set up for young college people and that some amenities are a fitness center and theater and that Now Bikes will be moving in next door. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes April 16, 2013 Page 5 Ms. Holmes indicated she does not know the disposition of the old TCF bank but it is currently empty. B. Public Works/Parks & Recreation Report Ms. Olson informed the PTRC is having their Tony Schmidt Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 20. The cleanup is scheduled from 9:00 to 11:00 am and the members will be meeting at the beach building at 8:45 a.m. Ms. Olson indicated she sent flyers to the residents around Tony Schmidt Park. Ms. Olson indicated that the Friends of the Park Tree Sale, whereby you can donate a tree to th a park, closes on April 19. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Committee Member Petersen moved to adjourn at 8:32 p.m., seconded by Committee Member Scott. The motion carried unanimously (9-0 ). NEXT MEETING The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.