03-31-1997 Council Packet Special

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Ss>ga Hill Expansion Project Narrative In 1996, a successful public/private partnership enabled an open space of historic importance to be preserved in the City of Orono. A Natural and Scenic Area Grant, combined with private fundraising and the work of the Minnesota Land Trust, allowed the city to acquire 11 acres at the top of Saga Hill. This was-combined with a 9.7 acre tax forfeit parcel to create a sorely-need new park in densely populated western Orono, above the shores of Forest Lake Bay and the West Arm of Lake Minnetonka. One concrete example of the benefits of this project is that a school with an environmental curriculum opened nearby and uses Saga Hill as its classroom. Now, there is an opportunity to expand and enhance the new Saga Hill natural area. A Natural and Scenic Area Grant would enable the city of acquire an additional 7 acres threatened with impending development. Without the grant, the City will be required to build a road through the existing Saga Hill Park to access the landlocked parcels once they are sold for development. This will damage the pristine quality of the land, require removal of many trees and disturb wildlife. With a grant, the platted road could be vacated and the integrity of the land preserved. The City of Orono is facing heightened pressure from developers, attracted by easy access on Highway 394. Saga Hill escaped development up to now through a fortuitous combination of circumstances and topography. But, as undeveloped land - especially wooded parcels - becomes ever more valuable, developers are willing to pay the price; even the $285,000 that would be required to build a .73 mile long road through a natural area and provide storm and sanitary sewer. Rather than undermine the pristine quality of the existing Saga Hill natural area, the city is seeking the means to purchase three parcels currently up for sale on behalf of an absentee property owner. Dr. Barbara Sollner-Webb. All adjoin the natural area, and consist of heavily-wooded sugar maple/basswood forest. One of the parcels is adjacent to the most striking feature of Saga Hill, a deep ravine that carries run-off into Forest Lake. The other, larger, parcels flank the north slope of Saga Hill, continuing down to the wetlands at the foot of the hill. The e,xpansion of the Saga Hill Natural area is a collaboration between the City of Orono, a citizen’s group called the Saga Hill Preservation Society and Minnesota Land Tmst. The three entities have come together again to fulfill their commitment to an open space of historical importance.