2005-12-30 Friday NewsOn Wednesday night of this week Lambert Derk's had a mild heart attack. He went to United
Hospital where it was discovered that he had 4 arteries that were 90% blocked. They have put
two stints in to open the worst two blockages, and when several of us visited him on Thursday he
was already feeling significantly better. The other two stints could be installed as early as today.
Lambert told us that this is only the second time that he has been to a hospital the other time was
to have his tonsils removed when he was 21. He said that two times was enough, he does not
intend to ever return. We all wish Lambert a speedy recovery. (NOTE: Lambert authorized me
to send this message.)
GRANDMA KATHY
Kathy Swanson became a grandmother for the second time this week when her son Mike had a
daughter named Avery Marie. Avery weighted in at 6 lb. 14 oz. and was 19%2 inch long. Kathy
has not been able to even get close to the baby yet because she has had a terrible cough.
A NEW FffREFICHTER ARIUVES
Congratulations go out to Tom and Sarah Shields who adopted a little girl from Guatemala. Her
name is Damaris Sandra Shields. Sarah Shields told me that it took them about 16 months to
finish the paper work and complete the process. Her and Tom traveled to Guatemala in
September to see Damaris and then were able to bring her home over Thanksgiving when she
was 51/2 months old. Damaris is a very healthy, happy baby girl. She was cared for by a
wonderful foster mother in Guatemala from her birth to when they brought her home. Damaris
was not in an orphanage. Each month from July — November, they received photos, medical
reports and status of the adoption status from the attorney in Guatemala who sent the information
to Children's Home Society and then to them. They received about 10 photos a month and
detailed info on what medical care she received, immunizations, weight, height and overall
health. We wish them the best with their new arrival.
MHAA — FUTURE PROJECTS
Friday morning Mike Kuenster, Scott Applebaum and Mike Miller from the Mendota Heights
Athletic Association met with City staff (Guy & Terry) to discuss various ball field maintenance
issues and possible future ball field improvement projects. New MHAA Commissioners often
are unaware which City staff member to contact for assistance or coordination of field usage and
this meeting should open up direct lines of communications between MHAA and City staff.
Terry came away with a short list of maintenance items he will address in early spring prior to
the start up of baseball tryouts. Also discussed were several improvement projects, some of
which require further research by MHAA, but several projects may be presented to the Park
Commission in the near future. Projects discussed for the Civic Center ball field are a hooded
backstop, shelters over the player's benches, upgrades to the field sprinkler system, moving the
outfield fence inward towards the infield twenty-five feet which would provide space outside the
outfield fence for a batting cage, scoreboard, and practice pitching mounds. At Mendakota Park
scoreboards are also desired as well as a small storage building for MHAA and City supplies and
equipment that could possibly be located at the south end of the existing batting cage.
CITY PARTY
Mark your calendars for the Annual City Holiday Party as it is scheduled for Friday, January
20th. This year's party will again be held at the Pool and Yacht Club and will begin after work at
4:30 p.m.
NEW YEARS
This Sunday is New Years Day, so employees receive Monday off as their holiday and City
Offices will be closed.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Danielson
Attachments: Pipeline, Twincities.com Article "Planners vote to amend city plan" and Obituary
for James J. Vitelli (Jack Vitelli's uncle).
NO
The Parks Crew installed "thin ice" warning signs on Rogers Lake for
the aeration system. They plowed the cul-de-sacs, pedways, rinks and
parking lots. They checked the warming houses and rinks daily. With
the weather permitting they flooded the rinks. With the warm weather
recently the rinks aren't in the best of shape, but are good for boot
hockey.
Rich changed out the heater at the Centre Pointe Lift Station. He also
plowed the cul-de-sacs this week.
Application for State Aid monies was sent in this week for the Town
Center project.
Have a safe and happy New YeaW
Planners vote to amend city plan
Posted on Thu, Dec. 29, 2005
Page 1 of 2
Planners vote to amend city plan
ClIty steps closer to -ending ? vrsuit vim» h Carriage Huls: developer; council to consider arnencirrient in January
BY VMRICELLA MIRANDA
Pioneer press
The city of Eagan came closer to ending a lawsuit Tuesday with a developer who wants to build a housing development
on one of the city's last privately owned green spaces.
After three hours of debate and public comments, the city's planning commission recommended the city amend its
comprehensive plan to designate the former Carriage Hills golf course land to be a part of a "special area plan." There
are seven other areas in Eagan that have been assigned as a special area plan.
The amendment passed 4-3 because the new proposed plan included a nine -hole golf course and gave the city more
control over the development since it would be in a special area plan. Commissioners Ted Gladhill, Jenifer Matthees and
Dana Keeley voted against it because they wanted to preserve the green space in Eagan and didn't want to see the area
developed for housing.
"The proposal on its own adds a lot to the city of Eagan as a whole," said Commission Chairwoman Carla Heyl. "We can
appreciate the neighbors being close to a development with houses, but we're the planning commission for all the
citizens in Eagan."
The commission recommended the amendment with a few conditions: the developer has to add more green space,
include an access on the south, and build fewer units and lots, Heyl said. An upcoming environmental assessment study
will suggest proper drainage areas, wetland retention and adequate green space amounts.
The City Council will decide whether to approve the amendment in January. If they do, the Metropolitan Council then will
consider any regional impact for amending the comprehensive plan. If the Met Council foresees none, the City Council
will implement the change and then consider rezoning the area. However, if the City Council decides not to approve the
amendment, the city can continue appealing the lawsuit.
"If we proceed with the appeal and lose, it would be worse than having local control with the outcome," said Eagan
Community Development Director Jon Hohenstein.
Eagan -based Wensmann Realty Inc. plans to build 480 housing units — condominiums, town houses and single-family
houses — while preserving 30 acres of the 120 -acre site for an executive nine -hole public course. The property, located
off Yankee Doodle Road on Wescott Woodlands Drive, is now zoned for parks and recreation and holds an 18 -hole golf
course.
About 60 people attended the planning commission meeting. Many wanted the city to continue with the lawsuit appeal.
Residents expressed concerns about retention of green space, housing density, traffic and the number of students
moving into the Burnsville -Eagan -Savage school district.
Resident Dan Bailey said this development could be a precedent in Eagan for two other privately owned golf courses.
Those owners might want to develop their land to make a profit, too, Bailey said.
"The hopes and dreams of the community years from now are going to be (dashed)," Bailey said. "Once that open space
is gone, it will be gone forever."
Eagan had fought the development since August 2004, when the City Council denied Wensmann's plan to rezone the 40 -
year -old public course. Some residents previously formed an investment group to try to buy the land.
After the City Council and planning commission rejected the initial Carriage Hills development plans 18 months ago, the
owner, Rahn Family LP and Wensmann sued the council in district court to try to force Eagan to change the zoning to
permit housing. Rahn closed the course last year and said he wanted to sell it because it was losing hundreds of
thousands of dollars annually.
http://www.twincities. comlmldltwincitieslnews/local/stateslminnesotalcountiesldakotaI13 ... 12/30/2005
Planners vote to amend city plan
Page 2 of 2
Eagan officials have said the city could not afford to buy the course — and did not want to raise property taxes to do so.
Neighborhood investors never made public what they could offer for the property, but have disputed Rahn's contention
that the course could not have been a moneymaker.
In April, District Judge Patrice Sutherland ruled against Eagan and ordered the city to either amend its comprehensive
plan and the property's zoning or begin eminent domain proceedings to buy the 18 -hole course. Sutherland ruled that
the city's denial of development amounted to taking the course without paying for it.
The city took the case before the Minnesota Court of Appeals in May, arguing that it must protect the integrity of its
comprehensive land -use plan.
"We think the guide plan is worth fighting for," the council wrote at the time.
City officials have said they worry if the council went forward with its appeal and lost, it would set a binding precedent
throughout the state for a loss of local planning control. They also have said the course purchase price was such that if
the city tried to buy it, there'd be no money left to protect other parcels.
Maricella Miranda can be reached at mmiranda@pioneer press.com or 651-228-5421.
If you go
The Eagan City Council will consider Jan. 17 whether to amend the city's comprehensive plan for a controversial housing
development to be built on the former Carriage Hills golf course land.
http://www.twincities. comlmldltwincities/news/local/stateslminnesotalcountiesldakotal l 3 ... 12/30/2005
Obituaries I Death Notices I Newspaper Obituaries I Online Obituaries I Newspaper Death ... Page 1 of 1
JAMES J. VITELLI
TV)vNien GimstRook
Vitelli, James J. Age 79 Died December 28, 2005 Preceded in death by wife, Roberta; parents, Jim and
Carmen; brother, Tony; sister, Virginia Edmondson. Survived by brothers, Nicholas, John, Victor; sisters,
Anne Kjelland, Plerine Moy, Rosemary Clausen; many nieces and nephews. Jim served as sacristan at
Assumption Church. Mass of Christian Burial Friday, December 30 at ASSUMPTION CHURCH, 51 West
Seventh St., St. Paul. Visitation at church one hour prior to service. In lieu of flowers, memorials
preferred. Private burial at National Cem-etery. Arr. O'HALLORAN & MURPHY FUNERAL. NOME, (651) 698-
0796.
Published in the Pioneer Press on 12./29/2005.
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