7.1. SR 04-10-1995ITEM 7.1.
MEMORANDUM
ver TO: Mayor & City Council
FROM: Pat Klaers, City trato
DATE: April 10, 1995
SUBJECT: Review Inventory of City Property
At the last City Council CIP Worksession on 2/20/95, the Council requested to
review the inventory of City owned property. A concern identified an 2/20
was making sure that the City did not own land that would not be needed or
used in the future and a desire to identify parcels of property that could be
sold if they are not needed. As most of our City owned property is park land,
it was decided to put this item on this joint meeting agenda rather than wait
until the 4/24/95 CIP Worksession.
With regards to parks and open spaces, the philosophy of the City Council,
Park and Recreation Commission and staff has been to purchase or obtain
key parcels of land now before development takes place so that we can better
• serve our community in the future. The goal is to be "ahead of the curve"
rather than always trying to catch up and obtain property after development
has taken place. We are only a community of 13,000, and we may well be a
community of over 30,000 at some time in the future and it is imperative for
good planning to take place now so that the right park and open space parcels
are available to our community in the future. Parks and trails are typically
identified with a high quality of life and this is something that has been
reinforced by our citizens in community surveys.
In general terms, at this time the Commission and staff is not overly
concerned about the development of our City parks and open space areas.
This is also true for our trails. (The one development concern that does exist
is for active youth recreation fields.) The City can develop park areas slowly
over time as money becomes available. Additionally, most communities at
some time get voter approval for at least one park and recreation and open
space bond issue in order to fmance facilities. We have not tried for such a
public bond issue in Elk River, but we may look at this in the future.
The Council should also note that many parks are obtained through the park
dedication and platting process. This park land is very difficult to dispose of.
In some cases it takes a judicial order to dispose of this property. For
• example, when the City talked about disposing of the Tot Park property in
13065 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 490 • Elk River, MN 55330 • (612) 441-7420 • Fax: (612) 441-7425
1986-87, we were advised that this platted property had to be divided into pie
• shaped parcels and deeded to all of the adjacent property owners.
Additionally, all of the property owners had to agree to this situation. On the
other hand, park land that is purchased by the City can be disposed of by the
Council for any reason.
Please see the attached map from the Park and Recreation Master Park Plan
that shows the major park properties owned by the City. Also attached for
your review is the 1/25/95 memo from Steve Rohlf to the Comprehensive Plan
Steering Committee regarding park planning. This memo includes a map
and an inventory of City parks along with some trails information.
Some park land that may not be identified in all of the material that is
attached include the Tot Park (behind Roger Holmgren's house), the park in
the Elk Hills Drive subdivision, and the lot adjacent to Pete's mini-storage
on 1911/2 Avenue.
One non park property that the City has obtained is the area north of
Jackson Avenue, west of Highway 169, and east of Holt Avenue. This area
was deeded to the City by MnDOT when Jackson Avenue was realigned in
1988. With the recent decision to realign Holt Avenue, the City may have a
developable commercial lot once utilities are available. This is one piece of
property that everyone agrees can be sold as it will serve no future park or
open space purposes.
Some of the other City owned property includes road easements or corridors
that the City has obtained through the platting process or that the City has
purchased through the tax forfeiture process. This is also true with some
drainage ponds and easements that the City has obtained through the
platting process or through the tax forfeiture process.
Government facilities that the City owns include the City Hall site and
complex, the old City Hall site, the public works building site, the Fire
Department facility, the Wastewater Treatment site, the Liquor Store, the
new Liquor Store site, and the Wastewater Treatment Plant sludge land.
Additionally, the City has explored opportunities to purchase land in the
western part of the City for a future Westbound Liquor store. Granted, this
liquor store may not be constructed for five or ten years, but much like the
new Northbound Liquor store site and obtaining park property for the future,
it is important that the City obtain the right piece of property for Westbound,
even if it is not built for five or ten years. Additionally, regarding the sludge
land, an item that will be talked about later in the joint meeting, is the
possible development of recreation fields on the 121/2 acres of this sludge land
that is adjacent to 165th Avenue.
•
Of all the publicly owned property, the one that is easiest to sell, and is
. appropriate to sell, is the Holt Avenue land if it is a developable parcel of
property. Once utilities are available, this may be a valuable commercial
site.
Staff would not recommend the selling or subdividing any part of the
Woodland Trails Park into 2i/z acre residential lots. The City does not "need"
the money as the park has been paid off, the City does not know about the
future of the road corridor in this vicinity, and the City does not know if
sewer and water will ever get to this area.
The City staff would not recommend the selling of the old City dump site as
this may be a very important recreational area in the future. Additionally, I
am not sure how we obtained this property and if there are any restrictions
on disposal of this land. Also, if we do sell this land, it will be more valuable
in the future if sewer and water is available.
The City staff would not recommend the selling of the vacant lot next to
Pete's mini-storage. It is believed that while this land is undeveloped, there
is a need for open space in this area. This area does not need more
residential density or another mini-storage. This area does need open space.
This lot is similar to the lot the City purchased in the apartment complex
. area (south of 5th Street and east of Highway 169) and the lot the City
purchased in Barrington Place to keep density down.
Staff would not recommend the selling of any Orono Park west (old E&O Tool
land). For the next five years, this property may be used for parking for the
County Fair under a contractual agreement. Additionally, we don't know the
exact alignment of a service road in this vicinity. At some time in the future,
it may be to our benefit to sell some of this land as a commercial site in order
to get additional dollars for the purchase of better park land in this vicinity
(i.e., part of the County Fairgrounds).
Obtaining and preserving appropriate park land for the future is very
important. I think that the park land decisions of previous City Councils
have been good and well thought out. There is no need to be in a hurry to
dispose of park land unless we are absolutely sure it won't be needed in the
future. The City can always dispose of the land in the future, and there is no
need to rush the judgment on some of these issues. If the City was too poor to
do any development activities, then this would be a different issue, but this is
not that case at this time.
~J
MEMORANDUM
V~i TO~ AND PARK AND RECREATIONITTEE
COMMISSION
FROM: STEPHEN ROHLF, BUILDING
AND ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
DATE: JANUARY 25, 1995 5~
SUBJECT: PARK PLANNING
Elk River's Park and Recreation Commission is in the process of updating the
City's Master Park Plan. They are attempting this update without the use of
outside consultants. The Park and Recreation Commission broke down the
planning process into the following components; neighborhood parks,
community athletics, trails, community wide parks, and special use parks.
`? The Master Park Plan will be one component of the City's Comprehensive
. Plan. The Master Park Plan cannot be finalized until a revised Land Use
Plan is completed, specifically, the urban service area of Elk River is defined.
Because the Master Park Plan is a component of the Comprehensive Plan,
the Park and Recreation Commission wishes to share their thoughts thus far
on the revised version with the Steering Committee.
Existing Citv Parhs
The logical starting point in the planning process was an inventory of
existing facilities. Map #1 attached to this memo, shows the current parks
in Elk River and "Exhibit A" describes them. There are other City owned
parcels with park potential that were not listed because their ultimate use as
park land, or not, has not been decided. Some examples of these other
parcels include; the infamous "Hole in the Ground" on Main Street in
downtown Elk River, a small park dedicated in the plat of Elk Hills, and a
possible neighborhood park located on 191-1/2 Avenue, in Ridgewood 2nd
Addition.
Nort-Gifu Facilities
Map #2 shows non-City facilities that serve park and recreational needs in
Elk River. "Exhibit B" is a list of those facilities. To get a realistic plan,
13065 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 490 • Elk River, MN 55330 • (612) 441-7420 • Fax: (612) 44]-7425
Page 2
these facilities must also be considered. Not shown on the map or listed on
the exhibit, are two golf courses, Elk River Country Club, an 18 hole course,
and Pinewood Golf Course, an executive course.
Neighborhood Parhs
Elk River is a growing community and therefore has a young population.
Neighborhood parks provide open space that is needed with the development
of smaller lots in the urban service area. Typical amenities found in a
neighborhood park include, an open play area, back-stop, hard-court,
playground equipment, and trails. Examples of optional amenities include, a
sliding hill, skating, tennis courts, archery, etc.
The City's current Master Park Plan calls for neighborhood parks of 5 to 25
acres in size that would serve approximately 3,000 to 5,000 people. The
current plan identifies 14 park service areas which are proposed to be served
by neighborhood parks. These park service areas include the rural areas of
Elk River. The urban service area of Elk River is situated in only 6 of these
park service areas, so only 6 neighborhood parks are currently planned to
serve the entire urban area of Elk River.
The Park and Recreation Commission has redefined the park service areas
that would require neighborhood parks. The redefined park service areas are
only situated in the urban service area of Elk River where the smaller lots
exist. The Park and Recreation Commission's rationale is that the larger lots
in the rural areas have their own open space associated with them to serve
needs that would have to be accommodated by neighborhood parks in the
urban area of Elk River.
The revised park service areas are defined by physical barriers such as Lake
Orono or Highway 10, an optimum walking distance of 1/2 mile fi•om all
locations of a park service area to a neighborhood park, and a maximum
population density that would be served by the neighborhood park. To meet
the demand to have more neighborhood parks serving more areas, and to
lessen the burden on landowners or developers that dedicate park land
versus fees, it was decided that 2 to 4 acre neighborhood parks, serving
approximately 1,000 people would be more desirable than the larger
neighborhood parks.
Map #3 shows 24 proposed park service areas in the urban service district of
the City. The symbol NP on that map, identifies the location of the new
neighborhood parks that need to be created to serve various park service
areas. Park service areas that have existing facilities that can serve
:t
PP-sr/6z
Page 3
neighborhood park needs, do not have new neighborhood parks ident~ed in
• them.
The park service areas will change, if the urban service district of Elk River
is enlarged to include more residential land. The final version of the plan
will also consider the cost of developing and maintaining these parks.
Community Athletics
Community athletics range from horseshoe pits and sand volleyball, which
can be accommodated in neighborhood parks, to youth soccer and adult
softball which require additional facilities. The Park and Recreation
Commission has met with representatives of the various youth sports
associations. They have all indicated that they are in dire need of additional
facilities.
The problem staff and the Park and Recreation Commission has to deal with
when planning for organized sports (youth and adult) is that these activities
draw from a larger area than the City of Elk River. The area they draw from
is basically defined by the entire school district.
To deal with this, a LOCAL RATIO (facilities needed per capita) was
developed by dividing the population of the school district by the current
number of each type of sport facility in the school district. This local ratio
was then used to project the ultimate number of each type of facility that wiLi
be needed to serve Elk River's population at full development (estimated at
40,000 under the current Comprehensive Plan).
From the ultimate number of facilities needed to serve our population, Elk
River's fair share of existing and projected school facilities was subtracted.
The recommended number of facilities that should be the City of Elk River's
responsibility, is found on "Exhibit C".
Acquisition of land to accommodate community athletic facilities was
identified as a priority (prior to the land becoming too expensive or
unattainable). Immediate development of certain facilities is also critical.
Youth organized sports draw from the entire school district. The school
district is made up of parts or all of 5 counties, 7 cities, and 8 townships. For
efficiency, one entity to coordinate these activities seems logical. The Park
and Recreation Commission has been meeting with other communities to
encourage them to support the one entity philosophy.
PP•srlbz
Page 4
Because of economic reasons as well as the availability of land, it is likely
• that organized sports facilities will be located in the rural areas of Elk River.
Having these facilities in the rural areas is more likely to avoid conflicts with
existing land uses, and also provides additional recreation opportunities to
the rural areas of Elk River.
23~ails
The City's priority when considering a trail system for Elk River must be the
safe movement of pedestrians. The trail system will be viewed as a collector
system for moving people. It is felt that quiet residential streets can be used
to gain access to this trail system. The trail system will be a combination of
widened road shoulders, sidewalks, and detached trails. In the rural areas,
widened shoulders will mostly be used. In the urban area, typically
sidewalks and detached trails will be used.
Trails will also provide recreational benefits. The trail system will connect
parks and be looped where possible. Areas like Woodland Trails Park will
have trails that are solely for recreational purposes. The needs of hikers,
rollerbladers, and bicyclists, as well as horseback riders and snowmobilers
will be considered.
t
• It is important that our trail system ties in with other community's trails.
Examples of this include providing corridors through Elk River that allow
snowmobilers access to the trail system in the Sand Dunes and connecting to
a Mississippi River trail that is planned to go all the way to the City of
Hastings. We have already met with the City of Ramsey, and will meet with
other communities to gain their input.
The final recommended version of the trail system will consider the economic
feasibility of building and maintaining these trails. Map #4 is a very
preliminary view of what the trail system may look like.
Area Wide Parks
Area wide parks will be developed in areas where we can take advantage of
natural amenities and land is available. Area wide parks must also be
located in areas that will be of interest to a wide segment of the community.
Land identified on the park plan for an area wide park may never become
available for acquisition. Therefore, the revised Master Park Plan may or
may not show them. These parks will result from taking advantage of
. opportunities as they arise.
PP-sr/bz
Page 5
Some of the areas currently of interest to the Park and Recreation
Commission for possible area wide parks include a naturally unique
tamarack swamp in the northwest area of Elk River, a area of floodplain
adjacent to the Elk River, and an island in the Mississippi River.
SAeci¢l Use P¢rks
An example of a special use is the fishing pier in Orono Park. Typically,
these special uses would be an enhancement of an amenity in a neighborhood
or area wide park and not a park in and of themselves. It may not be
possible to pre-identify these special uses and they will have to be taken
advantage of as opportunities arise.
Conclusion
Map #5 shows a preliminary concept of all the park components discussed.
There will be changes to this concept prior to the final version of the revised
Master Park Plan. That final version cannot be finished prior to a revised
Land Use Plan. However, the Park and Recreation Commission felt that
even a preliminary version and the rationale behind their revised park plan
"~ may be of some benefit to the Steering Committee.
Lastly, there are other common issues that the Park and Recreation
Commission wish to discuss with the Steering Committee at this meeting.
These issues include an ISTEA Grant to improve the railroad hiking trail
(total project cost is $277,500) and an east/west road corridor through Elk
River that may divide Woodland Trails Park and the Elk River Country Club.
PP•sx/6z
OAK KNOLL PARK-
CITY PARKS
•
2.
4.
CURRENT STATUS-
EXHIBIT A
12 ACS.- Wooded island
Undeveloped
OPPORTUNITIES- Take advantage of natural setting of the
Elk River- could possibly accommodate some
neighborhood park needs.
_MEADOWVALE
HEIGHTS PARK- 40ACS.-Mostly lowland. Approximately 12
ACS. of wooded high ground.
CURRENT STATUS- Undeveloped
OPPORTUNITIES- Can definitely accommodate neighborhood
park needs-may also accommodate athletic
facility and parking.
WOODLAND TRAILS
PARK- 158 ACS.-Mostly wooded.
CURRENT STATUS- Developed with multipurpose trails (hiking/
cross country skiing)- parking available-
natural area.
OPPORTUNITIES-
SHIELY PARK-
CURRENT STATUS-
OPPORTUNITIES-
Equestrian trail around perimeter- natural
learning center.
50 ACS.- Threatened dry subtype oak forest.
In process of acquisition.
Addition to Woodland Trails Park.
5. ORONO PARK/
• BALL FIELD COMPLEX- 35 ACS.- Adjacent to Lake Orono.
CURRENT STATUS- Developed with picnic areas, sand
volleyball courts, hiking trails, fishing
peer, boat launch, softball fields, and
swimming beach- parking available.
OPPORTUNITIES- Possibly more sports facilities (ball fields
,
tennis courts, and hard courts). Lands
adjacent could accommodate a civic center.
6. ORONO PARKWAY
PARK- 3 ACS.- Open grassy area
CURRENT STATUS- Undeveloped
OPPORTUNITIES- Possible neighborhood flower garden and/or
tennis courts.
7. MOLDENHAUER
~ PARK- 1 AC.- Open/grass
• CURRENT STATUS- Grass play area- no parking
OPPORTUNITIES- Could provide some neighborhood park needs
8. MISSISSIPPI OAKS
PARK- f 1 ACR.- Open
CURRENT STATUS- Undeveloped
OPPORTUNITIES- Could provide some neighborhood park needs
9. OAK KNOLL
ATHLETIC FIELDS- 11 ACS. (City portion)
CURRENT STATUS- Developed basebalUsoftball and soccer fields-
can also be used for football- connected to
City trail system- parking available.
OPPORTUNITIES- Same uses as current. City may acquire
a greater portion of the facility.
•
cityparkPoz
10. RIDGEWOOD EAST
• PARK- 5 ACS.- Wooded
•
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
CURRENT STATUS- Developed- playground equipment,
basketball court, sliding hill, and picnic
area- limited parking.
OPPORTUNITIES-
LIONS PARK-
Same as current
34 ACS. open with pond.
CURRENT STATUS- Developed with sliding hill, picnic areas,
band shell, fishing, basketball court, and
skating rink.
OPPORTUNITIES- Rollerblade trails and soccer fields.
NORTH TERRACE
TOT LOT- 1/4 ACR.
CURRENT STATUS- Undeveloped- limited access
OPPORTUNITIES- Limited- serves immediate neighbors.
BALDWIN PARK- 1 ACR.- Open
CURRENT STATUS- Developed- Playground equipment-
no parking
OPPORTUNITIES- Meet some neighborhood park needs.
BARRINGTON PARK- 2/3 ACR.- Open
CURRENT STATUS- Developed playground equipment and
basketball court- on street parking.
OPPORTUNITIES- Same as current.
DEERFIELD 4TH
PARK- 2 ACS.- Open
CURRENT STATUS- .Developed- Sliding hill, playground equip-
ment- limited parking
cityparkPoz
OPPORTUNITIES- Possibly skating.
•
16. DEERFIELD 2ND
PARK- 20 ACS.- Mostly wetland.
CURRENT STATUS- Undeveloped
OPPORTUNITIES- Trails- open space
17. HILLSIDE PARK- 80 ACS.- Mostly wooded
CURRENT STATUS- Undeveloped
OPPORTUNITIES- Possible limited sports facilities. Natural
setting for trails and picnic areas- parking
can be accommodated.
18. COUNTRY CROSSINGS
p~K- 7 ACS.- Wooded
CURRENT STATUS-
OPPORTUNITIES- Undeveloped
Skating, neighborhood park needs, and
natural setting for trails and picnic area.
•
cityparkPoz
EXHIBIT B
NON-CITY FACILITIES
A. MEADOWVALE SCHOOL
B. SCHOOL CAMPUS (VANDENBERGE AND SAUK JR. HIGHS AND
ELK RIVER SENIOR HIGH)
C. HANDKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
D. ST. ANDREWS SCHOOL (PRIVATE)
E. BABCOCK PARK (STATE)
F. KELLY FARM (HISTORIC)
•
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'1
EXHIBIT C
COMMUNITI' ATHLETICS
•
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•
ACTI~~ITY CITY OWNED FACILITIES TO
SERVE A FULL DEVELOPMENT
(OUTDOOR) _ADD OUTDOOR COURTS TO
(INDOOR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS
) -CONSIDER INDOOR COURTS IN
(OUTDOOR) =ADD OUTDOOR COURTS TO
NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS
(INDOOR) -UTILIZE BASKETBALL COURTS
SKIING AND I ADD TRAILS TO CITY PARKS
(INDOOR) IO
(OUTDOOR) 1 OUTDOOR POOL
SKATING B-,
HOCKEY
(INDOOR) 1 INDOOR RINK (PROPOSED)
BASEBALL (YOUTH 113 FIELDS
MULTI-PURPOSE
BASEBALL (13
YEARS OLD AND 4 FIELDS (FULL SIZE)
rm m.. .....~.
PER CAPITA REQUIRED
INCLUDING
.0 ACS.
.0 ACS.
.0 ACS.
.0 ACS.
.0 ACS.
(COUNTING I .0 ACS.
ORONO 3.0 ACS.
1/31,000 ~ .O ACS.
1/1,20D ~ 32.5 ACS.
1/4,400 ~ 16.0 ACS.
(I) ASSUMES SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTICIPATES IN FUTURE
ATHLETIC FACILITIES AT ONE-H_ALF THEIR PAST RATE.
(2) INCLUDES CURRENT AND PROPOSED CITY AND SCHOOL
ATHLETIC FACILITIES.
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