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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-18 Parks and Trails Minutes Corcoran Parks and Trails Meeting Minutes April 18, 2024 - 7:30 pm The Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission met on April 18, 2024, at City Hall in Corcoran, MN. Present were Commissioners Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Friedrich, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. Present at City Hall were Councilmember Nichols and Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck. 1. Call to Order / Roll Call Chairperson Christenson called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Chairperson Christenson invited all in attendance to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Agenda Approval Motion: Made by Nybo, seconded by Friedrich, to approve the agenda as presented. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Friedrich, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. (Motion carried 7:0) 4. Minutes a. Minutes – March 21, 2024, Meeting Motion: Made by Friedrich, seconded by Erzberger, to approve the minutes as presented. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Friedrich, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. (Motion carried 7:0) 5. Open Forum Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck stated nobody was interested in speaking at that time. 6. Presentations – None 7. Unfinished Business a. City Park Concept Plans Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided an update on the items that were adjusted since the previous concept plan presentation including the movement of the playground, hockey amenities, open field/event space, pickleball courts, and tennis courts. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided an overview of conversation among staff about incorporating an open- air, sheltered playground, with an agricultural theme. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck noted that staff had met with the Wacker/Espeseth family regarding the previously discussed playground donation with positive feedback from the family. Commissioners discussed if the playground shown was large enough, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck noted that it is approximately the same size as the current playground container. Commissioners expressed interest in further exploring the open-air, sheltered playground and agricultural ideas. Commissioners were in consensus that 2 tennis courts and 2 basketball courts were preferred. Commissioners expressed interest in highlighting the creek, a possible sledding hill from the current playground location, and having a parking lot near the existing shelter. Councilmember Nichols noted conversations about having a tractor or t-rex at the top of the hill as a photograph location. Commissioners discussed the community interest in having a cricket pitch and requested staff to further explore what would be required. Commissioners discussed possible food sale options at the park, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed them that park ordinance states no sales at the park but could be brought forward to City Council for update. Discussion about moving the tennis courts for a larger playground took place among the Commission. Commissioner Anderson inquired about the national standards for park amenities and how the current plan compares. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that she would further explore those standards. Commissioners discussed further the potential need for expanding the playground. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that conversations with Hennepin County and Three Rivers Park District still needed to happen regarding trail alignment and park entrances. b. Park Standards Update Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that she updated the sections in the document about policy, and unique considerations. Katherine Drivas, 6747 Olde Sturbridge Drive, requested the Commission consider adding a standard for buffering to limit impact on neighbors of parks. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck recommended relocating the buffer verbiage to site amenities or landscaping for city-wide park standards. Commissioners discussed being mindful of placement of amenities, specifically regarding more disruptive activities. Discussion among the Commission regarding signage and wayfinding expanded to include signs directing visitors to the parks. Commissioners discussed updating the park system and neighborhood parking standards to be more specific to the classification of park. Commissioners discussed a desire to update seating under the site amenities section to include gathering and scenic viewpoints. Commissioners requested a purpose statement at the beginning of the document be added. c. Park Rules Sign Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided background information about the increase in dogs off leash and pet waste at City Park. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck summarized previous discussion about park rules signs among the Commission, where specific rules were highlighted and a desire to include a QR code directing visitors to an online park rules page. Commissioners rules to include on the signs. Commissioners discussed restrictions on marijuana, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that she would look into state restrictions. Commissioners discussed having the QR code include a design related to the City of Corcoran. Motion: Made by Friedrich, seconded by Christenson, to recommend purchasing 6 park rules signs, remove the littering and defacing rules from the sign, include hours of operation, dogs on leash and feces disposal, no unauthorized vehicles, no glass containers, no tobacco, no amplified noise, no golfing, and a QR code that navigates to a park rules webpage. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Friedrich, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. (Motion carried 7:0) 8. New Business a. Park Dedication for “Heather Meadows 3rd Addition” OS&P Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided background on the plat, noting that 21 buildable lots would be produced, no parks or off-road trails are shown on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, but that an on-road trail is shown on Heather Lane and Oakdale Drive. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck noted the park dedication for cash-in-lieu of land was estimated at $59,540. Commissioners inquired about if the road would be expanded for the on-road trail, as the road’s shoulder is narrow. Commissioners discussed Open Space and Preservation plats and how they differ with regards to building rights, to which Councilmember Nichols noted the open space preserved should be featured. Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Nybo, to recommend taking cash-in-lieu of land, with consideration to expanding the right-of-way on Oakdale Drive. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Friedrich, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. (Motion carried 7:0) b. Park Dedication for “Fairway Shores Villas at Cook Lake” Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided an overview of the plat, which would create 75 single-family residential lots, 5 outlots, and an off-road trail through the development. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck noted that the City of Maple Grove requested the City of Corcoran consider a connection from the Street C cul-de-sac to the neighboring Maple Grove property. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck mentioned that the trail does not follow the 2040 Comprehensive Plan due to grade changes, buffer requirements, and general site challenges. Park dedication was estimated at $300,572.80, following park land donation. Commissioners discussed wetland buffers, to which Councilmember Nichols noted that the buffer is based on the quality of the wetland. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck also informed the Commission that the width of the buffer could be widened and thinned if it remains at the required average. Commissioners discussed where the sidewalk ends at the cul-de-sac on Street C, the trail easement coming off the cul-de-sac pavement, and connections to the west of the plat. Commissioners discussed possible concerns with the trail being close to one of the golf course, to which they discussed signage and fencing. Councilmember Nichols inquired about the timeline for installation of the trail, to which Mike Bergeron, Bergeron Development, informed the Commission it would likely be a few years as an early step in the second phase of development. Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Christenson, to recommend accepting the offroad trail and cash-in-lieu of land for the remaining park dedication requirement, with consideration towards fencing along the trail to protect from golfing. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Friedrich, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. (Motion carried 7:0) Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Christenson, to accept the trail easement from Street C to the property to the east in Maple Grove. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. Voting Nay: Friedrich (Motion carried 6:1) Commissioners discussed amending agendas for future meetings when developers are in the audience to avoid them having to sit through unrelated discussions. 9. Reports/Information a. Active Planning Applications – Informational Only Commissioner Nybo asked about the 610 Extension Business Park regarding location and additional information, to which Councilmember Nichols noted it would be opposite from Hope Community Church on County Road 30 and County Road 116. Councilmember Nichols noted that it has not returned to City Council, but believed it would soon. b. Recreation Supervisor Update Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided an update on items she had been working on including youth baseball coordination, Night to Unite preparations, park planning processes with HKGi, and preparing for onboarding of Program Coordinator Shipley. Commissioners inquired about reservations at the park, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck noted athletics associations, family gatherings, graduation parties, and other various uses are part of the reservations. 10. Subcommittee & Miscellaneous Reports a. City Council Report Councilmember Nichols highlighted some items from previous City Council meetings since the last Parks and Trails Commission meeting including organics recycling, conservation density zoning, water tower logo, Councilmember Schultz’s resignation, and an industrial development concept in the northeast. Commissioners inquired about conservation density, to which Councilmember Nichols noted that this would allow for a lower overall density to make it easier to retain open space. Councilmember Nichols noted the approval to purchase 9 automated license plate readers with state funding and adopt appropriate policies for usage. b. Garden Club Report Tom Anderson informed the Commission of the upcoming tree giveaway on April 27 from 9 am-12 pm. c. Park Dedication Fund Vice-Chairperson Friedrich inquired about the interest on the account for approximately $130,000, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that it was for the first half of the 2023. 11. Other Business/Announcements 12. Commissioner Liaison Calendar Chairperson Christenson noted a 5:30 pm joint work session with City Council on Thursday, April 25, 2024. 13. Adjournment Motion: Made by Christenson, seconded by Friedrich, to adjourn the meeting at 9:48 pm. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Friedrich, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. (Motion carried 7:0) Submitted by Jessica Christensen Buck, Recreation Supervisor 04/25/2024 05/09/2024 05/23/2024 06/13/2024 06/27/2024 07/11/2024 07/25/2024 Friedrich Christenson Nybo Strehler Anderson Erzberger Schmidt