Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/13/1993

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CASE #1 DETERMINE ADDITION; PARK DEDICATION FOR RAMSEY COMMONS SECOND CASE OF NORTH SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT, INC. By: Mark Boos, Parks/Utilities Coordinator Background: Mr. Jack Menkveld of North Suburban Development, Inc. is proposing development of Ramsey Commons 2nd Addition. The subdivision is comprised of seven lots replatted from the existing four lots currently known as Ramsey Commons. Ramsey Commons 2nd Addition will be bordered by County Road #5 and the Sunny Ponds Subdivision to the east. The urban lots will be accessed by extending 148th Lane N.W. from Sunny Ponds Subdivision as a cul-de-sac. Observations: Particularly because this subdivision will be accessed from Sunny Ponds, recreational opportunities afforded Sunny Ponds residents will also be utilized by those in Ramsey Commons 2nd. As you recall, the City has insured a neighborhood-sized play lot in the southeast portion of Sunny Ponds Subdivision. This park space, in addition to a potential future controlled intersection at Sunfish Lake Drive N.W., should either provide adequate park space or facilitate it (i.e., accessing the City's future trail system or the elementary school grounds from the aforementioned intersection and County Road #5). A provision should be made to accommodate non-motorized traffic from the cul-de-sac and the neighboring lots to County Road #5. Reasons are as follows: 1) Walkers to school or elsewhere will likely trespass through backyards anyway. 2) The residential parcel, south of Ramsey Commons and east of County Road #5, may someday become a convenience store or similar, exacerbating Item #1. 3) A walkway directly west of the cul-de-sac would align with the existing 148th Lane N.W. which is a proposed trail access point. The premise of the above recommendation is embodied in Item #7 of the City Staff Review Letter dated December 28, 1992. Elsewhere, the letter suggests that likely wetland mitigation could occur on both sides of the 35 ft. public use strip to provide buffer between land uses and to improve aesthetics~ Further, Item #7 reads "The value of this land dedication and construction improvement will then be credited towards the cash balance due in accordance with City Code." This paved walkway will be a required improvement. Because it is not identified in the City's Trail Corridor Plan and it is a connecting link, this required improvement is not subject to park dedication credit. The City may consider allowing a minimal amount of the expected wetland mitigation to occur within the 35 ft. public use area. This, however, would be subject to utility maintenance requirements and Staff approval. Also under required improvements would be landscape screening. Particularly because of the traffic intensity of County Road #5, the developer should consider tree planting for screening and noise reduction from County Road #5 for those lots abutting it. The developer should also consider tree planting for screening to compliment the proposed walkway. The Commission, should it desire, may require the developer to provide such plantings whether for screening or aesthetics when property is to be dedicated as park.