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Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Page 6 <br />August 14, 2024 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />The frontage of the property along highway 10 is about a mile and there is also about a mile of <br />riverfront. <br /> <br />Capstone Homes has been working with several communities including St. Michael on building a park <br />right in the middle of their community. Their goal is to have a residential community with access to <br />the river and provide opportunities for city residents of Elk River to walk or ride their bike to the <br />river. The plan calls for about 500-600 homes. The Legacy Bay community in St. Michael is what they <br />are using as inspiration with most of the homes located inward from the river to keep them at an <br />affordable price. <br /> <br />They have been looking at a boat launch option for the river as well. He went over the park space. <br />There would be another potential trail that would connect to the Oliver Kelley Farm. DNR approval <br />would be necessary for the lower flood plain. They have worked with them before on the St. Michael <br />project. <br /> <br />Mr. Bono explained that the next steps would be to gather feedback from today and offer a tour of <br />the St. Michael housing community they worked on, and then onto the City Council to keep moving <br />forward with the master concept plan. <br /> <br />Chair Anderson asked about the water way and if it would be for storm water. Mr. Bono confirmed it <br />would be. It would be a wet bottom pond that would drain into the river. Chair Anderson asked <br />about the size of it and if it would sustain the size they are thinking. Mr. Bono confirmed he believed <br />that it would. The developers wanted a trail off the road and near water. <br /> <br />Commissioner Niziolek said that having a trail on the bluff top along the entire development would <br />be a premier trail. He also recommends that the developers, family, city staff, commissioners, and <br />other land interest groups to see if they could make something happen as far as a trail on the bluff <br />top. These groups could include the Friends of the Mississippi, MN Land Trust, and the Trust for <br />Public Lands. <br /> <br />Chair Anderson asked to see the trail master plan again, pointing out the Mississippi River trail <br />concept and said it could be one of the best trails ever. He also shared that previous collaborations <br />with the land interest groups that Commissioner Niziolek mentioned have given great results. <br /> <br />Chair Anderson said that the idea of a park down by the Mississippi is fabulous and incorporating a <br />bluff trail would be incredible. He told Mr. Bono that it sounds like a quality development they are <br />striving for. <br /> <br />Mr. Bono pointed out where the road and boat launch option is on the plans on the upper part of the <br />map. It would be like the one in Anoka. <br /> <br />Chair Anderson said he and the Trust for Public Land have already been on the site already and if <br />there is any way that the bluff could be restored to oak savannah it would be incredible. He also <br />explained what the Trust for Public Land is and how they assist in acquiring land. They assisted in the <br />acquisition of the William H. Houlton conservation area. <br /> <br />Page 14 of 84