By Stuart Sudak
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Ask Jeff Strate for a reason why a narrow slice of land shaped like a half-arrow should be saved from development and he points to Birch Island Road.

Turn west onto a country-like side road from Edenvale Boulevard, and you'll be able to meander along a 750-foot stretch of the city-owned Birch Island Woods Conservation Area and then a 1,100-foot stretch of the wood's neighbor, a 4.04-acre swath privately co-owned by two families.

It is these four acres that Strate and others with the resident's group, Friends of Birch Island Woods, are pushing the city to buy for $800,000 and add to the 31-acre conservation area in northern Eden Prairie that – other than the road – surrounds it.

If they succeed, the city will be able to preserve all the land north of the road. If they fail, Strate said one of the last public roads in the city where people can view beautiful, natural vistas uncluttered by hulking homes or office buildings will be lost.

Specifically, Strate said the property is not only necessary to complete the conservation area and protect its environmental integrity, it also will ensure a much larger cluster of environmental, scenic and recreational resources. That includes the Picha Heritage Farm, which sits across Birch Island Road from the four acres.

"We're going to lose that sense of being away from everything," argued Strate, co-leader of the resident's group instrumental in lobbying the city to purchase 32 acres of the woods three years ago from Hennepin County. "We don't get that in these other places anymore because we've permitted homes to go right there. Here, we have a public street, which is a perfect buffer."

Referendum
The four acres is one of several properties being eyed to benefit from approval of the May 11 parks bond referendum.

Of the $22.5 million being sought in the referendum, the city has earmarked $1 million for open space acquisition. To keep its flexibility, the city, however, has not specified what property will be targeted for the referendum funds, which the city hopes to stretch to $1.9 million through state matching grants and donations.

However, the four-acre property is in the mix. So, too, are parcels in the Purgatory Creek and Riley Creek valleys respectively. Additional land purchases in the Edenvale Conservation Area might also be included, depending on available funding.

The current financial recipe for saving the four acres is using $200,000 from the referendum, $200,000 in private donations raised by Strate's group, and a $400,000 matching grant from the Department of Natural Resources Natural and Scenic Areas program.

"Obviously, acquiring Birch Island Woods is one of the key pieces we have left in the park and open space system," Parks Director Bob Lambert said this week. "There are several key parcels of land that we would like to control to complete our system."

Some, he said, are more critical than others. He said land in both the Riley Creek and Purgatory Creek valleys are critical since the city has been acquiring property there for many years for trail connections to the river valley.

But he said land that can protect a woods or a conservation area like a boundary up to a road is critical too.

"These parcels, if we can get the money, it would sure make them better," he said.

Lambert admitted the $1 million probably won't go that far in helping the city buy every piece of open land coveted. But, he added, it does provide the city with seed money for grants and helps initiate some positive discussion.

"It might generate a sufficient amount of money to provide the additional funds necessary to get grants for two, three, maybe four projects," he said. "That's what we hope would happen with it."

Purchase option
The City Council last week approved a 195-day option agreement on the four acres with its owners, consisting of two factions of the Picha family (that includes Terry Picha and Al and Abbie Picha). It also approved going forward with the grant application.

The $2,800 property option, according to city officials, will guarantee the land is not sold before the city learns the results of its grant application in mid- to late-summer and the results of the referendum. The option cost is the price of the taxes on the property for this year.

City Manager Scott Neal told the council that he and Lambert made clear to one of the owners recently that if the city is unable to get all the money in place for the property they understand what his options will be. That would be moving forward with developing his property.

The city has received an appraisal of the property indicating the value is $800,000. The owners have an offer from a developer for that amount.

Strate calls it an "extremely cheap buy" when considering the cost of land, how many people frequent the conservation area, and all the outdoor amenities offered there. In fact, he said it is the most heavily used conservation area in the city.

As for the math, Lambert said if something falls through on the deal, the council will have to decide if the city wants to fill in the gaps. At least three council members have made clear their support for saving the land.

"If for example, (the resident's group) can't raise $200,000 and we then get the grant, we have to make a decision if we can pay more," Lambert said. "Can we pay more? That's a decision the council has to make."

Priorities
Council members agreed last week to have Lambert list what land the city has yet to acquire and then prioritize those.

The list, according to Lambert, will allow the council to look at what land he and other park staff think the city needs to acquire.

That came after Council member Philip Young wondered if the city was missing an opportunity to buy land elsewhere by buying the four aces.

"Are there options that are closing by spending money here as opposed to elsewhere?" he asked.

But Strate pointed out this week that public interest in the four acres has helped its cause. And, add to that the fact that it faces imminent development.

"There is lots of land the city wouldn't mind having," Strate said Monday. "It's all very expensive. Some of it's more expensive than the four acres of land we have here. But the thing is these other people haven't organized."

Indeed, Council member Ron Case made clear last week his interest in saving the land – but at the right price.

"I'll say it tonight: I would like to see us gain access and control and own this land," Case said. "There are many myriad ways that could happen. And I think this is one step (the grant), there are other steps. The last thing I would want, and I would never commit to, is to say ‘Let's just buy it.' And I don't think (those trying to save it) would even say that."

Ssudak@swpub.com is Stuart Sudak's e-mail address. He also can be reached at 952-345-6474.