| Weighing the options on a second annexation |
By: DAVID HENKE, Staff Writer
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Posted: Saturday, November 21, 2009 12:18 am
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A portion of Heath Creek, which would be incorporated into the city if Northfield and Bridgewater Township agree to an annexation, flows undisturbed on Thursday afternoon.
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The call went out, and the recommendations have come pouring back in.
At its meeting on Sept. 14, the Northfield City Council asked three of its boards and commissions to weigh in on the proposed annexation of 456 acres of land in Bridgewater Township owned by Kenneth Prawer and Robert Gill.
This week, the city got its answers — from a few expected sources, and at least one unexpected one. The information the boards returned to the council will be reviewed at the Planning Commission’s meeting Tuesday. It will also inform the council’s decision in January whether to approve the annexation or not.
Here’s what the Northfield Environmental Quality Commission, the Economic Development Authority, the Parks and Recreation board and a group of worried citizens have to say about the city’s plan to expand.
Environmental Quality Commission
Although the Northfield EQC refrained from explicitly approving or rejecting the annexation, the group strongly believes that any conservation or preservation efforts should be focused on the southeastern portion of the Prawer-Gill property. According to the group, the near-convergence of Spring Brook — also known as Rice Creek — and Heath Creek as they approach the Cannon River leaves little room for watershed-friendly development.
“That little piece, I think, is actually the most important part for us,” said EQC board member George Kinney. “Whatever happens out there must protect the integrity of both streams, but especially the Spring Brook trout stream.”
The group also advocated the use of buffer strips around the streams. The buffer strips around the streams could also serve as wildlife corridors.
Economic Development Authority
The decision to recommend the annexation of Prawer and Gill’s property did not come easily for the Northfield Economic Development Authority.
On Thursday, the EDA approved, 4-2, a pared-down letter recommending the city annex the land.
Board member Victor Summa and EDA Vice President Steve Engler both voted against the measure, saying that the board did not have adequate time to review and discuss the information presented by the city staff to the board concerning the property.
The EDA’s recommendation also contains information compiled by the city staff regarding the infrastructure costs and anticipated revenue of the business park, were it to be developed.
According to the analysis, the cost of extending sanitary sewer lines to the area would be in the ballpark of $2.5 to $3 million, and the outstanding debt for the construction would be financed by the connection fees collected from developers in the park. The analysis also recommended installing oversized pipes in the sewer system to accommodate any future development, at a cost of $100,000.
But those costs are more than met by the potential revenue the fully developed site would generate, according to the analysis. The potential yearly revenue for the city, if the site is developed for industrial or light industrial use, would be roughly $4.8 million. Water, utility fees and property tax revenue are included in that estimate.
NORTHFIELD PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
As long as the city remains faithful to its Greenway Corridor Plan approved by the City Council in 2007 and incorporated into the city’s comprehensive plan, the Parks and Rec Board is in favor of the annexation, Chairman Rick Vanasek said.
Falling in line with the Greenway Corridor Plan, the board asks that the city create natural corridors that follow the length of Heath Creek and Spring Brook as they run through the proposed annexation.
Like the EQC, the board also feels that the city should focus its conservation and environmental protection efforts near the Cannon River. Any parkland dedicated should be located adjacent to Sechler Park to create one contiguous park system, according to the board’s recommendations.
“For the last several years, we’ve been making an attempt to establish a park system to for the community, rather than a collection of parks scattered about the community,” Vanasek said.
RICE CREEK (SPRING BROOK) CONCERNED CITIZENS GROUP
The last set of recommendations submitted to the city comes from an unexpected source: area residents concerned about the fate of the county’s only naturally reproducing trout stream, Spring Brook.
Their report, unsolicited by the City Council, asks for a more stringent set of environmental regulations on the annexed property, including continual monitoring of the water quality in both waterways, improvements in the water quality of the streams — both are currently listed as ‘impaired’ under the Minnesota Pollution Control Act — and the rehabilitation of wetlands on the property.
As with the EQC, this group did not come out in favor or against the proposed annexation — but group member Paul Jackson, who helped author the report, feels that development and concern for the environment are not mutually exclusive, if the planning is done carefully.
“If you make change, you better make the right kind of change, other you’re going to lose that resource,” said Jackson, who is also the chair of the Environmental Studies Department at St. Olaf College.
— David Henke covers city, business and youth issues. He can be reached at dhenke@northfieldnews.com or 645-1100.
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To view a copy of the Concerned citizens' report on proposed annexation, click here |
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Guidelines: Welcome to the Northfield News community. Please keep your comments civil. Don't attack other readers personally and keep your language decent. If you would like to report abuse click here to notify us.
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Member Opinions:
By: Patrick_Enders on 11/23/09
The city board reports are posted in the packet for the Planning Commission meeting. Any chance that you could post a PDF of the 'RICE CREEK (SPRING BROOK) CONCERNED CITIZENS GROUP' report here?
By: deacond on 11/23/09
I am all for the acquisiton for the positive economic development that will come. As far as protectiing the environment of the streams, it seems Bridgewater management of the streams has failed. There are growing levels of phosphorus and e-coli in the streams. Left to Bridgewater's continuing management practices it will continue to grow worse. Put it under the city of Northfield with management by the concerned Boards and we can protect and enhance the streams while we reap the economic benefits.
By: NNSuzy on 11/23/09
Patrick, Sorry the report wasn't posted earlier. It is now. Suzy
By: Patrick_Enders on 11/23/09
Thanks, Suzy! I'll be glad to have a look at it!
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