To the editor,
The following includes my comments for the Public Record made at the Jan. 22, 2024, City of Cottage Grove Planning Commission Public Hearing regarding the planned Rachel Development at the Mississippi Dunes. I would appreciate it if they could be shared with your readers:
I hope you were given enough time prior to this meeting to review the 484 pages of material provided with Rachel Development’s plans for the Mississippi Dunes. For me, nothing has changed from the comments I have made over the last few years. The newest version of the plan only provides more reasons why this development should not move forward.
The new plan has increased housing density. The new plan includes four different builders so there is more potential for building in this area to be mishandled because the original message gets lost. Oops, didn’t know that - not responsible, not accountable. Just keep movin’. There are concerns about lift stations and bedrock. They haven’t started discussion about karst as yet but they will get to that eventually. The developer wants control over the park placement and wants to swap land. The Project Engineering report from Bolton & Menk provides many, many critical issues that need to be addressed that the plan missed. That old railroad bridge will continue to present a problem and will cost millions of taxpayer dollars to address. It’s possible concessions have been made with Rachel on a “Master Development Agreement” requested at the Sept. 6, 2023 special meeting with the City Council - which to my understanding - means that if the market trends change, the developer can also change the types of buildings without the need to go back for approvals. Market trends might indicate a high rise condo building or increased density with smaller lot sizes closer to the river. Whatever.
What I want to share with my 3 minutes of time is this.
The City of Cottage Grove and its residents were given a precious gift … a crown jewel … an environmentally sensitive area to respect and protect. Mississippi Dunes is next to the Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) And, over the years, the Dunes and the SNA have protected each other and their inhabitants. This area sits on the Mooers Lake backwater channel of the Mississippi River. Whenever I get a chance to visit that area, the feeling is as sacred as entering a Cathedral with its wide open blue skies, rugged landscape, beautiful foliage and peaceful, quiet solitude. An area beautiful because of its natural state. What the City has failed to understand from the beginning is that this is not a “City” thing. This area has local, regional, state, national and global significance.
Rachel Development, Pulte Corporation - There are many other places where you can build. Please leave this area alone. You are treading on sacred ground.
Mississippi River Parcel Significance* — here are just a few examples:
Globally Significant Mississippi Flyway: More than 325 bird species use the Mississippi Flyway to move between breeding grounds in Canada and the northern U.S. to their southern wintering grounds along the Gulf and Central and South America. The property is also in the 37,000-acre Mississippi River Twin Cities Important Bird
Area.
Located in Mississippi National River and Recreational Area (MNRRA): A 72-mile river park known for more character changes than anywhere along the Mississippi’s 2,350 miles.
Water Quality: Restoration is important for improving water quality in the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico by controlling erosion, sedimentation and pollution. More than 50 U.S. cities rely upon the Mississippi for a daily water supply.
Natural Area Significance
• Located in St. Paul Baldwin Plains and Moraines Ecological Subsection:
149 Species of Greatest Conservation Need are known or predicted to occur in this subsection, of which 74 are federal or state endangered, threatened or of special concern.
• Regionally Significant Ecological Area
• MN Biological Survey ranks “medium”, noting relatively undisturbed native vegetation and habitat for species of greatest conservation need (Bald Eagle and Common Snapping Turtle)
The thought of putting a dense housing development on this land is a desecration. Again, what the City fails to understand is that this is not a “City” thing. This area has local, regional, state, national and global significance. Rachel Development, Pulte Corporation - There are many other places where you can build. Please leave this area alone. You are treading on sacred ground.
*Source: Land & Legacy Grant Washington County Commissioners
Meeting, 2-7-23
Thank you.
Bonnie Matter
Cottage Grove
