HomeMy WebLinkAbout6A - Winter AccessesSTAFF AGENDA REPORT
AGENDA:
PREPARED BY:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
6A
LANI LEICHTY, WATER RESOURCES COORDINATOR
CONDUCT PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING TO CONSIDER
CLASSIFICATION BY THE CITY THE FOLLOWING AS WINTER
ACCESSES: WEST AVENUE, TERRACE CIRCLE (SOUTH),
AND SAND POINT BEACH.
FEBRUARY 24, 1995
INTRODUCTION'
The purpose for this public informational hearing is to determine if
the City Council desires to continue to classify the following as
winter accesses: West Avenue, Terrace Circle (South), and Sand
Point Beach as recommended in the Lake Access Study.
Neighbors within 1,000 feet of each area have been notified and
notices placed in the February 25th and March 4th issues of the
Prior Lake American.
BACKGROUND:
When the Lake Access Study was accepted by the Council at its
regular meeting on October 17, 1994, the study recommended
continued classification of West Avenue, Terrace Circle (South),
and Sand Point Beach accesses as Winter Accesses (see
attached location maps).
After receiving the Lake Access Study the Council directed the
Lake Advisory Committee to further look into snowmobile access
regulations at the winter accesses. At the October 19, 1994 Lake
Advisory Committee meeting there was discussion about
delineating the winter accesses to define their boundaries and
restricting snowmobiles from using these accesses. The
Committee did not want to eliminate snowmobiling from all winter
accesses but felt that it would be appropriate to restrict those sites
which are very close to residential homes.
The Terrace Circle (South) access already has a "No
Snowmobiling" sign posted where homes are in .close proximity to
the access. This access is not a direct link between
interconnecting snowmobile trails. There was a unanimous
decision among the Lake Advisory Committee members to
recommend, due to the close proximity to homes, that the Terrace
Circle (South) access be restricted from snowmobile use.
The definition for a "Winter Access" in the Lake Access Study is
as follows:
WINTER ACCESS:
Intended to be used by the public to provide motor vehicle access
· '"'i:i!~2D0 Eagle Creek Ave., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY F_MPLOYER
to the lake during the winter. Access would be open during the
period from November 1 through March I and would be closed
from 11 pm to 6 am daily. "Motor vehicle" means any
self-propelled vehicle licensed for highway operation, including
snowmobiles, which is being used for off-road recreational
purposes.
DISCUSSION:
The City's Parks Department supplies trash barrels at these
accesses and picks up trash routinely during the winter. The
gated accesses, West Avenue and Terrace Circle (South), are
opened around Thanksgiving and closed at ice out each year by
the Parks Department.
WEST AVENUE ACCESS - This street dead ends at Prior Lake
with a gate crossing it which is locked when not in winter use. The
road is paved down to the the water and the street is posted "No
Parking". No street lighting exists. This access was reviewed for
further expansion into a DNR public access site by the Lake
Advisory Committee. Upon investigation, no further expansion of
this site is recommended. Snowmobiles would be allowed to use
this access.
TERRACE CIRCLE (SOUTH) ACCESS - This access has been
used historically as an access for ice fisherman. It has a sign
posted "Absolutely No boat Launching" along with a "No
Snowmobiling" sign. No parking is available near this access.
The Sportsman's Club in the past has maintained this access by
grading and supplying gravel. Snowmobiles would not be allowed
to use this access.
SAND POINT BEACH ACCESS - This access is used as an
emergency access in the summer and has been opened in the
winter for use by ice fisherman. At the entrance to the paved road
leading down to the lake is a double swing gate and two signs
which read "No Motorized Vehicles Allowed". Ample parking
space exists in the existing parking lot, which will be paved with
curb and gutter in the Spring of 1995. No lighting exists.
Snowmobiles would not be allowed to use this access.
ISSUES:
The Lake Access Study recommendations were intended
to provide the City with a "strategic plan" through which
reasonable access would be provided around the lake. The study
philosophy is that the City needs to provide reasonable access for
non-lake shore dwellers while respecting the rights of lake shore
owners. The LAC believes that the report does that and that
winter access through these three sites is part of the overall
strategy to accomplish this objective. The proposed
recommendations will not change the current status of these
accesses.
ALTERNATIVES:
The alternatives are as follows:
,
Accept the recommendations by the LAC to classify West
Avenue, Terrace Circle (South), and Sand Point Beach
accesses as "Winter Accesses".
.
Accept the recommendations for one or more accesses and
recommend changes for the others.
3. Continue the hearing for a specific reason.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that each access be discussed individually and
that Council adopt alternative number 1.
ACTION REQUIRED:
REVIEWED BY:
AGLAS2.ENG
Motion and second to adopt the recommendations by the Lake
Advisory Committee.t~ classify the West Avenue access, Terrace
,,Circle (Sout ~ acc~'s and the Sand Point Beach access as
ILl