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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1995.03.22 - 38986PUBLIC HEARING OAKLAND COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION GRANT APPLICATIONS MARCH 22, 1995 The public hearing for the grant applications was called to order at 9:03 a.m. by Chairman Pecky D. Lewis, Jr. in the commission room of the Parks and Recreation Commission's administration office. COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Pecky D. Lewis, Jr., Vice Chairman Jean Fox, Secretary Richard Kuhn, Jr., Ruth Johnson, George Kuhn, Thomas Law, John Olsen, L. Brooks Patterson, Kay Schmid, Richard Skarritt ALSO PRESENT: Parks and Recreation Central Services Oakland Co. Purchasing Oakland Co. Sheriffs -Parks The Oakland Press Private Citizens Ralph Richard, Manager Jon Kipke, Assistant Manager Frank Trionfi, Chief, Admin. Services Mike Thibodeau, Chief of Golf Susan Delridge, Chief of Recreation Joe Figa, Chief, Design and Development Janet Pung, Public Comm. Officer Brad Baker, Park Supervisor David VanderVeen, Director Joseph Hylla, Manager Joe Lambourn, Sergeant Buck Sralla, Reporter John O'Connor Sandra Zhihar Charles Chamberlain Joseph Bruz Sally Zittel Peter Borovich Sandra P. Giusto Toby Schlussel Nick Feldheim Gertrude Wise S. G. Kopler R. Wiser Virginia Stack Roger Holm Betty Hahnefeld Ken Hahnefeld Alexander Boberich Richard Martinez Al Doud 3a-1 (Public Hearing, March 22, 1995) ALSO PRESENT: (Continued) WKBD Channel 50 Fieger, Fieger & Schwartz Lori Hudson, Reporter Michael Alan Schwartz, Attorney Chief of Design Joe Figa noted that the Department of Natural Resources notified staff that the deadline to submit applications to request matching Land and Water Conservation, Natural Resources Trust, and Recreation Bond funds is April 1. This is the first required review. A public hearing is also a requirement of the DNR to qualify for funds. Notice of the hearing was advertised in area newspapers. The projects staff selected are as follows: Carpenter Lake Acquisition Lyon Oaks Acquisition Independence Oaks Restroom Renovation Staff presented the projects; no comments were made or questions asked by the public on the grants for the Lyon Oaks Acquisition or the Independence Oaks Restroom Renovation. The following citizens commented on the Carpenter Lake Acquisition: (Addresses are on file as part of the public information.) John O'Connor Sandra Zhihar Michael Alan Schwartz Mrs. Daniel Levitt Peter Borovich Sandra Giusto Toby Schlussel Nick Feldheim Alex Boberich Each citizen spoke in favor of the county acquiring the property for a park, citing preservation of the property's natural beauty and wildlife, the opportunity for acquiring another county park in the south end of Oakland County without cost to the taxpayers, and the benefit of this park to the community. Manager Richard explained the grant application/approval process. With no other comments received or questions asked, Chairman Lewis declared the Public Hearing closed at 9:31 a.m. t ;e-44W4� �.j� �, , Richard D. Kuhn, Jr. Karen Smith Secretary Recording Secretary 3a-2 Sandra L. Zhihar, M.A. 22180 Rougemont Drive Southfield, MI 48034 Carpenter Lake (C.L.) Public Hearing 3-22-95 Oakland County Parks & Recreation I live in the southwest corner of Oakland County, more than 1 mile southeast of C.L., in another subdivision entirely, close to 8 Mile. I've known about C.L. since I moved there in 1983..... ..when neighborhood children took me to their "special place". Special not because of any expensive, recreational equipment, but because of its natural character, and Beauty: gentle rolling topography wildflowers,trillium,trout lilly sunny meadow grasses trees.. big, old oaks wildlife.. ducks, geese red fox & deer ! I would love to see the property preserved in its natural state for many reasons: 1. If we lose C.L. to a subdivision, it will mean 47 more acres of stormwater runoff added to the flashiness of our Rouge River which is already destructive and terrifying. 2. If we lose C.L. to a subdivision, it will mean the loss of 47 acres of wetlands & trees that purify water & air without infrastructure cost. 3. Most importantly to me, it's one of the few, natural places left in built-up Southfield, and as such, one of the few areas that can provide food for the soul : A quiet place to meditate, on and in, the natural beauty of land, trees, flowers, and wildlife. A place to be one with Nature. Nature is the most often cited place people claim to be able to feel divinity. As a person with multiple sclerosis, I can now only enjoy Nature Parks. I find soccer fields and baseball diamonds useless to my needs, if not downright painful places because of my inability to participate. But I can still enjoy the passive recreation of a natural, Nature Preserve. But, as much as I would love to see C.L. preserved as a Park, I fear you might overdo: the size of the parking lot the number of toilets & picnic tables the number & artificialness of the trails so that wildlife habitat is destroyed. I plead: if you make it a park, keep it low impact. Mow modestly & restrain pavement. Think in terms of narrow trails and picnic nooks. I support a low impact, Nature Preserve Park to the extent that I think I have solved one of your problem/concerns. You worry about the expense of maintaining the dam. Have you considered the option of dismantling the dam and not maintaining it? Those 47 acres would still make a lovely Nature Park. NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF PRIVATE CITIZENS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MARCH 22, 1995 PUBLIC HEARING AND REGULAR MEETING John O'Connor 24000 Inkster Southfield, MI 48034 (810) 356-1296 Carpenter Lake Sandra Zhihar 22180 Rougemont Southfield MI 48034 Carpenter Lake Sandra P. Giusto 25199 Groden #157 Southfield, MI 48034 Carpenter Lake Nick Feldheim 27307 Apple Blossom Southfield, MI 48034 Carpenter Lake Michael Alan Schwartz Fieger, Fieger & Schwartz 19390 West Ten Mile Road Southfield, MI 48075-2463 (810) 355-5555 Carpenter Lake Peter Borovich 19876 Midway Southfield, MI 48075 Carpenter Lake Toby Schlussel 16980 Jeanette Southfield, MI 48075 Carpenter Lake Alexander Boberich 21421 Greenview Southfield, MI 48075 (810) 569-5040 Carpenter Lake REGULAR MEETING: PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GOLF POLICY Charles Chamberlain Sally Zittel S G Kopler Virginia E. Stack Betty Hahnefeld Richard Martinez Gino Scarpelli Joseph Bruz Gertrude Wise R. Wiser Roger Holm Ken Hahnefeld Al Doud