Opinions vary on site of orphanage
Posted: 6/13/02
by Erin Johnson
Staff Writer
Not only was the choice of Eagan as home to Mary Jo Copelandís 200-bed orphanage a contentious issue, but the actual site upon which Gift of Mary Childrenís Home will be built has itself been the topic of debate.
The almost 37-acre parcel of land is located in the relatively undeveloped northeast section of the city on the Inver Grove Heights border. The site is located in an industrial section of the city, but the land itself is surrounded by a few homes and little else.
The site is described by the city as lightly wooded with gently rolling topography and areas of steep slopes. It contains several wetland areas, 20 percent of which will be impacted by the project. In addition, approximately 45 percent of the trees on the site would need to be removed. According to the city, only 30 percent of trees are allowed to be removed, so Copeland will need to submit a revised tree mitigation plan.
Five separate parcels make up the site with four existing houses, three of which will be retained as staff and guest quarters.
The site is bordered on the north by Lone Oak Road and on the south by Highway 55. Access to and from the site would be provided by those two main roads.
Standing near the site on a summer afternoon, the steady buzzing of passing cars every once in a while gives way to the softer sounds of the wind and chirping birds, followed by the occasional roar of a plane overhead. The site sits within five miles of the airport runway, which Mayor Pat Awada said is an acceptable distance.
ěHalf of Mendota Heights is closer to the airport than this,î she said.
Because of their proximity to the runway, the buildings would have to comply with airport noise standards, said Senior Planner Mike Ridley.
Eagan resident John Cina said he has a small farm on probably the largest border of the facility, and he disagrees about the acceptability of the airport noise.
ěI guess you could say the noise is so severe you canít carry on a conversation,î he said. ěIíve got some dents in a car ... and a few things that have fallen down from aircraft over the years.î
Eagan resident Don Elsenheimer said he is concerned with the protection of wetlands on the site.
ěNothing can be built on this site until the wetlands permit has been approved,î he said. ěThat wetlands application has serious problems.î
Several neighbors of the site spoke at the June 7 Eagan City Council meeting about concerns not only for their own safety, but also the segregation of the children from the rest of the community.
ěThe site is in a remote part of the city ó there is no public transportation, there are no shopping centers, theaters or fast-food restaurants nearby,î said Jerome Wojnar, who lives near the site. ěThere are no sidewalks, bike paths or service roads. There is nothing at that location that is familiar to anybody from the inner city. It is absolute isolation. ě
Planning Commission Chair Gary Huusko voted against the rezoning necessary for the project because he said he also had issues with the location.
ěThe city decided some time ago that this area would not be conducive to residential homes,î he said. ěI think itís a good idea to have something like this in Eagan ó I donít think this area would be good.î
But Council Member Peggy Carlson said she lived in the area of the project site for 16 years and thinks itís a wonderful place to live.
ěI absolutely loved living there,î she said. ěMy old home is part of the plat. So when I hear about the airplane noise, when I hear itís isolated ... you know, we thoroughly enjoyed living out there. Thereís homes up there; theyíre beautiful. The people love living up there. I loved living there. I loved the flavor of the area.î
The area may be currently undeveloped, she said, but it wonít be so for long.
ě(It) will not be isolated, thatís for sure,î she said. ěEvery piece of land over there is under option by a developer right now.î
Awada agreed.
ěThis is an area I suspect will be under development within a year,î she said.
A possible future proposal for the area includes housing, a golf course, retail, businesses and more, she said.
ěBy the time this facility would be built, it will have many, many neighbors,î Awada said.
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