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prbm20010409a MINUTES INFORMATIONAL PUBLIC HEARING PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD CITY OF MUSKEGO April 9, 2001 Subject to Approval at Next Meeting The Parks and Recreation Board, City of Muskego, held an informational public hearing on Monday, April 9, 2001, to allow all concerned citizens an opportunity to express their opinions on the proposed development of Park Arthur. Park Arthur is located at S63W17833 College Drive, Muskego, Wisconsin. The hearing was held at Muskego City Hall, W182S8200 Racine Avenue, Muskego, Wisconsin. Board President Whipple called the hearing to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Ms. Debbie Carlson, Mr. Jerald Hulbert, Ms. Kelly Koble, Ald. Butch Le Doux, Mr. Richard Manchester, Mr. Howard Schneider, Mr. Toby Whipple, and Director Craig Anderson. Also, in attendance, Mr. Sean McMullen, City Engineer. He was present to answer any questions. Guests: See attached sign-in sheet. Director Anderson gave a brief presentation on the conceptual plan for Park Arthur. The first phase for the park is fill. They will be bringing in about 72,000 cubic yards of fill--52,000 cubic yards will be used to level out the park and 20,000 cubic yard will be used to expand the sledding hill This will be the first phase and targeted to start sometime in June of this year. Grading and fine grading would take place before the area is grass seeded. Storm water plans don't have to be on the conceptual plan. For the east side of the park, a 50-car, asphalt parking lot, 108'x157', a 85'x200hockey rink with side boards and netting at each goal end, a 35'x70' pavilion with bathrooms, a well for water located near the pavilion, a tot-lot playground roughly 2,000 square feet, two future baseball fields--on the diagram provided--from home plate to center field is about 424', an archery range 100'x150', and the sledding hill which will be increased by 20,000 cubic yards. Eventually there will be a path from the parking lot to the sledding hill with connections point to the pavilion, tot-lot and ball diamond. On the west side of the park, there will be another 50-car, asphalt parking lot, a tot-lot playground, one regulation 360'x225' soccer field. Also, a future, 240'x150' U-10 soccer field and 2 future 180'x120' U-8 soccer fields will be completed. There will be one future 50-car parking lot and once that is built there would be a 15' wide access drive connecting both parking lots. For the future, also, a boardwalk through the environmental corridor will be constructed for an east-west access for people to walk from one side of the park to the other side of the park. Mr. Robert Janke (S63W17271 College Avenue) who owns the property east of the park. He has a boarding stable. He expressed his concern on the location of the archery range being so close to the horses and could foresee some problem with stray arrows. The other concern was that there would be a cyclone fence on the property. Children may want to go and pet the horses and get kicked or bit. There is also an electric fence on his property and children could get shocked. Donald Kehring (S63W17781 College Avenue) voiced his concern that it was never brought to his attention that his property was surrounded by parkland. He felt he could not sell this property due to this factor. He could not see bringing in people from other communities. A fence would be great but he would like a privacy fence, which he can't afford. He was very upset that no one bought the park to his attention when he brought the property. Mr. Hulbert responded that the previous owner had elected not to sell to the city and was aware of the parkland around the property. Mr. Kehring did not see why it had to be such an elaborate park as there were other parks in the city. He felt it Informational Hearing/Park Arthur, Monday, April 9, 2001 2 would be an invite to ball leagues and the area would be like Calhoun Park. He could see a smaller park, a park of this size is nothing but trouble. Norman Frahm (W180S6575 Hardtke Drive) mentioned the terrible parking around Idle Isle Park. Further, he concurred with Mr. Kehring about the parking problem at Calhoun Park. The Board needs to do something about parking. He asked if they would be widening Lentini Drive? President Whipple responded not at this time. The city doesn't own property all the way to Martin Drive. They have bought some property but do not have total access. Right now the access is off of College Avenue. John Huebner (W181S6397 Lentini Road) wanted to know the time frame for the west side of the area. Director Anderson responded that in June is when the fill will be coming into the park area. Right now there is plans for the regulation soccer field. Mr. Huebner when access to Martin Drive will happen? President Whipple said that it depends when the property becomes available for sale. Mr. Huebner questioned if there were plans for some kind of buffer between the residential properties and the access road? Director Anderson stated that is the purpose for the meeting to get feedback from the citizens if they want landscaping. Other park neighbors have been selecting what they want for personal reasons. Mr. Hulbert said that along Lentini Road, berming might be possible if the residents want it. They would be looking at a consistency along the park borders. He mentioned that at the last hearing some expressed some concern that berming would create a problem with the natural drainage. Mr. Huebner asked if the Board members had considered the traffic flow on Lentini? President Whipple said this had been discussed and there is no doubt that Lentini will be one of the roads people use to get to the park. Mr. Huebner inquired if they had considered speed bumps as there should be something done to control the traffic? Board members pointed out that the speeding on Lentini was an enforcement issue for the police. Mr. Schneider mentioned that one reason they wanted access to Martin was to help alleviate traffic on Lentini. Jim Postler (S63W18011 College Avenue) voiced his concern regarding the parking lot. His residence is within 180' of the parking lot. The access road would be within 50' of his property. Is the parking lot going to be lit? President Whipple informed him that there are no plans to light it. Mr. Postler mentioned that last night the area set aside for the parking lot was filled with water. President Whipple stated the city would be responsible for maintaining the drainage in the park. City Engineer McMullen mentioned the ordinance that is in place regarding drainage. They cannot put the additional storm water on to other properties. Mr. Postler asked how many truckloads would be involved with bringing in the fill? City Engineer McMullen estimated about 16,500 truckloads. The trucks would be coming from the Superior Emerald Park Landfill and using College Avenue. Mr. Postler would also like trees on top a berm to prevent the balls going into his yard and also serve as a means to keep the children out of the private property surrounding the park. He wasn't against the park. He would like to be kept informed of what is going on with the development. A gentleman, who resides on the corner of Martin and Hardtke, mentioned the drainage problem in the area. There is a culvert that goes underground and the ditch keeps getting clogged with water. It goes over his driveway. City Engineer McMullen was aware of the problem. Once this park is developed, the problem should lessen as it would have to do with retaining and releasing the water at a slower rate. This was an issue outside the realm of the Parks and Recreation Board to resolve. Another gentleman questioned the park hours? President Whipple answered 5:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. The hours are subject to change, but now those are still the hours. Director Anderson clarified that Idle Isle has different hours due to the launch. Informational Hearing/Park Arthur, Monday, April 9, 2001 3 Paula Michlig (W180S6358 Lentini Road) asked about the mess on the road when the trucks start hauling the fill? City Engineer McMullen responded that they would have to put stone tracking pads in, 60'x100' which should take care of some of the tracking. She further mentioned that the access road would be in the back of her yard and therefore, she would have traffic there as well as traffic from Lentini Road. She did not like the idea of cars driving behind her house. President Whipple explained that that is a service road for the parks crew. Director Anderson said the access road could be gated to prevent access by others. She also brought up the speed issue and making Lentini Road a one- way street. City Engineer McMullen responded to her concerns as these were not within the realm of the Parks and Recreation Board jurisdiction. Dani Oster (S63W14861 Garden Terrace) brought up the subject of bathrooms. If the pavilion is going to have bathrooms then they should be accessible to the people using the park. As it is right now, the bathrooms at the city parks are not opened. Children have to go home or relieve themselves in other places in the parks. She also asked if they plan on having a drinking fountain at the park? Will it be available at all times? Children cannot use the bathrooms at this time. She felt if money is going to be spent on the park, the bathrooms should be available at all times. Director Anderson said the Board members have discussed the issue of having the bathrooms open. Vandalism is the problem. She also questioned if the playgrounds were going to be for ages 2-5 and 5-12, or mixed ages? Would it be something like Kurth Park, which is great, or some other parks which isn't? Director Anderson indicated they would be new equipment for both age groups. One gentleman inquired if it would be an alcohol-free park? President Whipple replied that they are required to file a permit for the department's approval. Another gentleman asked when there was going to be final approval of the plan? Director Anderson stated that the final plan, including the storm water plan, has to go before the Plan Commission. Right now the Board is concerned about getting the primary phase, at least, that they could get to the parking lot and hockey rink by this winter. This, too, would have to go before Plan Commission and when it does, they could be notified. Board Members Comments: Ms. Carlson mentioned the Board has discussed the issue of having the bathrooms open during park hours and the drinking water available. Mr. Manchester said that he was hoping to convince the Board and the city fathers that instead of using the money for the civic center to use the money for improvement on the current facilities. Mr. Schneider's concern was the 16,000 dump trucks going down College Avenue and wants to make sure that will not be a safety issue. He would also want to make sure that when it rains, the fill is not washing down to the lake. He would like to have an erosion plan, a drainage plan, and a good grading plan. Mr. Manchester mentioned that during his construction years, the truck tires must be cleaned and not tracking on to the roads. Alderman Le Doux assumed this to be a 3-5-year project. Informational Hearing/Park Arthur, Monday, April 9, 2001 4 Ms. Koble agreed with the woman about the bathrooms being accessible and, also, the public's concern about the traffic on Lentini. She hoped that something could be worked out, possibly with Moorland Road going sooner. Mr. Whipple thanked the people for coming to the hearing and voicing their concerns. The Board plans to start development on the northeast corner with the hockey rink and the parking lot. The public hearing adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Stella Dunahee, CPS Recording Secretary pc: Board Members, Director Anderson email: Mayor, Aldermen, Department Heads, Parks Supervisor, Recreation Supervisors