West Calhoun Neighborhood Association
Monthly Meeting Minutes
Bakken Museum
Date: April 9, 2019
Called to order: 6:00pm
Presided by: Allan Campbell, Chair
Note taker: Anna Schmitz
In attendance: Allan Campbell, Richard Logan, Paul Legler, John Bordwell, Lynette Davis, Kate Redden, Michael Sanders, Victoria Hoshal, Jeff Idelkope
Absent: Martha Yunker
Guests: David Davies – Met Council; Planning team – Lake & Excelsior hotel project
Earth Day Clean Up on April 20th
Upcoming transportation workshop April 22nd at Central Library from 4-6pm
Approval of March minutes – Minutes shared via email
- Approved
John Bordwell elected as treasurer by e-vote between March and April meetings
Treasurer Report – Report shared via email
- Further rollover of past funds likely to come
Discussion of candidate for new coordinator
- Allan and Lynette met with Molly Fleming and spoke with supervisor, would recommend for position
- Would need to move board meeting dates to avoid conflict with East Isles
- Approved to move ahead with hiring at $28/hour
Discussion of plans for May Annual Public Meeting
- Allan asked Jack Whitehurst for renter-based speaker suggestions, but no specific suggestions
- Invited Commissioner Greene, Council Member Palmisano, Park Board Commissioner Brad Bourne
- May also invite Mayor Frey, Anna to contact for interest
- Interest in potentially inviting Planning Commission to speak on planned increase in density
Presentation by David Davies of Metro Transit on the schedule for light rail construction
- Opening in 2023, 14.5 miles, 16 stations
- Extension of Green Line, will connect to Blue Line
- Barriers will provide separation between pedestrians and traffic on Lake Street, sidewalk will be same width as it is currently
- How can bikes get down to Greenway? Can be taken down elevator
- Traffic will be stopped behind bus at bus stops
- Council has a construction schedule that is currently being reviewed
- Current construction activities along the corridor
- Open the SWLRT Field Office
- Pre-construction survey work
- Encroachment survey and outreach
- Spring activities
- Outreach/access plan meetings
- Surveys
- Kenilworth Trail closure, timing TBD
- Clearing and grubbing, some trees will be removed, can email David to check on specific trees
- Fencing
- Rail delivery
- Pre- and post- construction survey process
- Surveys have been sent out, need responses quickly
- Coordination and access
- Traffic impacts under consideration, access must be maintained for businesses and residences
- Cedar Lake Parkway construction happening spring/fall for ~6 months with closure for cars
- Safety procedures and communication
- Coordinating with City to talk through details of emergency access
- Continuing issue, meeting with cities to ensure coordination
- Construction measures
- Taking potential construction issues into consideration in order to address before they come up
- Construction workers are not allowed to park in residential areas, contracted company must submit parking plan
- Calhoun Isles is sensitive area for vibrations
- David Davies contact: david.davies@metrotransit.org, 612-373-5336
Presentation on the Lake & Excelsior hotel proposal
- Long process with BP moving forward on site, was dragged out ~6 months longer than anticipated
- Construction contract will be with McGough
- Met with County ~3 weeks ago, County is excited about development and addition of landscaping/green space
- Hope for crossing safety to improve due to landscaping, sidewalk has been widened in crossing area and around the hotel area (going from 6’ to 10’)
- Have asked to take over maintenance of green space moving forward, adding in native plants and flowers
- Bus stop and bike racks incorporated, some kind of art element may be added to corner
- Look will be “sophistication paired with regionality of materials” paired with warmth/wood textures, brick/stone exterior
- Restaurant at end, outdoor seating and entrance to hotel/restaurant
- 9 stories tall with amenity deck on top, 124’ to top of amenity deck from ground
- Possibility of coworking space on second floor
- Not yet approved, Public Works meeting tomorrow on streets/sidewalks, submitting land use applications within this month
- Would start teardown in July pending approval
- Board expressed mixed opinions about the architecture and concern about the increased height. Would prefer architecture and art element (if any) that is representative of the neighborhood.
Greenspace Update
- No update
Banners Update
- Victoria likes designer suggested by Annie, suggests getting quotes and portfolios from two other designers. Board agreed.
Jiffy Lube Update
- Paragraph added to letter summarizing concerns re Jiffy Lube site development
- Approval for letter to come from the board
Safety Update – Annual Safety Walk, evacuation planning
- Richard is looking for date to re-establish safety walk as annual neighborhood event, communicating with Commissioner Greene and Councilmember Palmisano
- Richard notes that there is no training for apartment managers for emergency evacuation plans
- Noted that Sam from Met Council said she would get back to WCNC about emergency evacuation plan
Ideas about how to work with the Bakken
- Bakken will be doing complete remodel of lower level of building in keeping with new brand, identity, logo
- Would like 20 min presentation in future meeting
Survey is at printers
Adjourn
Meeting adjourned: 7:30
Submitted by: Anna Schmitz