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Gem Lake NewsPage 3 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />After a gala grand opening, on November <br />20, the Vadnais Heights Sports Complex <br />was in the news again on December 12. <br />This time the news coverage was not quite <br />as upbeat. <br /> <br />Massive snowfall over the December 11-12 <br />weekend caused a huge build up on the <br />inflatable roof of the complex. This build up <br />apparently blocked the air intake system, <br />causing the dome designer and manager <br />Mark Bigelbach to decide that an organized <br />"deflation" on December 11 was urgently <br />needed. <br /> <br />Practicing teams were sent home and staff <br />members deflated the ceiling, to prevent <br />further damage. According to the White <br />Bear Press, it took 19 minutes to deflate the <br />dome, and everyone inside was safely <br />evacuated first. <br />Sports Complex Gets Deflation Complex <br /> Unlike the Metrodome, the Vadnais Sports <br />Complex roof does not have all the seamed <br />panels that could have individually torn. <br /> <br />The complex re-inflated the dome on <br />December 12 without incident. <br /> <br />Gem Lake City Council Member Tom <br />Rasmussen was aware of the deflation on <br />the evening of December 11 due to the <br />sudden darkness south of his home. <br />"Normally the dome is lighted during the <br />evening hours and the brightness seeps <br />through our southern facing windows at <br />night. I knew right away that something had <br />happened." <br /> <br />The Sports Complex is located at 1490 <br />County Road E. East in Vadnais Heights. <br /> <br /> <br />Hillary Farm Requests Re-platting to Allow Greater Density <br /> (continued from pg.2) <br /> <br />Hillary Farm, LLC has requested that <br />these lots be changed from their current <br />R-1 Residential Zoning to R-3 Residential <br />Zoning. Current R-3 zoning requires a <br />minimum lot size of 36,000 square feet <br />and set backs of 35 feet on the front of the <br />lot and 25 feet on the back of the lot. <br /> <br />The idea of re-platting Hillary Farm was <br />originally brought up at the December 7 <br />meeting of the Gem Lake Planning <br />Commission. <br /> <br />Initial plans call for the homes in this area <br />to average around $500,000. <br /> <br />"We are looking forward to a thorough <br />review of the application starting in <br />January," said Gem Lake Mayor Bob <br />Uzpen. "Getting feedback from our <br />residents is going to be an important part <br />of this process. As such, we are urging <br />the public to attend the Planning <br />Commission Meeting on January 4 and/or <br />the City Council Meeting on January 18." <br />Public hearings are one part of the review <br />process of applications of this sort. <br />Generally, various expert consultants also <br />review data submitted for adherence to <br />engineering, traffic flow, zoning, storm <br />water management and comprehensive <br />plan standards and regulations. <br /> <br />If you have questions regarding the <br />application, please contact Mayor Uzpen at <br />the number listed on page 6 of this <br />newsletter. <br />