Chanhassen Villager - Harleys in Chan? - Comments

For the record, we are have

chan resident — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 13:26:24 -0600

For the record, we are have just under 200 signatures (not 100). I didn't attend the meeting with the whinning and yelling. Sounds like an interesting meeting. When did that take place? Your position is that only the educated would be in favor of changing the zoning and introducing an 80,000 square foot big box retail structure into this community. This is not quite that simple. The communities with vision take time to plan out significant changes like this. They don't allow a few to make the choice for the majority.

We would be interested in finding out how many residents signed a petition for the rezoning and the suggestion that a big box retail operation be introduced into this residential community. This would be interesting. Then we should match addresses for the two or three that sign the document and see if they live south of Highway 5.

Chanhassen has a great opportunity since we have a white piece of paper that we can work with. What is the plan? What is the vision for the community? Where is the leadership? We have a plan in place. That plan indicates that the zoning is for residential homes. If the community and the Council wants to explore options, lets do it with a plan. If we want additional jobs, lets go after real jobs (bio medical or technology). For the record most of the neighbors in these communities are educated and they are not typically protesting issues since they work. This is a big deal because the wrong choise will affect us for many years. The wrong choise will open up the door for additional big box operations. The wrong choise will mean that we end up with a community without a plan. The wrong choise is allowing Harley to move in.

Dear Over 50, I agree with

Brutus1 — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 09:39:40 -0600

Dear Over 50, I agree with your neutral, and educated, vision on growth. I apologize to everyone for getting so angry, but I was fighting fire with fire. I regret this, and I try to remember that two stupid people in a room doesn't make the room any smarter. It is always funny when people have lots of children then complain when houses pop-up everywhere followed by commercial.

Nevertheless, I do support Harely 100%. I will be writing a letter to the Mayor and Council showing my support and explaining to them how that petition letter, to which I did not sign, doesn't make sense and is filled with unjustified anger. Unfortunately, those of us who support Harley, or really are neutral about it all, will not get the grease so to speak. These angry small-in-number citizens know that it is the whinning, yelling, screaming, over-emotional people who, in their mind, have the "most to lose" get the grease. They will say most anything to get the warm milk bottle first.

I encourage those who support something unique to our community, like Harely, to write a letter to your Mayor and Council. Address the letter to City Hall. Otherwise you will permit some 100 plus people to dictate how your 26,000, and rapidly growing, populated City develops and fails (more boutiques, banks, bridal shops, coffee shops, etc). This is where the true tragity lies. Not in "loud pipes" and leather jackets; people with money to spend in our community.

Bring back the helmet law.

egraymond — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 19:30:27 -0600

Bring back the helmet law.

I (Editor Richard

rcraw — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:08:52 -0600

I (Editor Richard Crawford) spoke with County Commissioner Tom Workman regarding this. The comment that he would have a conflict of interest seems to be a stretch, because the proposal, if it goes forward, would go to city hall, not the county.

Key points on this:

Workman is a Harley rider and a lobbyist for ABATE

The county has had no involvement in the Harley Dealership discussion.

Workman said he's not directly involved in this proposal.

Enough already! I've been

Over50 — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 12:55:37 -0600

Enough already! I've been sitting back and reading all these comments and I think you all need to just sit back and think about what you are saying. There are alot of numbers being thrown around and many assumptions about how much money they are going to lose on their expesive homes, how high their taxes are and how terrible the H-D dealer will be or how menial the new jobs offered would be for them. When I moved to Chanhassen, there were mostly cornfields in the neighborhood. We were not happy about all the townhomes built off 101 or the Lake Susan and Springfield developments. These meant more traffic and more taxes due to the need for more schools and city services. All of these things are part of suburban sprawl and the new highways that bring more people to our city.
We all knew the freeway would come some day, and that any land near an entrance would develop commercially. Neighbors complained when the postal annex was proposed and when the Doppler radar site was built, but they have adapted. Others didn't like when they built townhomes and condos on Powers. The 101 and Lyman site was going to be used for twinhomes, but if the devleopers cannot make this work, some sort of commercial businesses would be the only feasable solution for the property. These shops or whatever would have to be open most days to survive, if they even could. With the proposed strip mall and gas station across Lyman and the shops in the Transit development, the area may not be able to support any more small shops. We all know that the traffic is going to increase dramatically, I won't quote any numbers. The cars parking at the ramp, the traffic to the new development where the old apartments were, and the cars and trucks just entering the freeway. Most of these will have to pass through the intersection at 101 and Lyman.
There are many motorcycles that travel down 101 now during the summer, but none for about 6 months out of our year due to weather. This would only bring limited car traffic 1/2 of the year, where a strip mall would be year round. The references to the terrible noise of Harleys can be exaggerated to suit the complainers, even though I hear some go by once in awhile that are very loud. Some make it seem like there will be a constant deafening sound at all times, I dispute that as another exaggerated assumption. I'm not going to brag about how much my house cost or how big it is or how high my taxes are, I enjoy living in Chan and will accept the decision of the Council as I see the city grow and things change. Enough with the personal attacks and bragging, lets all go to the council meeting and see what they think is best for the community, whether or not we all agree, we have a system and we need to use it.

Point well taken on the

rcraw — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 11:04:11 -0600

Point well taken on the zoning issues. I would say, however, I've seen a fair amount of cycling in the city. I know County Commissioner Workman is a big cycling enthusiast. Not sure if he rides a Harley though.

Everyone that lives in

Scot Joynt — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:49:28 -0600

Everyone that lives in Chanhassen realizes commercial development is part of a growing city. Most of us purchased property understanding the 312 plans and the city zoning already in place. A Harley dealership is not normal commercial development and especially not normal with a dramatic change in zoning to be so close to single family homes. I can't remember ever seeing a Harley motorcycle operating in Chanhassen. It is not part of what Chanhassen is or what most of us understood the vision to be. The majority of commercial operations are active during the week and quiet on the weekends when families are home. This dealership would be the opposite with test rides and alot of other activity when families are enjoying their highly taxed Chanhassen home on the weekend. There is a ton of acreage that is available along 312 that would not be this close to existing residential development. It is frustrating that this might have any possibility of being supported by the city council.

Scot Joynt
Chanhassen- Springfield Development

Thanks for the comment. I

rcraw — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 09:22:07 -0600

Thanks for the comment. I think this case will have similarities to many development decisions the city faces in the next few years in the vicinity of the new 212. The big issue overall is where should new commercial development go and whether zoning can/should be changed to accommodate it. It sounds like the city's review of the Comprehensive Plan will have a lot to say about this issue.

I don't see how a Harley

megamann — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:19:42 -0600

I don't see how a Harley Davidson dealership fits the area. It does not seem logical to place a 84,000 square foot store next to those 3 houses on Lyman or the Springfield neighborhood. If I was the Southwest Village developer, I'd be a bit upset too! They are building those townhouses that will face Lyman Blvd and now could have a great view of the Harley people. That could hurt the selling potential of those townhomes.

I find it hard to believe the City Council will approve this. It just does not fit the current plan to develop that area.

It also goes against the reason everyone buys in Chanhassen... it's to get away from big boxes.

Harleys in Chan?

rcraw — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:44:04 -0600

A proposal to build a Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership may be submitted to the city of Chanhassen in the next month or so.