Dakota County Planning Commission Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Date: May 23, 2017 Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Members Present Staff Present Mike Greco Trinity Augesen Vacant Lori Hansen Jill Smith Barry Graham Ramraj Singh Daniel Williams Nate Reitz Jim Guttmann Kurt Chatfield Jessica Johnson Steve Sullivan Lil Leatham Jeff Bransford Greg Oxley Amy Hunting Tony Nelson Vacant Others Present: Dakota County Commissioner Mike Slavik Goodhue County Commissioner Brad Anderson Dr. Earl Benson, LBIA Dan Boykin Goodhue County Byllesby Advisory Committee Scott Wheeler Rita Trapp, HKGi Gabrielle Grinde, HKGi Greg Isakson, Goodhue County Jennifer Ziemer, Goodhue County Meeting Called to Order Time: 6:05 p.m. By: Chair Greco Audience items not on the agenda Comments/Notes: No audience members came forward. Approval of agenda Motion by: Commissioner Oxley Second: Commissioner Hansen Vote: Unanimously approved Approval of minutes (from April 27, 2017 meeting) Motion by: Commissioner Oxley Second: Commissioner Hansen Vote: Approved with Commissioner Smith abstaining Item #1: Joint Dakota County/Goodhue County Lake Byllesby Regional Park Advisory Committee Action / Information
Comments/Notes: The Dakota County Planning Commission joined the Goodhue County Byllesby County Park Advisory Committee. Rita Trapp, with HKGi, presented the draft preferred concept for Dakota County s Lake Byllesby Regional Park and Goodhue County s Byllesby County Park. Discussion about the concepts followed. Questions and comments by Commissioners along with responses from staff (italics): East Byllesby Draft Preferred Concept A committee member expressed concern about the location of the canoe landing shown near the bluffs (in the Goodhue County park) and safety. Byllesby Bay is a busy part of the lake. Staff will look at options for relocating the launch. A committee member asked about the status of adding the bluff area to the Goodhue County park. Goodhue County has approached the Boy Scouts about purchasing land adjacent to the park. It has not been determined if or when the property would be acquired. A committee member asked for clarification about the status of the Cannon Valley Golf Course inholding in the Dakota County park. Some of the private land where the golf course is located was included in the park boundary (before 1987), before the golf course was developed. Now that this adjacent land has been developed as a golf course, the recommendation is that it be removed from the park boundary as it is not practical to purchase only a portion of the golf course. A committee member asked if access to the homes on Echo Point would be affected by future park development. Gerlach Way will continue to provide access to the homes. The draft preferred plan suggests less use on Echo Point than the 2005 Master Plan. Provisions are being made for the homeowners, such as a locating parking lot access before the homes and landscape buffering along the road. The comments about camping included: o The proposed routing of the entrance road north of the campground decreases views of the lake from the road, visitors will have to get out of their cars to see the lake; o Campers will have to go through the no-hook up sites to get to the playground; o There is no buffering between the lakeshore campsites and the paved trail along the lake, more separation would be desirable. A committee member asked about the impact of doubling the number of RV campsites on stormwater runoff and dump station capacity. A new dump station with increased capacity will 2
be built; the Natural Resources Management Plan (NRMP) plan will address stormwater runoff. The new sites will be further from the lake, providing more opportunity to manage runoff. An audience member expressed the following concerns: o Lilac Landing needs to be better maintained by Dakota County- a lot of garbage end up on the lake shore; o With buffers on Echo Point adjacent to homes, views of the cliffs would be obscured from private homes; o A trail up the bluffs in the Goodhue County park is unsafe; o Increased park activity would lead to increased boat traffic on the lake. The proposed plan limits the number of boats trailer parking consistent with the DNR s guidelines; o Lake siltation/shallow places on the lake are unsafe, a lake depth map should be created, particularly at the narrow entrance to Byllesby Bay. Buoys may be needed to mark shallow areas or a no-wake zone may need to be established. The Dakota County sheriff s office may need to contact the DNR. It was asked if cost estimates were available. A preliminary cost estimate was developed to help identify 10 year priorities. The cost estimates are not ready for distribution yet but will be included in the Master Plan Document. East Byllesby Draft 10 Year -Priorities Steve Sullivan explained that the 10-year priorities provide a phased approach to the development and improvement of the park. The priorities provide more to do for the campers/users, more camping, more lake and river amenities. Rita Trapp provided an overview of the Draft 10 year priorities. A committee member expressed support for an off-leash dog area and asked for clarification as to where it would be located. There would be an off leash dog area on in the Goodhue County Park and a small off-leash dog area that would primarily be used by campers in the Dakota County Park. A committee member questioned if the acquisition of the Boy Scout property by Goodhue County should be a priority. Goodhue County would work towards acquisition within the 10 year plan life. The question was asked if camping could be included in the Goodhue County Park in the 10 year plan. Camping was not included in the 10 year plan due to costs associated with the new road alignment, as well as water and sewer hook-up. It is possible camping could be phased to occur prior to road realignment. If the road is realigned, dam access would be from the new road. A committee member asked if camping could occur on the DNR land on the south side of the Cannon River. Under current DNR policy there is not any camping on State trail land. DNR may 3
be open to exploring an arrangement where Goodhue manages the DNR land for park related uses. It was asked why the maintenance building in the Dakota County Park would remain in the 10 year plan. Dakota County is currently conducting a County-wide maintenance study. The recommendations for that study will determine maintenance building needs in the park. There was a discussion about continued concerns about lake water quality and what could be done in the park and Master Plan. The ability of the park to improve lake water quality is limited. The Master Plan will identify the issue, recognize the One Watershed One Plan, recommend lakeshore buffers, natural resources restoration, and storm water best management practices. It will also suggest ways to enjoy the lake (views, fishing). The One Watershed One Plan will address watershed level initiatives. Committee members were asked their highest priorities. Individual answers included: o Acquisition of Echo Point and Boy Scout land o Additional camp sites o Amenities that could be used by the local community during the week when the campground is not full o Echo Point o Natural resource restoration/management and natural surface trails o Landscape buffers and prairies take years to establish they should be done now - Establish the natural park to set the stage for the future development o Establish a buffer between campsites and the lake edge o There should be something in the master plan that addresses the reservoir itself the park wouldn t be there without the lake o Strike a balance between needs and desires o Improvements to the beach area o Move the 150 person picnic shelter to beyond the 10 year plan West Byllesby Draft Preferred Concept and 10 Year Priorities Rita Trapp provided an overview of the concept for the West Park followed by Committee discussion. A committee member expressed appreciation that the Mill Towns trail is located on upland and the amount of paved trails has been reduced. It was asked why the trails in the Delta area were scaled back and how the Delta area would be accessed. The plan was scaled back from earlier concept to reduce costs. One boardwalk/overlook in the mud flats would seem to be sufficient based on expected park visitation. There is an existing residential drive that would likely provide access to the delta area. A committee member asked if the campsites will be accessible by bicycle. Canoe campsites are part of the water trail and are not accessible from the paved trail. Bicycle access camp sites can be considered. It was asked if there are natural surface trails in West Byllesby today. There is no development in West Byllesby. When staff met with the Randolph Schools, teachers were not aware that West Byllesby existed. Establishing access and natural surface trails for basic use is a priority. A committee member asked about the timing for the Mill Towns Trail. The DNR is currently working further west, near Dundas. Within the park, near-term solutions to crossing Highway 4
56 are limited so the trail within the park will be challenging. The Highway 56 bridge over the Cannon River was built in 1947 and may be nearing replacement. Dakota County will work with MnDOT on an underpass of Highway 56. Natural Resources Rita Trapp gave an overview of the natural resources concept and preliminary direction for the park. The NRMP will build on this direction. A Committee member wondered if the NRMP should have been developed prior to the recreational concept. Natural resources and recreation concepts were developed in coordination. Natural resource inventory was done at the beginning of the process to inform location for recreation. West Byllesby has been less culturally impacted. East Byllesby has been more culturally impacted with agriculture and the soils are sandy. The NRMP for the park will look at what can be planted there. The comment was made that there is currently funding for natural resource improvements and it is a County Board priority. An audience member asked if nuisance species will be addressed, specifically cottonwoods providing drifts of seeds. Since cottonwoods are a native species, that particular issue may be unavoidable. Committee members discussed the proper balance of prairie landscape to turf grass to allow people to play/picnic. A committee member asked for clarification about where shoreline would be naturalized and what it would look like. To the extent that the County can soften the shoreline, remove rip rap, and create native buffers, they will do so. The NRMP will provide more detail on shoreline naturalization. A committee member asked if the Audubon Society been involved in the process. They have been invited, but they have not participated. A committee member asked how the draw down in the fall will affect the Master Plan. The Master Plan will work with the draw down however the mud flats will be exposed and some parts of the park will not have lake shore during the draw down. A committee member asked if improvements would be made in both the east and the west park. The proposed 10-year concept will result in investment on both east and west for natural resource restoration and management. More recreation improvements are prioritized in East Byllesby, but basic trailhead access and natural surface trails would happen in West Byllesby. A committee member asked what the land use is on the south side of the Cannon River. It is private land and Dakota County has one Farmland or Conservation Easement property on the far west side. Concern was expressed that improvements may be shown on the 10 year priority graphic on private inholdings. Most of the improvements on the 10 year priority graphic are on land that Dakota County already owns. A few improvements are shown on land where the County is currently discussing acquisition with landowners. Interpretation Rita Trapp asked if the Committee Members had comments or priorities for interpretation. Committee comments included: Like the approach of integrating interpretation throughout the park; Appreciation for scavenger hunt idea to get people out and walking; Appreciation for augmented reality to use technology and not affect the landscape with interpretive kiosks; 5
Highlight the reservoir/lake to call people s attention to its history and importance; Dam Days event; and Call attention to what is in the reservoir. Next steps June 13 th -Physcial Development Committee presentation of the Draft Preferred Concept and 10- Year Priorities Dakota and Goodhue County Staff will coordinate public engagement related to summer fairs and timing for input on the draft plan Draft Master Plan and Natural Resource Management Plan Document review in late summer. Public input in the fall. Topics for next meeting: Minnesota River Cultural Interpretive Plan Review draft for public release Planning Commissioner Announcements/Updates: There were no announcements or updates given. Adjourn: 8:35 p.m. Motion by: Commissioner Reitz Second: Commissioner Smith Vote: Unanimously approved Next Regular Meeting: Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. Western Service Center Conference room 106. 6