Hello Chanhassen Residents,
I hope this email finds you well. Please see below for an update on a variety of topics impacting Chanhassen.
Comcast
On Monday, September 16th, Comcast and the City of Chanhassen hosted a ground-breaking ceremony at Lake Susan Park. Comcast has begun its fiber-optic expansion into our city with a $23 million investment and a commitment to serve all neighborhoods over the next two years. Comcast is scheduled to make connections to 3,000 homes this year, with the majority of the construction work occurring in 2025. They do have access to the public right-of-way along with private property easements but are committed to restoring property once construction is completed. We will keep you up to date on progress. We are thrilled to be addressing one of the most requested services by our residents.
Road Project
This summer has undoubtedly been one of the more challenging seasons for road projects. We understand it has been long, disruptive, and frustrating. We're continuing to work closely with our contractors to address your concerns, and we apologize for any inconvenience caused. Please note the following updates:
- Carver County is making improvements to Powers Blvd. and Highway 101, including pavement resurfacing, trail repaving, and pedestrian ramp improvements. To learn more or ask questions, the best resource is the County’s project page.
- Construction on the remaining portion of Galpin Boulevard from Longacres Drive/Pearl Drive to W. 78th Street will now take place in 2025. Visit the project webpage for more information.
- For road projects and proposed developments, please sign up on our website for updates. It is the best way to stay updated and informed on progress.
- After construction season, we will be reviewing our road projects and communication strategies. Please feel free to email me at eryan@chanhassenmn.gov with any thoughts as your feedback is important.
Planning Commission
Our commissioners do an excellent job as the recommending body to the City Council. I regularly receive questions about their role, how they make decisions, and the impact it has on City Council decisions. The City Council and the Planning Commission serve distinct but complementary roles. The Planning Commission holds public hearings to gather community input on planning issues. They review the staff report and developer application and take public feedback. The Commission is required to evaluate conformity with the city code, Comprehensive Plan, and state laws, and make recommendations to the City Council based on their assessments. The City Council makes final decisions on city policies with a broader lens, while the Planning Commission provides specialized advice and recommendations related to planning and development. I share this to clarify the respective roles and evaluation process for the commission versus the city council.
Chanhassen Bluffs Community Center
Over the past few months, it has been great to engage with the community at open houses, community events, the Chanhassen Rotary and Lions Club meetings, and with our various youth associations about the proposal to build a 300,000-square-foot community center at the intersection of Highway 212 and Powers Boulevard. Hearing your feedback and answering questions has been an important part of the process. Residents will be voting between now and November 5th on the referendum question imposing a half-cent local option sales tax to build the Chanhassen Bluffs Community Center. Learn more about the project here and voting information here.
I want to address a common question: the absence of a pool in the community center plan. The City Council carefully considered this amenity, but in addition to the high cost of around $25 million for construction, it was the annual deficits between $60,000 and $250,000 that made it financially unsustainable. We recognize the desire for this amenity; however, after much discussion and consideration, the council was not interested in agreeing to a year-over-year budget deficit.
Thank you for your continued engagement with our community. Enjoy the beautiful fall weather, and as always, I am available to answer any questions you have eryan@chanhassenmn.gov.
Warmest Regards,
Elise Ryan
|
