PLANNING/NATURAL RESOURCES
LAW/FIRE
In the fall and winter of 2023, the City of Chanhassen saw two large commercial development projects begin construction along Highway 5 near Paisley Park. One of those projects consists of the Audubon Business Park, and the other is an Xcel Energy Service Center campus. Audubon Business Park This new business park will consist of two new Class A office/ warehouse buildings located at 1650 McGlynn Road. One building will consist of approximately 230,000 square feet, and the other is 165,000 square feet. These will be constructed on a nearly thirty- acre piece of previously undeveloped land that was guided by the city’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan for future office industrial use. In accordance with city code and as a result of the removal of existing vegetation on the development site, the project will be planting a total of 595 shrubs as well as 378 trees that collectively adhere to the city’s species diversity requirements. Xcel Energy Service Center Xcel Energy is constructing a nearly 100,000-square-foot regional service center on a twenty-three-acre property adjacent to Highway 5 located at 1891 Arboretum Boulevard. The facility will be replacing the existing service centers in Shorewood and Waconia. MUNICIPAL STORMWATER & MS4 DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS What is MS4: MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. The City of Chanhassen’s storm sewer system is comprised of curbs, gutters, catch basins, pipes, ditches, and BMPs (Best Management Practices) that act to collect and convey stormwater away from homes and businesses to receiving water bodies. What is BMP: BMP stands for Best Management Practices. These practices, including sumped manholes, permeable pavers, wet ponds, rain gardens, and infiltration basins, help clean stormwater by removing sediment and pollutants before the water enters streams, rivers, and lakes. BMPs also help decrease flooding risk by reducing stormwater volumes and discharge rates by adding stormwater storage and promoting infiltration. Why is it important: Water is an important resource that requires proper management to protect it. Public waters support wildlife and provide recreational opportunities, such as swimming, boating, and fishing, which can all be negatively affected by the pollutants stormwater carries. For more information, contact the City Water Resource’s Engineer, Joe Seidl, at jseidl@chanhassenmn.gov or 952.227.1168 .
OPEN FLAMES & BBQ ON PATIOS
XCEL ENERGY SERVICE CENTER
AUDUBON BUSINESS PARK
» Ensure all drivers are at a complete stop before entering a crosswalk. » Never assume drivers see you. Crosswalk Laws in Minnesota: M.S. 169.21 Subd. 2 Rights in the absence of signal. (a) Where traffic-control signals are not in place or in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall stop to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk. The driver must remain stopped until the pedestrian has passed the lane in which the vehicle is stopped. No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield. M.S. 169.21 Subd. 3. Crossing between intersections. (a) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway. Questions from the community regarding crosswalk safety can be directed to the Carver County Sheriff’s Office non emergency line at 952.361.1231. Questions about the city of Chanhassen Crosswalk Policy can be directed to Chanhassen City Hall at 952.227.1300 . With more people smoking outside their homes, another fire danger for multi-family buildings arises. The improper disposal of smoking materials has caused several large apartment fires. If you smoke on a balcony or patio, dispose of your smoking materials in an approved ashtray. Do not extinguish the butt into a plastic coffee can or a flower pot. Potting soil in flower pots is not just dirt but contains filler items that smoldering smoking materials can easily ignite. The fire is not immediate but can occur hours later when the burning soil ignites the plastic flower pot and spreads across the wood deck to the building. Safety Considerations Barbecuing in any environment presents certain hazards that people should consider so that they can take precautions to reduce the likelihood of starting a fire. Here are a few tips that can help make barbecuing safer: » Charcoal briquettes should be stored in a dry area because damp or wet charcoal is sensitive to spontaneous heating once dried. » The use and storage of barbecue grills should be restricted to the outdoors. Never use barbecue grills for home heating or indoor cooking. » Charcoal briquettes should be allowed to cool naturally a safe distance from structures and combustible materials and then disposed of properly. » Charcoal lighter fluid should be stored appropriately away from living areas of the home. » Propane cylinders shall be stored outside at least 10 feet from building openings such as windows and doors. Smoking on Balconies & Patios
SHARE THE ROAD As the spring and summer seasons arrive, many pedestrians will be out enjoying the walking trails throughout Chanhassen. The city has numerous trails and parks to enjoy throughout the year, and the Carver County Sheriff’s Office would like to raise awareness of crosswalk laws for safety purposes for both drivers and pedestrians. Minnesota law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians crossing the street at intersections. Both drivers and pedestrians should take precautions and ensure everyone is safe when crossing roadways. When Driving » Be attentive while driving and watch for pedestrians during the day and night. » Look in all directions prior to continuing through an intersection. » Before passing stopped vehicles on the road, check for pedestrians crossing. » Never assume pedestrians are seeing your vehicle. When Walking » Cross at well-lit intersections and utilize crosswalks when present. » Look both ways prior to crossing, and scan all lanes of traffic. Barbecue grills appear on the balconies and patios of multi-family dwellings all year round in Minnesota. The use and storage of solid fuel or propane cooking equipment on patios and balconies has resulted in a number of fires in Minnesota. Every year, the City of Chanhassen responds to several grill fires on decks and close to homes. In many towns and cities, this practice is In any structure containing three or more dwelling units, no person shall kindle, maintain, or cause any fire or open flame on any balcony above ground level or on any ground floor patio within 15 feet of a structure. Fuel Storage Prohibited No person shall store or use any fuel, barbecue, torch, or other similar heating or lighting chemical or device in prohibited areas. Exception prohibited by local ordinances. Open Flame Prohibited Listed electric or gas-fired barbecue grills that are permanently mounted and wired or plumbed to the building’s gas supply or electrical system and that maintain a minimum clearance of 18 inches on all sides, unless listed for lesser clearances, may be installed on balconies and patios when approved by the chief. Additional Information To determine if an ordinance regulating open fires on balconies or patios has been adopted where you live, contact your local fire marshal or fire department.
Coulter Blvd.
The purpose of the facility is to serve Xcel Energy field employees and associated engineers and operation personnel. The site will not be open to the public or Xcel Energy customers. Once completed, the project will include a two-story office and vehicle storage building, a 65 foot, two-story boom truck maintenance building, a 175 foot communication tower, three one- story storage buildings, and screened outdoor storage areas. The project was required to complete a tree inventory to establish a baseline for existing trees on the site. That inventory showed that the site had 276 trees. Of those pre-existing trees, 171 trees were to be removed, a significant portion of which were boxelder trees. That resulted in 101 existing trees being preserved on the site. To account for the 171 trees that were removed, Xcel will be planting 255 canopy trees and 284 shrubs. Learn more about Chanhassen’s updated downtown zoning district on the website: ChanhassenMN.gov/Projects.
EMERALD ASH BORER ( EAB ) IN CHANHASSEN
If you have lived in Chanhassen for a couple of years, chances are you are familiar with the infamous and extremely invasive species, emerald ash borer, whose unwelcome presence was confirmed in 2021. EAB is still here, causing devastation to ash trees throughout Chanhassen. Now is the time to scope out for signs and symptoms of EAB: » Woodpecker damage (easiest to see in winter): woodpeckers peel away the bark to get to the larvae, often called ‘flecking.’ » D-shaped exit holes on tree bark: caused by the adult beetle emerging from the ash tree. » S-shaped galleries under the bark result from the damage caused by the larvae feeding beneath the bark. Because EAB is present in Chanhassen, there is a high possibility that your ash tree is infested but isn’t exhibiting symptoms yet. As such, treating ash trees that are valuable to you is recommended. Contact Rainbow Treecare for a discounted rate on EAB treatments. What is Chanhassen doing about EAB? With the anticipated arrival of EAB, the city has been developing and implementing an EAB management plan over the past ten years. Included in this preparation was an inventory of public trees, policy change, and a treatment program. As a part of the ash tree treatment program, about 300 trees are treated around the city each year. In addition to treatment, the city removes infested ash trees as needed. With combined efforts between private property owners and the city, we can help slow the spread of this invasive insect. Contact the City Forester with forestry-related questions: forestry@chanhassenmn.gov .
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SPRING 2024 | CITY OF CHANHASSEN
CITY OF CHANHASSEN | SPRING 2024
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