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Conservation Commission -Minutes-20050802 Conservation Commission Approved 12/7/05 City of Muskego Minutes of Meeting Held on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 Len Pilak called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Present were Commission members Howard Schneider, Gary Stewart, Ted Decker, William Miller and Conservation Coordinator Tom Zagar and those per the attached list. Alderman Patterson arrived at 7:17 P.M. Henry Posbrig was absent. Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting was posted on July 26, 2005 in accordance with the open meeting law. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES – A motion was made by Ted Decker to approve the Conservation Commission minutes of February 7, 2005, June 21, 2005 and Urban Forestry Committee minutes of July 29, 2004 en gross. Seconded by Howard Schneider and carried by all. Business items were taken out of order to accommodate petitioners. OLD BUSINESS DISCUSS USES AND SIGNAGE FOR ENGEL CONSERVATON PROPERTY – Jerry Hulbert and Kelly Koble of Parks & Recreation Board appeared before the Commission requesting to allow horses (an equestrian trail) as one of the uses on the Engel Property. Howard Schneider stated the Parks & Recreation Board created an equestrian sub-committee, and Jerry Hulbert and Kelly Koble are members of the committee. After further discussion, the Commissioners agreed to allow horse/equestrian trail as one of the uses. Len Pilak stated the list of uses is not concrete at this time and changes can be made. Kelly Koble would like the Commissioners to address this request in the beginning instead of later. Kelly Koble requested to receive an agenda for upcoming meetings. Jerry Hulbert also a teacher at the Muskego-Norway School District would be interested in coordinating with Tom Zagar the use of the building for educational purposes on the Engel Property. NEW BUSINESS BILL McCORMICK – POTENTIAL EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT: INVASIVE MANAGEMENT TRAIL DEVELOPMENT AT ENGEL PROPERTY- Eagle Scout Bill McCormick appeared before the Commissioners and is interested in an eagle scout project that could be done at the newly acquired Engel Property. Tom Zagar suggested a possible project could be installing trails, signage, and laying woodchips. Howard Schneider motioned to accept Bill McCormick’s offer to help put in the trails at the Engel Property; seconded by Gary Stewart and carried by all. Tom Zagar will meet with Bill McCormick to set up a timeline and direction for the project. Gary Stewart questioned funding for this project. Tom Zagar stated funding would come from the conservation budget to develop this property. OLD BUSINESS CONTINUED TOUR OF ENGEL PROPERTY AND BLUHM PARK – Tom Zagar encouraged Commissioners to visit the site. Conservation Commission Meeting August 2, 2005 Page 2 EROSION CONTROL PROJECT ON HOLZ ISLAND - LITTLE MUSKEGO LAKE – Tom Zagar plans to send in for permits and start this project this fall. Funding for this project would come from the 2006 Conservation Budget along with the funds from the Little Muskego Lake Association. DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OF ENGEL CONSERVATION PROPERTY – Refer to New Business. CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR THE RIDGES CONSERVATION LANDS LOCATED IN THE SE ¼ OF SECTION 6- Tom Zagar informed the Commission that Ron Ford’s attorney has the easement documents for review. After comments are received, a draft conservation easement will be developed for Conservation Commission review then forwarded to Common Council for approval. Commissioners asked Tom Zagar to send a letter to Ron Ford and continue to move forward with this item. DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING TREE MITIGATION – Tom Zagar has contacted other municipalities and is compiling information for a future meeting to discuss revising tree mitigation code. This item will remain on the agenda. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED REVIEW AND ADOPT CONSERVATION WORK PLAN – Tom Zagar reviewed with the Commissioners the adopted Conservation Work Plan Timeline 2004-2008. Gary Stewart motioned to approve the adopted conservation work plan; seconded by Bill Miller and carried by all. REVIEW AND ADOPT A SITE PLAN FOR ENGEL PROPERTY – Tom Zagar discussed the draft plans and timeline of what has occurred so far on the Engel Property. One item in the timeline showed that the city would receive funds of $137,000.00 from the WRP Wetland Restoration on the Engel Property. Gary Stewart questioned what the funds would be used for. Alderman Patterson stated the funds are added to a general account and the Finance Committee would decide how the funds are spent. Gary Stewart thought the funds should be used for conservation purposes since this is a windfall of funds from the conservation property. Alderman Patterson stated the Commissioners would have to request to the Finance Committee that the funds be spent on conservation purposes only. This will be taken up at the next Conservation Commission. Alderman Patterson motioned to adopt the site plan for Engel Property; seconded by Gary Stewart and carried by all. Further discussion occurred regarding the fate of the house at the Engel property. Tom Zagar stated, in conversation with the Mayor, it was decided to spend the minimal amount of funds to heat the building during the winter months so that the building does not dilapidate until a decision can be made on whether to renovate it into a support structure. REVIEW PRELIMINARY PLAT OF RUSTIC TRAILS SUBDIVISION – The Commissioners approved a conservation subdivision concept plan for this subdivision at the February 7, 2005 meeting and forwarded to Plan Commission. Several neighboring residents attended the Common Council meeting and opposed the plan and it was denied. Therefore the Developer has proposed a conventional subdivision of 2.75-acre lots. Tom Zagar stated that this will fragment habitat and impact the woodlands on the property. Discussion ensued on minimizing tree loss. Alderman Patterson made a motion recommending Plan Commission to restrict Conservation Commission Meeting August 2, 2005 Page 3 the clearing of trees to building pads and driveway access in efforts to minimize tree loss; seconded by Gary Stewart and carried by all. REVIEW PRELIMINARY PLAT OF OAKRIDGE GLEN SUBDIVISION – This subdivision is located west of Janesville Road and northeast of Martin Drive. It was noted that this is not a conservation subdivision but contains woods in a high priority area on the Conservation Map. Len Pilak motioned to recommend that lots 32, 33, 34 be added to outlot 1 and to restrict tree clearing to building pad areas on the other wooded lots of the plat; seconded by Howard Schneider and carried by all. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS- Nothing new to report. MEETING DATE- At this time the Commission did not set the next meeting date. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business to discuss, Howard Schneider moved to adjourn; seconded by Len Pilak and carried by all. Meeting adjourned at 8:47 PM. Kim Chavie Recording Secretary