Chaska_030112

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Literary love

Crazy for color

Book club introduces readers to books, friends

Bright pattern for historic barn

A8

B17

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THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

CHASKA

$1

HERALD Purged again Board members removed at annual meeting BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO mfrancisco@swpub.com

PHOTO BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO

The slow-to-develop Heights of Chaska remains full of rolling hills and unobstructed views of the valley.

Reaching new heights Interchange changes shape of development BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO mfrancisco@swpub.com

F

or over the last decade, Chaska has eyed the southwest corner of the city for development potential. It’s an area that carries with it the promise to attract both new residents (in the “Heights of

Chaska� development) and new jobs (in the adjacent Biotech Center). But growth and development have been slow to come, thanks largely to the economic downturn and subsequent housing slump. Ch ask a i s hop ef u l t h at wi l l change soon as city staff reviews development applications for the Heights of Chaska and works toward a new interchange at Highway 212 and County Road 140. “Southwest Chaska is where most of the growth is planned today,� said Kevin Ringwald, Chaska director of planning and development. On Feb. 15, members of the Chaska City Council and the Chaska

Planning Commission met in a joint work session to consider how the original plans for the 1,000-acre Heights of Chaska and the 800-acre Biotech Center have been impacted over the last 10 years. “Way too ma ny t hi ngs have changed to say go forward with [the original plans],� said Chaska City Administrator Matt Podhradsky. The impetus for the meeting came from both a proposed development that would extend north of the existing Chaska Highlands neighborhood as well as the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDOT)

Heights to A12 ÂŽ

Heights of Chaska Timeline

Southwest Chaska

41

212

Engler Blvd.

61 Rd. Co.

Co. Rd. 140

DOWNTOWN CHASKA

Biotech Center Heights of Chaska Interchange Proposed interchange

N

Graphic by Traci Zellmann

2001

2005

2007

2008

2011

Heights of Chaska concept plan developed by Calthorpe Associates

Chaska annexes Chaska Township which will eventually house the Heights of Chaska and the Biotech Center

40-acre development approved as first piece of the Heights of Chaska (though it never takes off ); Chaska Biotech Center concept plan developed; Alternative Urban Areawide Review identifies need for interchange at County Road 140

Highway 212 is completed to Carver

MnDOT grants a conditional approval for an interchange at County Road 140

A new interchange at County Road 140 and Highway 212 could become the focal point of the future Heights of Chaska mega neighborhood development.

Four years ago, as members of the city’s largest homeowner’s association gathered for their annual meeting, Mike Sibley made a surprise motion to successfully remove members from the Jonathan Association board. Last Tuesday night, Jason Holt performed a similar coup, the results of which are still being debated. It was a raucous end to a long meeting dogged by procedural questions and confusion. After nearly four hours with little forward progress, and a motion by Holt to oust the entire board, Board President Nate Bostrom attempted to bring the annual meeting to an abrupt end at the advice of the association’s attorney. “We consu lted ou r attor ney,� Bostrom told the crowd gathered for the Feb. 21 meeting at Chaska City Hall. “The meeting is done, it is adjourned based on his legal advice. We’re done, we’re adjourned.� But Holt and a small contingent of three, with vote proxies in hand, continued to meet outside in front of City Hall, believing that the meeting had not been properly adjourned. (Holt, a resident of Clover Condominiums, is currently party to a lawsuit against the association asking for a legal determination as to whether or not Clover Ridge was properly annexed into Jonathan. He could not be reached for comment.) “We congregated outside in the cold,� noted Holt’s lawyer Jordan

Jonathan to A7 ÂŽ

Source: Herald archives

Storm Hawks kicked out of conference No more Missota celebrations for Chaska/Chanhassen girls hockey BY ERIC KRAUSHAR scores@swpub.com

PHOTO BY ERIC KRAUSHAR

After just two years of competition and one league title, Chaska/ Chanhassen girls hockey’s relationship with the Missota Conference is over. Ch a sk a A ssi st a nt P ri ncipa l / Activities Director Troy Stein requested approval from the Missota Conference Athletic Directors in early February to continue with the merged program, but was denied by a 6-2 vote.

Megan O’Brian (14) celebrates a goal earlier this season with teammates Casey Lindquist (4) and Megan Hinze (18). Chaska/ Chanhassen will not be a part of the Missota Conference girls hockey schedule next year.

Wit h Section 2 A A approvi ng the co-op by a 9-1 vote, Stein and Chanhassen Assistant Principal/ Athletic Director Dick Ungar decided it was best to remain as one team for the 2012-13 season rather than split. The Minnesota State High School League was in agreement of the co-op as an independent for next season. Since joining the Missota Confer enc e l a st s e a s on , t he S t or m Hawks have posted a 20-3-1 record in league play, including an 11-0-1 mark this season. The conference title was the program’s first since it

JOIN THE CHAT POST YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE MISSOTA CONFERENCE AT

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was the Lake Conference champion in 2003. Now, the two District 112 schools are looking at starting a new conference with seven metro-area high schools.

READ PAGE B1 FOR MORE ON THE MISSOTA CONFERENCE AND GIRLS HOCKEY PROGRAM.

INSIDE OPINION/A4 OBITUARIES/A6 CALENDAR/A9 VICTORIA/A11 SPORTS/B1-3 CLASSIFIEDS/B15-17 TO REACH US SUBSCRIBE: (952) 345-6682 EDITOR: (952) 345-6574 OR E-MAIL EDITOR@CHASKAHERALD.COM.

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