By Nancy Huddleston, Correspondent 

Members of the Savage Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission created their own definition of what Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board members previously called a “win-win situation” in regard to removing 6 acres of rare woods above Prior Lake High School.

By a 6-1 vote, the commission decided Monday night that removing the woods, known as SS-9, would not be a win-win for anyone, even though the return would result in more ball fields and a frontage road paid for by a developer.

The commission voted to recommend to the City Council retaining SS-9 in its current condition and continuing to look at areas within proximity to the high school site for recreational field opportunities. Commissioner Troy Winegarner cast the lone “no” vote.

“There are few things you simply can’t bring back, and this is one of those,” said Commissioner Kathy Peterson. “We should not take this, and we should not take the easy way because it seems practical and a win-win for everyone.

“While I’d like to see a good deal for the city and school district, at the same time I am very uncomfortable with taking something that cannot be replaced,” she said.

Commissioner Matthew Johnson put a finer point on it.

“This is an asset that the school district is not fully utilizing,” he said. “As kids get more in tune with Game Boys, etc., this is more critical – they need to understand the value of what’s in their back yard. We need to leave SS-9 alone. We need to look at opportunities for ball fields, but not at the cost of natural resources that cannot be replaced.”

Commissioner Lezlee Hustad was a member of the Savage Planning Commission in 2001 when the development plan for Prior Lake High School was approved.

“That area was supposed to be an environmental classroom for high school students,” she said. “Maybe it hasn’t been used to the extent envisioned, but that doesn’t mean that opportunity doesn’t still exist today.”

Gerry Duffy, an attorney for Prior Lake Aggregates, explained that the gravel pit owner is willing to do whatever the city and school district want in regard to SS-9.

“This started out with us coming to the city because we’re getting near the end of our mining operation in Savage and we have a large piece of property to develop and need to start the process,” he explained.

The first step was an environmental review, completed last year. The next step is working with the city to make sure the gravel pit redevelopment is in sync with the city’s comprehensive plan. Through that, Duffy explained, it became apparent that a road connection between the gravel pit site and the high school was necessary.

That process resulted in two options – developing the gravel pit site with the road or without it.

“We want what works best collectively for everyone, and we’re willing to go whatever direction you folks tell us,” he said.

Commissioner Ruth Lundquist pointed out that the gravel pit will be redeveloped for commercial and residential uses. Given that, she said, she’d like the city to look into where ball fields might be placed in that area, vs. destroying SS-9.

“This is not in the best interest of the city,” Lundquist stated. “This would take out a whole part of that forest, and the gravel pit will be a commercial area. While the plan looks nice on paper with ponds and trees, it’s not the same thing. It’s a nice commercial development. It’s not green space. It’s not a forest.”

Members of the audience concurred with remarks made by commissioners.

Bill Decker of West 141st Street said the city should forget about a connector road between the Prior Lake Aggregates site and the high school.

“You can cut down SS-9 and try and replant it, but no one living today will see that woods in the condition SS-9 is in today,” he said.

****** Callanan of the advocacy group Woods & Wetlands Alliance looked back to 2001, when the high school site plan was brought to the city for approvals. He noted that the entire high school site was developed around the natural amenities, and that change added $1 million to the overall cost.

He also said the city expressed its desire to have SS-9 preserved by singling it out in the preliminary plat for the high school.

“This went before the School Board, and I don’t believe they have any interest in having this preserved,” he said. “We have a superintendent who is on his way out and members of the board who have not asked the questions that needed to be asked.”

Victoria Ranau of 140th Street in Prior Lake brought maps of Scott County to illustrate her desire to see SS-9 preserved. The maps showed the number of trees and other vegetation lost to development in the last 150 years.

“What the school district and city want to do is to provide ball fields, grading and roads at no cost,” she said. “SS-9 is a taxpayer resource – it’s not a blank slate that you can do whatever you want with.”

What is SS-9?

SS-9 was singled out for preservation when development plans for Prior Lake High School were approved because it was identified in a city-wide natural resources inventory as a high-quality mesic oak forest.

But as Prior Lake Aggregates has pursued redevelopment options for its gravel pit, next door to the high school, questions have been asked regarding whether the trees should be saved or removed in order to accommodate a road between the two sites.

The Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board voted unanimously on Feb. 11 to authorize the city of Savage and Prior Lake Aggregates to continue discussions to remove the oak forest.

Scott McQueen of Wold Architects was at this week’s park board meeting representing the school district. He stressed that no decision has been made other than to have the city and Prior Lake Aggregates look at options. Furthermore, the School Board has stated that it does not have the funding to pay for the road and ball fields.

“The school district is in support of the original agreement with the city, but in work session discussions, there has been talk of other options,” McQueen said.

What’s next?

Since February, residents have voiced concerns about the plan to remove SS-9.

In response, Savage offered tours of the woods last week. All of the city’s advisory boards are reviewing plans submitted by Prior Lake Aggregates to remove SS-9 and install a frontage road and ball fields. The park board got the first look this week, and the Economic Development Commission will look the plans over at its April 16 meeting.

Official action on allowing SS-9 to be removed by amending the high school site plan establishing a new right of way for a frontage road, approving a grading permit and mitigating the lost trees will be up to the Planning Commission and Savage City Council. The Planning Commission is expected to act on the plan at its April 24 meeting, and the City Council will hear the plan on May 5.

All commission and council meetings take place at Savage City Hall, 6000 McColl Drive.

 Nancy Huddleston can be reached at (952) 345-6376 or editor@savagepacer.com.