Trending
NEW ULM -- The Planning Commission joined the conversation about where New Ulm's next neighborhood park will be located.
The Park and Recreation Commission is currently reviewing existing and proposed park areas within the community and establishing a ranking system for future park acquisition and development efforts.
This process is intended to identify the area in greatest need of a neighborhood park. Park and Recreation Director Tom Schmitz has indicated that a neighborhood park should have three features: a shelter, playground equipment and a field area.
The staff has recommended that the Planning Commission take an active role in this process and identify the top three areas for further development.
The commission was presented with multiple maps of New Ulm with the location of eight potential park locations that were previously identified as future park areas in the 2007 Comprehensive Plan. The map also showed eight undeveloped park or property areas the Park and Recreation Department was considering for the next park. In some cases, the Comprehensive Plan list of future parks and the Park and Recreation list of potential parks overlapped. North Broadway Park Park, North Highland Park and Upper Cottonwood Street Park made both lists.
In determining the rankings, the commission was encouraged to consider the practicality of developing a park; the ability to safely travel to a park; and population density of future development.
The commission agreed population density was an important measure but was uncertain how to get accurate information.
Commissioner Mike Furth said to determine which homes have kids is difficult and is a constantly moving target.
Furth and Commissioner Michelle Sellner identified Lakeside Village Park, Upper Cottonwood Street Park and North Highland Park as their top three areas for development. Furth said he believed these areas were "islands" in the community and needed parks. He felt these locations avoided placing parks too close to railroads or a mine site.
Commissioner Anne Earl believes Maple Wood Park stood out as a neighborhood in need of park despite the gravel mining because the number of children in the area was relatively high. She also believes North Broadway Area or Lakeside Village Park should be developed, as well as Upper Cottonwood Street. Earl also believes South Market Park could be developed due to its location to apartments.
Commissioner Ashley Aukes said Upper Cottonwood Street Park made the most sense for development. She also supported North Broadway Area Park because with the Pollinator Park already in place in this area she believes this could be a destination park at one of the entrances to New Ulm. Aukes also believes South Market Park should be developed. She previously lived near this park and confirmed it was a long walk from this neighborhood to Riverside Park. Aukes also supported Maplewood Park because of the high number of homes.
Commissioner Dave Munson supported Upper Cottonwood, North Broadway and Maplewood for development.
Commissioner Larry Mack favored Upper Cottonwood, Lakeside Village and Maplewood for development.
Commissioner Cate Macho wanted the city to consider some of the partially developed or underdeveloped parks in New Ulm. She suggested more could be done with South Park or South German Park. She believes the city already has great parks, but suggested improving those already in the system. Macho also believes Upper Cottonwood could be developed but wanted to see the neighborhood grow more.
Community Development Director David Schnobrich said the staff had also independently ranked the parks for development. Staff ranking was Upper Cottonwood, Maplewood Park and South Market Park.
Based on these rankings Upper Cottonwood had the strongest support among the commissioners, Lakeside Park was second and Maplewood Park was third.
The commission decided to wait for Park and Recreation to make a recommendation before submitting a formal recommendation to the City Council.
------
City Attorney Roger Hippert gave a presentation on the duties and responsibilities of the Planning Commission. The presentation was in-part to give an overview to newly appointed members Michelle Sellner and Dave Munson, but also clarify the legal necessity the commission fills.
Hippert said as the Planning Commission is filling a quasi-judicial role. The commission's recommendation on variances, Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) and Interim Use Permits (IUPs) is not the final decision. The final decisions are made by the City Council, but in the event of a lawsuit, the courts would likely review the commission's findings. The decisions made on variances and permits needed to be based on solid findings.
Hippert said going forward, the city staff would like to have planning commission findings and reasoning for commission decisions in writing, in case a legal challenge would arise.
Later in the meeting, the commission reviewed an opinion from the Minnesota Court of Appeals involving a case in Minneapolis in which the city granted five variances and a CUP without a reasonable basis. As a result, the decision was reversed by the courts.