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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 19791jublished by the Arden Hills Newsletter Publication Committee . No. 126 May 1979 T From the Parks and Recreation Departments Saturday, May 19, looks like a neat day for AH O residents. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Perry Park, a kite -flying contest will be held. You can fly either a store kite or a home-made one, and ribbons will be give for the best kite in C various categories (largest, smallest, most un- usual, etc.). R' At ls00 p.m., on the same day at the same park, Arden Hills will hold its annual Volks March, which is simply a spring walk through part of our village. This year we hope to take a look at Chatham and some of Bethel. Individ- uals are encouraged to walk as far as their time R and/or energy allows. John Buckley, our Barks ' • Director, has a sub -committee working on the weather for that day. Our Public Works Supervisor Bud Johannsen is really angry and frustrated over the vandalism of street signs in Arden Hills. People are stealing the "No Parking" signs (which require a hammer and chisel to remove), spray painting roads signs and fire hydrants, and generally being destructive. Not only is the cost of replacing these things mounting, but the time spent is ridiculous. Bud says that the last week of school is particularly bad. Do let's try and stop this sort of thing. HELP AGAIN! Several volunteers are needed to serve on some of Arden Hills' various committees. Currently wanted are people for the Finance Committee, the Parks and Recreation Committee, and an alternate for the Planning Commission. ' Do give the Village Hall a ring (633-5676) if you can help out. Residents of Arden Hills in the Karth Lake area are especially invited to the Parks and Recreation meeting on May 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Village Hall, The Parks Committee is going to discuss alternatives for the development of Cummings Park and citizen input and ideas are needed for this planning. By this time, you may have seen our Tree Inspector Dave Winkel checking logs, branches, stumps, and firewood piles .... all places that may serve as breeding sites for elm beetles or oak wilt spores. Checking these is the ini- j tial step in controlling spread of the diseases. Between now and August 15, three more inspections of the shadetrees them- �) selves will be made on all public and private property to identify diseased oak 'and elm. This year, diseased trees will be marked with the letter "A" and a number. Trees so marked must be removed. If you find such a marked tree on your property, please call the Village Hall for directions on removal and dis- posal. Mutual Service Insurance Companies will become our new neighbor on June 1 when they will move into their new facilities at Two Pine Tree Drive, Arden 'Hills (corner of County Road E & Snelling). Mutual Service Insurance offers variety of employment opportunities in professional, technical and clerical areas. Please call 645-6611 for further information. a Any resident of Arden Hills is classified as living on a "flood plain" (don't we know itl) and is eligible for flood insurance. "Flood" is defined as "a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from overflow of inland or tidal waters, or from the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.w Losses from water seepage, sewer back-up or hydrostatic pressure are _covered only when directly caused by a general condition of flooding. For further ' information, contact your own insurance agent, giving the Arden Hills identifi- cation number 270 375 A. You can also call the Village Hall for more info. The April Human Rights meeting examined the AMICUS program, which provides I volunteers on a one-to-one basis with incarcerated felons in the State prisons for companionship and for follow-up upon release. Careful screening and train- ing is done with the volunteers and the overall results have been good. The Arden Hills Human Rights Commission is very interested in this program and volunteers are always needed. If you would like to know more about this pro- gram, please call the AMICUS office at 348-8570. The problem of access to the land lying between Karth Lake and Nursery Hill Lane is still being pondered. The land belongs to two different developers and apparently neither one of them wants to give up property for a road that could otherwise be used for building lots. Some of the discussions have become pretty heated, and Arden Hills seems to be caught in the middle because it's up to the City to build and maintain the roads. If it ever gets settled, we'll let you know. Lest you wonder if our City Council is doing any work, here is a list of Coucil meetings which were held in one six-week period: March 22, 26, 27, and April 2, 59 99 16, 30. This is in addition to all the Committee meetings that are attended by at least one Councilman. For those of you who are considering running for Council next election, be aware that it is not a twice-a-month job. Looks like Arden Hills might be taken to court again, thistime by the East Side Beverage Company. This is the beer distributor that built a warehouse in AH's industrial area, along the railroad, so they could receive the beer directly by train and then send it out by truck. Anyway, East Side is objecting to the Park dedication that Arden Hills requires from-every developer who builds in the City.(In this particular case, it is money rather than actual park land.) East Side is not questioning the amount involved ($016,000); they are questioning the State law that allows municipalities to require such dedication. East Side's rationale is that such an industrial development puts no additional pressure on our parks, so why should they have to dedicate any land or money? Stay tuned. The Land 0' Lakes company is going to move its Home Office and Corporate Headquarters to the 48-acre parcel of land that surrounds the Roseville Bank on the southwest corner of Lexington and County Road F. The projected 1100 employees will have a definite impact on our area, particularly with traffic. It is estimated that in the morning rush hour, approximately 760 left turns will be made from north-on-Lexington to west-on-F. Obviously, a signal will be needed at that corner. There will be a Public Hearing on the Land 0' Lakes buildings at the May 2 Planning Commission meeting at 8:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please plan to attend. After many hours of discussion at the Planning Commission, the Council, and at a special Hunter's Park Homeowners meeting, approval has been given for the apartments to go ahead on the land just north of Hunter's Park. Part of thl problem was that several of the Hunter's Park residents had no idea that apart- ments were planned for that area, although that is the way the original plat was approved. The only item really in question was whether the developer shoul�; PE stick to the four buildings as originally planned, or if he could switch to two. It was generally felt that two buildings would be better, and that underground parking should be required. The plans are to convert the apartments into condo- miniums in about four years. Fascinating meetings at both Planning Commission and at Council concern- ing the request to build two earth -sheltered homes in Karth Lake Estates. The location appears to be ideal because the back of the homes the north side) would be built into a hill along Highway 96, while the front (the south) would be open to the sun. A problem arose when it was mentioned that Arden Hills does not allow occupancy of a "cellar", and according to our definition of a "cellar" (more than I of floor to ceiling height below the average grade), that's what an earth -sheltered house is. It was finally decided, after untold hours of discussion, to grant a var- iance for these two particular homes and to have a Planning Commission sub- committee come up with a definition of "earth -sheltered house". Everyone wants to encourage the development of this type of housing because of the terrific R amount of energy it saves, but several Councilmen expressed concern over the aesthetics also. What if an owner just built a regular house in a regular neighborhood and then covered it with 18" of dirt? Councilman Hanson said he might have a little difficulty accepting this. It was also decided, for the time being, to consider each earth -sheltered home on an individual basis. Q. - n� "Well, it meets all the Building Codes!" Arden Hills is currently investigating criteria to determine the use of "No Parking" signs. Apparently there is a problem at each end of Venus Avenue, which is in a residential neighborhood, because of the way the road curves into the connecting streets. When cars are parked on both sides of the curves, it is almost impossible for emergency vehicles, snow plows, and garbage trucks to get past. The City Engineer is trying to figure something out. Along with this problem, the word "intersection" occured. Is it an "inter- section" when one street meets another at 900 but does not cross? And how about Connelly Avenue which forms a loop around Flaherty's, makes two 900 turns and is still the same road? What this town needs is a City Lexicologist (one who studies and compiles the meanings of words ). He could also tell us what is a "drive-in", an "entrance monument", an "earth -sheltered home", a "cellar", a "flood", etc. etc. POTPOURRI: Arden Hills has decided not to buy the page in the AH-SV-Vadnais Heights -North Oaks directory that lists all the churches, schools, etc. in AH. It costs $345 ...... The entrance monuments for Briarknoll were finally turned down by the Council for several reasons..... The Village is going to buy a new soft drink dispenser at a cost of $250. The price will continue at 20¢ per bottle and all profits will go into the General Fund ..... The Public Works Dept. ' is going to get a new pick-up truck.... The Ramsey County Sheriff's Department is changing its policy and will now accept reports of minor theft losses (under $100) by telephone.....Brighton ' Veterinary Hospital is the place that our Community Service Officer takes your Z96t *ON INUM %Mw 'ted is Giva MAS0/ S fl MLr t WZaa dog if it is picked up for running loose. So if your dog has disappeared. you can call the Brighton Vet Hospital at 636-1063 between 9 and 6 to see if Fido is there ..... Did you know that Bethel College has a very fine library which is open to the public? It's on the third floor of the Adademic Complex, and all you need to check out a book is a driver's license..... MAY CALENDAR May 2 Planning Commission Public Hearing on the Land 01 Lakes buildings 3 Human Rights Committee 8 Parks & Recreation Karth Lake area specially invited 9 Newsletter Publication Committee 6:45 A.M. Steak Inn 10 Finance Committee 14 Regular Council Meeting, 16 Public Works 19 Kite Day and Volks March Perry Park (Kites, 10:00 a.m.-Walk,,lsOiO p.m. 21 Public Safety Committee 28 Holiday Council meeting will be rescheduled Most of these meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. at the Village Hall, 1450 W. High- way 96, but it's always a good idea to check before you come (633-5676). The Town Crier newsletter exists for the purpose of informing Arden Hills' resi dents of Village activities and business. The Town Crier expresses opinions of the editor on these matters and attempts to make its contents -informative and ' interesting. Reader comment on anything is encouraged. Deadline for the next issue: May 14, Secretary -Editor: Diane McAllister, 1200 Ingerson Road, 55112. 484-0773