HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-05-19 OPH Memo to Mayor & CouncilMemo
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T o: Ma and Council
From: Thomas M. Melena, Cit Adniinistrator
Date: 05/19/00
Re: .Annual Review of Ropes Course C.U.P.
his of the writing of this memo, I have received, the attached memo outliu.uig the
Plamiing Conmiission'
s input and two police reports related to the Rrpes
C ourse. I have not received an other input from other staff members
concerning the Ropes Course.
If y ou have an questions, please contact me.
Thak you!
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
Review
MEMORANDUM
NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS
COMMUNITY PLANNING - DESIGN - MARKET RESEARCH
Tom Melena
Kris Danielson
Scott Richards
May 19, 2000
FILE NO: 798.02 — 00.04
Oak Park Heights — Stillwater High School: Amended Ropes
Course Annual Review
As you are aware, the City Clerk has scheduled the annual review for the Stillwater High
School ropes course CUP for the City Council's May 23, 2000 meeting. The Planning
Commission, at their April 13, 2000 meeting, initiated discussion on the existing eight
conditions of approval in anticipation of the City Council annual review that is required
as part of the CUP. The Planning Commission discussion included the following:
The Planning Commission reviewed the eight conditions of the existing CUP request.
They felt that the School District should comply fully with the conditions as approved
prior to the end of the school year or the ropes course CUP should be canceled.
The review of the conditions are as follows:
a. That access to the ropes course be maintained year round for emergency
vehicles;
An access road is provided to the ropes course that the School District maintains
year round.
b. Gate to the ropes course shall be closed and locked at all times with
the
facility is not in use;
The School District has, in the past year, left the gate open and an access ladder
down when the course is not in use for a scheduled activity. Security measures
shall be taken by the School District to issue that this is complied with.
c. Installation of any future lighting at the ropes course shall require approval
q pp
of an amended conditional use permit by the City Council;
No lighting of the ropes course is being requested by the School District.
d. Any changes to the ropes course, including structures, fencin g, access or
security measures, shalt require approval of an amended conditional use
permit by the City Council unless the City Council amends the conditional
use permit to exclude recreational structures from its application;
The School District has followed this condition by requesting an amended CUP
for a change in the ropes course hours of operation which was ranted by the
City Council.
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e . The hours of operation of the ropes course shall be established as
occurring from 8 :00 A.M. until 5 :00 P.M. or dusk whichever occurs earlier,
Monday through Friday, with no use allowed on weekends or legal
holidays;
ga
The City Council, at their May 9, 2000 meeting, extended the hours of operation
to include weekday evenings and Saturdays until 6 :00 P.M.
fo The final landscaping plan to be implemented on the ropes course site
shall be subject to the review and approval of the City Arborist;
The final landscape plan has been approved by the City Arborist. The Arborist
will inspect the landscaping in May to assure that the plantings are viable, in
g ,
conformance with the one year guarantee specified in the Zonin g Ordinance.
School District personnel shall work with City Police and Fire officials in
training for potential rescue activities for the ropes course. All further use
of the ropes course shall require written approvals from the Police and Fire
Chiefs that adequate access safety and rescue plans are in p lace for the
ropes course.
The Police and Fire Chiefs have given written approvals that adequate access,
safety and rescue plans have been put into effect for the ropes course. The
School District is working with Police and Fire Officers in scheduling a training
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activity for the ropes course.
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h. Annual review should be imposed as a condition of this conditional use
permit to assure compliance and provide a mechanism to deal with any
issues that may arise affecting the use of the ropes course vis a vis the
neighboring properties in the future.
The annual review shall be required as directed by the City of Oak Park Heights.
hts. g
The Planning Commission did not make a final recommendation on the review, but
asked for clarification on the following:
1. The School District should address the security measures they implement im lement to
prevent the gate from being left open and the access ladder that has been left
down when the course is closed.
2. The City Arborist has been asked to review issues with downed trees or
landscaping impacted by rising water levels.
3. Written reports from the Police and Fire Departments that are required to address
the safety and rescue plans shall be distributed to the Plannin g Commission and
City Council.
4. The Police Department has been asked to address the issue of atrollin the
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course and responses to 911 calls.
5. The Planning Commission requested that the required safety and rescue training
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be completed by the end of the school year.
6. City staff was asked to clarify the issue related to hours of operation as it relates
to the school calendar. The City Council did tie the allowance for using the ropes
p es
course to the school calendar when the existing CUP was approved. The School
District has indicated that the High School operates a year round calendar for the
High School.
7. The chain link fence, located on the south property line, was not constructed with
adjacent property owners' permission as required by the Zoning Ordinance. The
School District will need to receive approvals from the prope rty owners or move
the fence back three feet.
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WGILIPR
DATE 5/19/00
TIME 10:33:51
0 PARK HEIGHTS POLICE DEPAi AENT
INITIAL COMPLAINT REPORT
99702305
DATE REPORTED: 7/11/99 TIME REPORTED: 20:27:28 DISPATCHER: SJNEILY
LOCATION OF INCIDENT: 5701 STILLWATER BLVD
STILLWATER HIGH SCHOOL
OAK PARK HEIGHTS MN 55082
GRID:
INCIDENT RECEIVED BY: TELEPHONE
475
482
CLASSIFIED AS: MISC OFFICER
BUCKLEY
KISCH
NAMES ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS INCIDENT: KATHY KUNZ
16820 53RD ST
BAYTOWN TWP MN 55082
PHONE:(H) 651/430-3507 (W)
SEX:F DOB:
ASSOCIATION: COMPLAINANT
JUVENILES IN THE FENCED IN AREA OF THE HIGH SCHOOL JUST CAME DOWN
RUNNING TOWARD THE FOOTBALL FIELD
c' - ICER COMMENTS:
I CHECKED THE SCHOOL AND FOUND THAT ALL FENCED AREAS WERE OP
EN AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE USING THE TRACKTENNIS
COURTS ANS JUST WALKING ON THE SCHOOL PROPERTY.I FOUND NO CO
MPLAINT.CLEARED
THE ZIP 1TNP
475
475
475
475
7/11/99
7/11/99
7/11/99
7/11/99
9915
CJG1UPR
DATE 5/19/00
TIME 10:43:28
LOCATION OF INCIDENT:
GRID:
INCIDENT RECEIVED BY: TELEPHONE
OFFICERS ASSIGNED:
OAK PARK HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT
INITIAL COMPLAINT REPORT
99701204
DATE REPORTED: 4/16/99 TIME REPORTED: 20:00:19 DISPATCHER: MBSELLE
5701 STILLWATER BLVD
SAHS
OAK PARK HEIGHTS
476
482
ANDERSON
KISCH
NAMES ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS INCIDENT: CATHY ANN
12820 53RD ST
OAK PARK HEIGHTS MN
PHONE:(H) 430-3507 (W)
SEX:F DOB: 3/04/1955
ASSOCIATION: COMPLAINANT
TRESSPASS COMPT. ROPES COURSE ON SW HS
N
MN 55082
COONZ
N
55082
OFFICER COMMENTS:
ARRIVED WITH 476 AND CHECKED THE AREA. COMP. STATED THAT
THERE WAS A GROUP OF 5 JUVENILES ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB THE
ROPES COURSE. COMP. STATED WHEN SHE STARTED TAKING PICTURES
OF THE GROUP, THEY LEFT INTO THE E.L.C. AREA AFTER CLIMBING
THE FENCE. CHECKED THE AREA AND WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY
JUVENILES IN THE AREA.
CLEARED.
ARRIVED AND DROVE TO THE AREA OF THE ROPE COURSE. WENT OVER
FENCE AND WALKED THE ENTIRE AREA OF THE COURSE, SAW NO ONE.
CHECKED AREA OF THE SCHOOL AND OBSERVED NO ONE. CLEAERED.
482
482
482
482
482
482
482
476
476
476
4/16, J
4/16/99
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4/16/99
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CLASSIFIED AS: TRESPASS-MS-PRIVATE-UNK INTENT P3310