Windom Community

If you live or own a business in the Windom neighborhood, you may recall receiving a survey from the Windom Community Council (WCC) in March. Since then, surveys have been returned, tallied, and the WCC NRP Phase II Steering Committee volunteers have been working to plug the survey responses into a plan for the neighborhood. This plan (WCC NRP Phase II Plan) will outline projects, programs, and activities in the Windom Neighborhood for the next five or more years.

At this point, the WCC NRP Phase II Plan will outline and prioritize activities for crime prevention, business and economic development, senior programs, housing programs, park and youth activities, school grounds and playground expansion, and newsletter production.

It’s not too late to offer your input for the Windom NRP Phase II Plan! There will be several opportunities to obtain a copy of the draft neighborhood plan in September and October of this year. On Friday, September 15, plan highlights will be available at the Windom Fall Festival held at the Windom Community Center. On Monday, September 25, the plan will be available on online at the Windom Community Council’s website www.windomcommunity.org . Copies will also be available at Windom Community Center and various businesses locations in the neighborhood by Monday, October 2. Finally, the Windom Community Council invites all of you to the Annual Meeting on Thursday, October 12 for final community input and a vote for the draft WCC NRP Phase II Plan.

Keep your eyes open for post card notifications in September regarding draft plan access locations and meetings. If you have questions, concerns or comments about the Phase II Plan, or would like to participate with one of the activities outlined in the plan, please contact Rosie Doege Dryden at 612-990-0343 or rosie@bluebuzz.net. Many thanks to everyone who has helped with the planning process for the Phase II plan so far!

Thanks to the crowd of residents who attended the Windom Fall Festival on Friday, September 15, at the Windom Open School. Everyone enjoyed petting the barnyard animals, checking out the Fire Department’s engine and listening to the music of the Positronic Croutons. Get a feel for the event by visiting Windom’s photo gallery.

And a big hand to the Windom Community Council and the sponsors — a great job, great prizes and a great time!

We look forward to seeing you next year.

Windom Community Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday August 10, 2006♦ 7:00-8:30 PM
Windom Community Center

6:30 Call to Order – Welcome & Introductions – Pat Soulak, President

6:35 Special Guests: Randy Noecker – Presenting his proposal for a condominium
development at the Minneapolis Meeting Room site, on 62nd & Aldrich Av S.
(affected residents were sent invitations by Council Member Benson)

Betsy’s Back Porch – presenting plans for a coffee/wine bar at the present
Location – 54th & Nicollet Av

Council Member Scott Benson

7:45 Windom Committee Reports

• NRP Phase II
• Business Association
• Communications – Newsletter & Web site
• Community Center
• Festival – Jessica Evenson
• Welcome Wagon
• LASR-CC

8:15 Board reports
• Secretary’s report
• Treasurer’s Report

8:20 Unfinished Business

New Business

Open agenda as time permits, Announcements

• Next meeting, Thursday, September 14, 7-8:30 PM

8:30 Adjourn

Windom Neighborhood Association (WNA) Vision:
Windom seeks to be recognized, locally and beyond, as an attractive, active, supportive and involved community that takes pride in its cultural diversity and rich history. We are a community of people who strive to provide a safe, clean, educational and prosperous haven for all our residents and businesses.

WINDOM COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTES - AUGUST 10, 2006

Board members present: Pat Croal, Pat Soulak, Douglas Sweet, Mary Petersen, Mary Ubl, Jacob Berning, Dave Evans, Jessica Evenson, Breanne Dalnes, Heather Day, Chad Evenson, Renee Dowson, Britta Reitan.
Guests: Council Member Scott Benson, Jesse Rison, Randy Noecker

Call to Order & Introductions – Pat Soulak, President

Randy Noecker presented his plans for a 42 unit condominium project at 800-
822W 62nd Street (the Minneapolis Meeting Room site). The project would include a community room and fitness center on the first floor and 63 underground parking spaces. The parking entrance will be on W 62nd Street. The units would be sound-proofed. The units will be priced from $219,000-$285,000. He will present his plans to the City Planning Commission on September 18, 2006. If approved, construction will begin in spring 2007.

He is asking for a variance to reduce the front yard setback from the established setback of 29 feet to 17 feet to allow the building to be constructed. In addition he is asking to rezone the property from R1 to R5 as well as a conditional use permit for 42 dwelling units.

A representative from Minneapolis Meeting Rooms advised the Board that they canvassed the neighborhood door-to-door. Residents indicated that they did not want a commercial development, rental or subsidized housing. They preferred owner-occupied housing.

Many residents were in attendance and shared the following concerns:

The project will create traffic problems when access from Lyndale Av to W 62nd Street is closed with the construction of the Crosstown/35W project.

The project is to large for the site/neighborhood

Residents would prefer a smaller development (townhouses or single family housing

The Board shared their concerns and will write a letter to the Planning Commission (see attachment).

Windom Committee Reports

Festival – Dave Evans volunteered to have his band play, free-of-charge. Jessie Rison sent a letter to Pepsi asking for a donation for the pop. Pat Croal advised that the letters to the businesses were mailed and she will coordinate the donations. Raffle tickets will be distributed to Board members on August 29.

LASR-CC – The proposed zoning changes will be presented to the affected businesses on Lyndale Avenue. Elliot Park and King Field will attend the meeting to discuss working with developers.

Treasurer’s Report – Doug Sweet reported that there is $9,126.18 in the checking account. Doug will check with other banks for cheaper rates.

The minutes were read and filed.

The suggestion was made to change Windom’s logo to “Windom the Garden Gateway”. No decision was made on the change.

Adjournment.

Respectfully submitted,
Mary Petersen, Secretary