HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-04-04 NAC Ltr Re VFW Landscaping @ Olene Ave. Northwest Associated Consultants , Inc .
ACURBAN P L A N N I N G • DESIGN • MARKET RESEARCH
WED
APR 5 9#
MEMORANDUM
TO: LaVonne Wilson ,
FROM: Elizabeth StoC /David Licht
DATE: 4 April 1991
RE: Oak Park Heights - VFW/Olene Avenue
Landscaping
FILE NO: 798 . 02
Following your request, we have reviewed various company files in
regard to landscaping issues and/or requirements relating to VFW
plantings along Olene Avenue. Apparently, the City has received
complaints that landscaping just west of the VFW club along Olene
Avenue has not been properly maintained and provides an
inadequate buffer for the adjacent residential properties .
This memorandum will attempt to convey any notation of
responsibility in this matter as contained within our company' s
files .
The following is a chronological summary of items which relate to
this issue:
25 July 1977 Oak Park Heights City Council instructs
Midwest Planning and Research to prepare
plans and specifications for Olene Avenue
Boulevard Plan.
1 September 1977 Bids on Olene Avenue Boulevard plans are due
and construction of the plan follows .
5 September 1978 Tim Erkkila of Midwest Planning notes in memo
form that based on this August 1978
inspection of the boulevard project, some
major deterioration problems were cited.
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4601 Excelsior Blvd.• Suite 410•Minneapolis, MN 55416•(612) 925-9420• Fax 925-2721
18 May 1979 LaVonne Wilson at Oak Park Heights submits a
letter to Midwest Planning outlining the
plant materials in need of replacement.
20 June 1979 A letter from Windsor Landscaping, the firm
contracted to dothe original planting,
indicates that all replacements have been
completed along Olene Avenue.
27 June 1979 Tim Erkkila documents in a letter to the City
of Oak Park Heights that the deficiencies
along Olene Avenue should be field checked to
make sure all replacements were indeed
sufficient. (No documentation exists to show
that a final inspection was done. )
12 July 1984 In review of a proposal to amend the CUP at
the St. Croix Bowl, the physical condition of
Olene Avenue' s vegetative buffering was
included as a major issue in the area. The
report notes that throughout the history of
the St. Croix Mall PUD, the screening had
been questionable. The document gives a
review of the deterioration and replacement
of the vegetative materials in 1978/1979 and
states that the contract with Windsor
Landscaping was to also include a three year
performance bond for maintenance. At the
time of this review, however, the vegetative
buffer was still deteriorated, sparse and
ineffective . Lack of maintenance was
targeted as the cause for the vegetation
looking more like scrub brush rather than
ornamental plants and further screening
( fencing) , and landscape plantings were
recommended along the boulevard' s entirety.
Exhibit One shows the original landscape plan, dated 8 August
1977 .
No further documentation exists in our files regarding any
attempts in highlighting or improving this matter since 12 July
1984 . Please advise if you wish for us to investigate any
further into this issue.
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MIDWEST PLANNING & RE SEARCINC.
Land Planning & Urban Researcb. Conenitants
EXHIBIT ONE
ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE PLAN