Memo- Cottageville Park/MCWD Additional Property AcquisitionsPlanning & Economic
Development
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Hopki s City Council Members
FROM: Kersten Elverum, t of Planning & Development
DATE: June 9, 2011
SUBJECT: Cottageville Park/MCWD Additional Property Acquisitions
The continued discussion of the possible acquisition of eight or nine homes on the north
and south sides of Lake Street NE is scheduled for the June 14th City Council work
session. Over the past five weeks, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District staff have
been analyzing the benefits of acquiring the additional property. They are ready to share
their analysis with the Council to determine if discussions with the homeowners
regarding the voluntary sale of their property should continue.
A committee of the Watershed Board of Managers has discussed the results of the
analysis. They determined that the priority for any property acquisitions is storm water
management improvements, secondary are the recreational benefits on and around the
creek. Viewed through this lens, the committee was uncertain they would be interested in
pursuing acquisitions, especially on the north side of Lake Street where there is not creek
frontage.
Attached is a copy of a letter sent to the homeowners. It seems likely that many of them
will be at the work session to listen to the discussion.
June 2, 2011
Michael Matter
11301Minnetonka Blvd
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Re: 1324 Lake St NE
Dear Mr. Matter:
I am writing to follow-up on the discussions the City of Hopkins, Minnehaha Creek
Watershed District (MCWD) and you, as a property owner, have had regarding the
possible acquisition of your property. The MCWD is in the process of evaluating the
water quality and recreational benefits of additional property acquisitions and expect to
have the data available within the next couple weeks. Based on this, a City Council work
session discussion of the potential acquisitions has been scheduled for June 14, 2011, at
6:30 p.m.
The intent of this discussion is to update the Hopkins City Council on the results of the
drainage evaluation and gauge the interest of the City Council and Watershed District to
continue discussions with all parties. If it is determined that the acquisition of additional
properties adjacent to the expanded Cottageville Park is worth pursuing, a meeting with
you and your neighbors will be scheduled for the week of June 27, 2011.
In the mean time, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact
either myself at 952/548-6340 or Mark Ten Eyke, MCWD, at 612/770-7712.
Sincerely,
Kersten Elverum
Director of Planning & Development