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Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes <br />September 11, 2024 <br />Page 3 <br />Chair Anderson asked to clarify how many acres the portion is outside the power lines. Mr. Stremcha <br />confirmed it is approximately 1.5 acres. <br />Chair Anderson then asked about C 2.0 in the packet and if the trail starts out on the north side and <br />then crosses at northeast road. He asked if the trail is all on the south side. Mr. Schmidt confirmed <br />that it would stay on the south side and that the ordinance does not require a sidewalk and that City <br />Council would determine it. <br />Mr. Stremcha then read the ordinance regarding sidewalks that was provided to the Commission as a <br />handout. Chair Anderson said the ordinance was created due to the history of not creating sidewalks <br />in the past. Councilmember Beyer said that it is usually the wish for the Council to want sidewalks. <br />Commissioner Niziolek proposed this idea of having a trail that would utilize the pedestrian traffic go <br />by the Tamarack Willow swamp. He said that he knows of several long-term community members <br />that would be concerned about the welfare of this swamp. Mr. Schmidt said that they looked at that, <br />but they did not feel like that was the right place for the trail. <br />Relative to the preservation of that area they did put the sensitive area into an out lot so that it would <br />not be part of anyone's property. It would either be given to the city or be owned by the HOA so it <br />would not be anyone's specific property. <br />Commissioner Niziolek asked if they would consider extending that property south to help protect <br />that identified significant piece of property. Mr. Schmidt said that the current use is not protecting <br />that area at all including the neighbors, and whereas the developers are doing something that would <br />protect it more than it is today. He is willing to consider extending it south to see if there are areas <br />where they could move it south but making sure that there is enough area for homeowners to use. He <br />can discuss this with their engineers. <br />The green highlighted trail on the map is the location of where the trail will be on the south side. <br />Commissioner Niziolek said that ideally there would be a collector trail system in this area according <br />to the trail master plan and this does not seem to have that. He said this one seems to cross a lot of <br />driveways so it does not really work as a collector trail but if it was it would have potential to be able <br />to collect members of the community and draw them to the Great Northern Trail. <br />Mr. Schmidt recognizes the idea of this being a collector trail. He pointed out it that it is a significantly <br />more expensive trail considering it is a rural section. He does not know how to get around crossing <br />driveways without it being a cluster development, but he was told that is not what is of interest out <br />here. He said the distance between the driveways is vast compared to a regular neighborhood. <br />Commissioner Niziolek said then this cannot be a collector trail with this many driveways and current <br />design, it would just be a sidewalk. <br />Mr. Stremcha asked if the commission would consider having the developer modify the trail to run <br />through the Burr Oak property and past the storm water pond and then come through the rear of the <br />properties and then run north? Commissioner Niziolek said that he does not believe that would be of <br />much value with only cutting out five homes. Chair Anderson said by creating a 10-foot-wide <br />sidewalk he said they are creating a long-term maintenance concern versus whatever sidewalk the <br />P01EOEO er <br />I'ATUR <br />