Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 04/08/2004

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Principal City Engineer Olson state, t it was recommended the Commission go forward with the Ramsey Town ('eh[er LLC proposal so construction could begin at Town Center East and South Parks in 2004, at Town Center Wesi: P:.~,rk in 2005 and on grading and the sledding hill at North Park in 2006 or 2007. Commissioner Olds asked il' the ¢1,500 given toward the park included townhomes. He questioned if it wot, Id be given per t~ome or per lot. Principal City l!ngincer Ols;on resl onded the Building Official stated each townhouse would receive its own building pemfit; ho ~w:ver, a condominium would not. Higher density buildings would not receive lhe additional mo ~ey per unit but he was not willing to speculate further at this point. Commissioncl" Old.'; asked if that mc m~t $1,500 xvould be received per building. Principal City Engi.neer Olson respo,'~dcd that was his understanding. Commissioner l,ehn]an aslc¢:d al)out the amphitheater. Principal City l~ngineer Olson resl,omied it would be located in Town Center Park East and would be a very large concrete circle tl ~at would provide for activities, along with a gentle slope uphill. The estimated cost was $3( 0~000 and construction of road and walks would cost less if completed as part o [' thc pr0iect. Commissioner l~eh man askt,d how ~mch open space and seating would be available. Principal City Engineer Oison res,)onded he was not sure; however, staff had looked at the Edinborough l~ark amphitht:ater, wl dch was relatively small, and its seating capacity was 300 to 400 people. The (2ity's amphithe~,~er 'would be much bigger and, in addition, it was intended lawn seating also be available. Bruce Jacobsm~, Close Landscape Architecture, stated his firm was currently "working the drawings," as walkways and a co~n )ination of seating and lawn areas were being presented with the entire surrounding area being :;onsidered part of the amphitheater. Additional seating on hillsides and th~: promena(k: would 9rovide informal seating for many hundreds of people; on the other hand, seating could bc quite i~,tin~ate. Mr. Jacobson disc~ssed th~: area h~: thought would be the best location for the amphitheater, if funding allowed. Chairperson Jolms noted it -,~/as nic~ to see four of the six top priorities included. Chairperson Johns stated she was /er? comfortable with how the proposal was written and, in addition, the Commission could maXc approval contingent on inclusion of the four priorities. Park and I~ecreation Commission/April 8, 2004 Page 3 of 21