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 February
16, 2001
"NO TRESPASSING" SIGNS - 12 in all - were posted around the
woods on Friday Feb. 16. A County official explained that for liability
reasons, the posting of such signs is standard for county land that has
been declared "surplus" i.e., been put up for sale. The Birch
Island Woods was classified "surplus about a year and a half ago.
Since then many community and government leaders, including the Mayors
of Eden Prairie and Minnetonka, a State Senator and a County Commissioner
have toured the woods -- unharmed. For more than a half century, Hennepin
County citizens have used trails through the area for hiking, skiing,
bird watching and bicycling and locals have regularly kept the area free
of litter, even cleaning up an old county dump site.
Each sign reads:
No Trespassing
No Hunting
No Dumping
Hennepin County 612-348-9260
February 6, 2001
CITY NARROWS EFFORT TO LARGEST PARCEL. With the reappraisal of the Birch
Island Woods coming in higher than it had expected, the City of Eden
Prairie has, for now, chosen to focus on acquiring only the largest
section of the woods, the area between Birch Island and Indian Chief
Roads and Edenvale Boulevard. Although the new $650,000 price tag for
this 31 acre parcel is still higher than what the City concludes, the
price is within the current financing options available to the City.
A suspected contaminated site (from an old County dump) and industrial
trespassing on an acre of the woods along Indian Chief road, may further
reduce the current over all $1 million price.
February 6, 2001
WOODS LEGISLATION INTRODUCED BY REP. TOM WORKMAN.
Representative Tom Workman (Dist. 34A), assisted by FBIW member Bob Ellingson,
introduced legislation which may provide a safety net in the attempt to
protect all of the Hennepin County-owned parcels of the Woods.
As introduced on Feb. 2, 2001, the bill (House
File 529) would require all 37 acres of the County portion of the
Birch Island Woods to be transferred with a conservation easement to Eden
Prairie for a to-be-determined price. Mr. Ellingson has lined up an impressive
list of co-authors including Representatives Erik Paulsen, Barb Sykora,
Betty Folliard and Senators Ed Oliver, Roy Terwilleger and Bill Belanger.
HF 529 can be tracked through the MN Legislature at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/
February 2, 2001
THE RECENTLY COMPLETED APPRAISAL OF THE BIRCH ISLAND WOODS BARELY REDUCES
ITS MARKET VALUE but may open a way for the City to acquire the largest
32 acre chunk of it (between Birch Island and Indian Chief Roads) for
$650,000 -- significantly less than the $1,230,000 the County was asking
for all three of the BIW parcels a year ago. Of the two detached parcels,
the 3 acre "industrial" strip east of Indian Chief Road is now
appraised at $340,000 and a smaller parcel at $45K. Even though the County's
new $1,035,000 package price tag is lower, Eden Prairie's assessor feels
that it is too high and suspected contamination at an old dumping site
could further reduce the new price. In the meantime, the Friends of Birch
Island Woods is preparing its no-cost conveyance argument for the County
Board and City officials are hoping to craft a land swap deal in tandem
with a DNR land protection grant to acquire the 32 acre parcel. See
the EP News for its February 1st coverage.
January 25, 2001
EDEN
PRAIRIE NEWS article about the new appraisal being jointly under taken
by the City of Eden Prairie and Hennepin County.
January 15, 2001
STAR TRIBUNE and KMSP-TV NEWS COVER THE WOODS. Reporters Mike Brunswick
of the StarTribune and Lillian McDonald of KMSP-TV News filed separate
reports on the woods. Mr. Brunswick's article provided a concise overview
of the issues and a quote from Hennepin County Commissioner Randy Johnson:
"This [Birch Island Woods] is choice property. If I could afford
it, I would live there." (Note: The Birch Island Woods is bounded
on the south by duplexes and triplexes and several historic farmsteads;
on the east by an asphalt recycling company and auto junk yard. Click
here for the full article.
Ms. McDonald's Channel 9 story took the camera to Terry Picha's historic
farm on the edge of the woods and included comments by woods conservationist
Jeff Strate who said, "You don't develop these few things [urban
green spaces] that are left, you redevelop areas that need a little more
economic push."
January 14, 2001
The City of Eden Prairie is reapplying for a DNR Metro Greenways Acquisition
and Restoration Grant in addition to a DNR Natural and Scenic Areas Grant.
Moneys from either program would be used to help purchase Birch Island
Woods from Hennepin County if a conveyance agreement with a price tag
is crafted. Although our chances are better this year for assistance from
the two programs, competition for the two programs is intense.
January 11, 2001
Hennepin County and City Officials met at Eden Prairie City Hall on Thursday
December 11 to discuss the new "joint" appraisal for the County-owned
portion of the woods. In late 2000, the City assessor announced that the
County's earlier appraisal of $1,230,000 was too high, a position supported
by the Friends of Birch Island Woods. The Friends Steering Committee gathered
and submitted data and testimony that may affect the new appraisal including
information about a possible brown field (an abandoned County dumping
site near the Indian Chief Road trailhead) and suspected industrial encroachment
on the narrow wooded strip of land east of Indian Chief Road.
The FBIW Steering Committee will continue to monitor city/county negotiations
and continues to find support and precedents for a no-cost conveyance.
This website will post a discussion on the matter in the future.
December 19, 2000
UNCLE HENNEPIN SCROOGE SOFTENS, WILL KEEP THE BIRCH ISLAND WOODS OFF THE
REAL-ESTATE MARKET FOR THE TIME BEING.
With less than two weeks before the December 31st deadline for a purchase
agreement for the woods, City Manager Chris Enger announced that Hennepin
County will wait for Eden Prairie to learn if it can get financial assistance
from the State and other sources. Reporting to the Eden Prairie City Council,
Mr. Enger also said that the County and City will do a new, joint appraisal
of the commercial value of the woods. A number of people, including the
City Assessor, have felt that the difficult topography and large number
of wetlands in the woods supports questioning the County's current $1,230,000
appraisal.
The Friends of Birch Island Woods, citing precedent and the "overriding
public purpose" of the environmental, scenic, recreational and social
service functions of the woods, will continue to explore the no-cost conveyance
track with County officials.
The City also announced that it will seek financial assistance from the
DNR's Natural and Scenic Areas Grant Program. Final decisions on grants
will be announced after legislative review in late spring or early summer.
The Friends will help the city identify other sources of funding, if the
no-cost argument is rejected.
November 29, 2000
HENNEPIN COUNTY DOES NOT FAVOR MORE TIME TO EXPLORE WOODS OPTIONS
Commissioner Randy Johnson told the Hennepin County General Government
Committee an extension of its December 31, 2000 deadline to reach an agreement
with the City of Eden Prairie is not in the cards. The County wants compensation
for the land which Eden Prairie would protect as a natural, public park.
The City is still hoping to craft a land swap deal and had asked the County
for up to six more months if needed. Both parties began actively talking
about the Woods in August. The December 31 deadline was set last February.
BUT WILL LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT ITS CONVEYANCE POLICIES
Acting on a request by the Friends of Birch Island Woods, the General
Government Committee asked the County Staff to prepare a memo of information
on County land conveyance practices and to determine if there have been
comparable situations. The Friends and a number of officials believe that
County policy and precedent would permit a no cost conveyance given the
specific characteristics and history of the Birch Island Woods.
November 22, 2000
MAYOR'S OPTIMISM IS CHILLED THEN SLIGHTLY RE-WARMED BY COUNTY
Hope for what Eden Prairie Mayor Jean Harris described three weeks ago
as the possibility of a "win win" way to compensate Hennepin
County for a conveyance of Birch Island Woods, has been chilled but not
frozen. During the November 21 City Council meeting, City Manager Chris
Enger reported that Commissioner Randy Johnson sees too many problems
with several land swap and service exchange possibilities that have been
discussed. There is, however, good news. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Enger agree
that the County's $1.2 million appraisal of the 37 acres could be reevaluated.
November 20, 2000
The new Citizens' Guide to Endangered Green Space features 10 Minnesota
areas including the Birch Island Woods which are threatened by development.
The 47 page guide, published by the North
Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, comes with maps, photos and profiles
of such endangered areas as Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Hiawatha Oaks in
Hopkins and Seminary Fen In Chanhassen. Columnist
Doug Grow wrote about the guide in the 11/20/00 edition of the Star Tribune.
The guide was compiled by Deb Alper and other's can can be ordered from
the Sierra Club in Minneapolis at 612/379-3853.
November 7, 2000
MAYOR SAYS THAT TALKS WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY ARE GOING WELL. CITY COUNCIL
AGREES TO REQUEST MORE TIME IF NEEDED AND TO ASSIST FRIENDS OF BIRCH ISLAND
WOODS IN PREPARING A PRESENTATION.
With less than 7 weeks to meet a deadline for an agreement with Hennepin
County for an acquisition plan for the Birch Island Woods, the Eden Prairie
City Council agreed to a motion presented by the Friends of Birch Island
Woods to request more time, if needed. The City will also provide materials
and information that would be used by the Friends in preparing a presentation
for County Board Commissioners. Without revealing the substance of the
terms being discussed with Commissioner Randy Johnson's office, Mayor
Jean Harris reported that she is optimistic that a "Win Win"
agreement will be reached before the December 31, 2000 deadline.
FBIW Legal committee chair Geri Napuck-Westermann and Counsel Tom Casey
spoke to the Council on behalf of the motion talking briefly about the
precedent of a no-cost conveyance of land which became nearby Birch Island
Park and the legal avenues available to the County pertaining to a no-cost
conveyance of the woods in view of the over riding public benefit of keeping
the land protected from development.
Because the City's current discussions do not apparently include a no-cost
conveyance proposal, the Council felt that the most prudent action regarding
the FBIW motion would be as an interested, non-participant on an official
level in what ever presentations the Friends make to the County Board.
During the course of the presentation, Mayor Harris praised the Friends
of Birch Island Woods for its efforts on behalf of the woods and the City
including this website and the full-color, 7 page packet.
WOODS SUPPORTERS WIN SEATS ON EP CITY COUNCIL
Incumbent Sherry Butcher and Historic Preservation Commission Chair Jan
Mosman have won places on the Eden Prairie City Council. Congratulations!
Randy Foote, another strongly pro-woods candidate, came in third ahead
of seven other candidates. MN House and Senate incumbents supporting the
woods also won reelection. Visit The VOTERS
GUIDE 2000 in the Archive to review each candidate's position on the
woods.
BACKGROUND: Last February, the City of Eden Prairie was given until December
31, 2000 to come to an agreement with the County regarding the woods --
The County has been asking full market value ($1,230,000) for its 37 some
acres. The public record shows that on July 20th, Mayor Harris and City
Manager Chris Enger met with County Commissioner Randy Johnson to discuss
a number of issues including the woods and to, presumably, identify acquisition
scenarios. On September 5th, without revealing the content of any discussions,
Eden Prairie Mayor Jean Harris, responding to a question by Council Member
Ron Case, reported to the City Council that several scenarios were being
discussed and on October 11th told FBIW member Jeff Strate that discussions
were moving in a positive direction.
November 1, 2000
COUNTY COMMISSIONER GAIL DORFMAN VISITS the woods and surrounding areas
with Eden Prairie Parks Director Bob Lambert, Council Member Nancy Tyra-Lukens
and Friends of Birch Island Woods leaders Terry Picha and Jeff Strate.
October 29, 2000
SILENT AUCTION EARNS $4,411
The silent auction earned $4,111 which will be used to help the campaign
for Birch Island Woods. The total includes $3120.50 in bids, $298.50 in
kid raffles and food sales and $992,00 in straight donations. Unused funds
will be dedicated to wildlife habitat restoration and trail work.
Among the crowd were Eden Prairie City Council Candidates Rob Barrett,
Fred Seymour, Jan Mosman and incumbent Sherry Butcher. Also in on the
action were MN House candidate Marcia Eland, EP Council Member Ron Case,
Lions Club leader Michael Gruidl, State Archeologist Mark Dudzic and Minnetonka
Historical Society President and columnist Maxine Dixon.
The event was engineered by Bea and Rick LaMonica and Cheral Tsuchiya
with Herculean efforts by Katy Egan-Benck, Kelly Landaetta, Annie Kennedy
and Greg Borell with assistance from Jeff Strate, Dianne Reed of the Eden
Wood Center and others. Jaunty and lilting Irish harmonies were provided
by the Blackbird. A complete list of the generous donors with internet
links to their websites will be posted in the near future.
October 11, 2000
Eden Prairie Mayor Jean Harris reports that discussions between the City
and Hennepin County regarding the County portion of the Birch island Woods
were moving in a positive direction.
The Mayor said that the City is currently evaluating the County's response
to a City proposal made earlier this year. Although the terms being considered
are not yet public, Council Member Sherry Butcher said earlier in the
day that Mayor Harris has been working hard but quietly on the woods issue
for some time.
September 24, 2000
TOUR DE SPRAWL VISITS WOODS
From 80-90 bicyclists and another 20 bus riders visited the Birch Island
Woods during this year's Tour de Sprawl. The participants were treated
to the artistry of composer Rick Miller at the Eden Wood Center before
a Q and A session with BIW leader Jeff Strate and by violinist Ken Sherman
and guitarist Paul Chamberlain at the trail head. The trek, designed to
explore challenges faced by the fast growing suburbs along the SW Light
Rail Transit Corridor (currently a bike trail) also included stops in
Hopkins, Chanhassen and Chaska and was covered by Channels 4, 5 and 45
and the Eden Prairie News. The
tour was sponsored by the North Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, Minnesota
Public Interest Research Group, Transit for Livable Communities and other
organizations. For pictures visit the BIW
Guest Register.
September 5, 2000
MAYOR WAITS FOR COUNTY REPLY ON BIRCH ISLAND WOODS
Eden Prairie Mayor Jean Harris in responding to a question by Council
Member Ron Case, reported to the City Council that some time ago she and
Hennepin County Board Chair Randy Johnson had discussed several scenarios
regarding the Birch Island Woods that could lead to a "win win" situation
for the City and the County. Suggesting that it was premature to unveil
the nature of the scenarios that the County and City are considering,
the Mayor said that she expects some form of reply from Mr. Johnson "hopefully
in the very near future."
August 14-21, 2000
OFFICIAL VISITS AND RESOLUTIONS
Council Member Ron Case, EP History Society Member Kathy Case, Heritage
Commission Chair Jan Mosman, Planning Board Member Randy Foote and Historic
Preservation Specialist John Gertz of Eden Prairie, Dist. 43A Legislative
Candidate Marcia Eland and a number of kids and pet dogs tour the woods
and Eden Wood Center. See the BIW GUEST
REGISTER for photos and a full list of VIP visits.
The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District passes a resolution supporting
protection of the woods from development.
August 7, 2000
EP PARKS AND RECREATION CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION
This new City panel is briefed on the efforts being made by the Friends
of Birch Island Woods.
August 5, 2000
LIONS CLUB CORN FEED
Underscored by lively polka music, the Friends of BIW split staffed a
woods info table and split its raffle proceeds with the Eden Prairie Lions
Club during the Lions' annual corn feed at Round Lake Park.
August 3, 2000
OFFICIALS TOUR THE WOODS
EP Mayor Jean Harris, Parks Director Bob Lambert and Met Council Member
Mary Smith and Senior Planner Arne Stefferud tour the woods, surround
district and the Eden Wood Center.
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