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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 07-04 Park plans exclude Carsgrove Meadows REVIEW Yark pl exclude By MELANIE WAAGE parks and open space in Ramsey County, acquired as part of Keller Regional Park. said the site did not possess any unique or So,any request for acquisition to expand The Maplewood city council voted to significant natural resources or critical Keller Regional Park would have to be order the Gervais Avenue, Forest Street natural systems such as drainage ways approved by the Metro Council as an \and Carsgrove Meadows area im- which would warrant acquisition for amendment to the master plan. provement project at the June 21 meeting, preservation. Bill Bittner, director of public works, despite opposition from citizens to keep a Also, he stated that the Carsgrove told the council he had been contacted by portion of the land for open space. Meadows site in itself would add very Edmonds and that the Ramsey County V little to the Ramsey County Park and Parks and Open Space committee Neighbors of the improvement area, Open Space program system. reviewed the matter June 4 and approved t north of Highway 36 and west of Highway THE CARSGROVE Meadows property the concept of expanding the regional '� 61,appeared at the May 17 meeting, and is approximately a 48-acre parcel one- park system in this area, subject to the Don Watson, 985 E. County Road C, fourth mile north of Keller Regional Park. availablilty of Metropolitan Council director of Kohlman, Gervais and Keller According to a county report, if land funding and authorization by Maplewood Lake Assn.,told the council he had been in between the parcel and Keller Regional to purchase the subject property and an contact with representatives of the Park were also acquired, approximately additional 35 acres to the south. Ramsey County Open Space program and 35 additional acres, the entire 83-acre "In speaking with Mr. Edmonds, it they had backed him in urging the council supplement could provide a continuous became apparent that the county staff has to acquire Carsgrove Meadows for open recreation space currently unavailable in not done any previous planning to expand park space.The council had voted to table Keller Regional Park. It is county policy the Keller Regional Park system, nor do the matter until the county had been to acquire the property in contiguous they indicate a significant need to do contacted for further explanation as to sections. such," a memo from Bittner stated. using the area for park. The master plan for Keller Regional He urged the council to take a position Upon reviewing the possible acquisition Park which was submitted to the on the matter. of the Carsgrove Meadows property for Metropolitan Council in 1975 did not in- BARRY EVANS,city manager,said in open space, Barry Edmonds, director of dicate any additional acreage to be discussion with members of the Metro Carsgrove Meadows Council, it did not appear likely that the way near the southwest holding pond. COUNCILMAN DON WIEGERT told purchase was feasible, based on their They were concerned about possible Watson the water shed district investigations. runoff not being held by the pond. The automatically gets involved. "We also "The staff of metro council is not going developers assured them that present have a standing order that we do keep the to recommend purchasing this,they don't ponding areas would be expanded to hold lakes association informed and aware of feel it's justified," Evans said. the potential runoff. moves. But it is out of the normal Neighbors at the June 21 meeting wereprocedure, so with changing personnel "It appears providing ponding is not as concerned with the prospect of the necessary," Les Deets, 2557 Maplewood and such,notifying your association could land being purchased for park space, but Dr.,said. "I recommend the council give be overlooked." with the potential drainage problems residents the opportunity to express their Councilman Burt Murdock then added from the proposed Carsgrove Meadows that it would be futile to wait on the county development. opinion about the acreage involved. The to consider purchasing the land for park, The proposed drainage plan prepared drainage problem should be treated as a based on their letter to the council. "I separate issue (from the Forest Street, think the countycould be 104 years old by Shoell and Madson,Inc., engineers, is Gervais Avenue improvements)." in accordance with the Maplewood before decisions would be made on this." drainage plan. Their plan calls for three Don Watson said he was mainly con- Murdock moved to order the project, separate ponding areas to catch the run- cerned with the water flow of Gervais, and councilman Norm Anderson added off. Kohlman and Keller Lakes. "There will that specific caution be taken as to the SOME RESIDENTS told the council be a tremendous amount of water flowing drainage situation. there used to be a garbage site near one of into the area with the development," The motion was approved unanimously. the proposed drainage ponds. The Watson said."I want the council to make According to a feasibility study, total developer assured them the ponding area a resolution to keep our organization project cost,which includes streets,curb, would be lined with clay so garbage informed on all water changes that will gutter, sanitary sewer services, water- wouldn't be exposed. affect our lakes, plus keep the Ramsey, main services,- and storm sewers, is Tim Gallivan, 2532 Keller Pkwy., Washington Metro Water District in- $1,303,000, with the developer paying represented people living on Keller Park- formed of the same." $648,000 of that cost.