Chaska Herald - City of Chaska news - Comments

Good! This is exactly the

Drayzen — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 10:26:45 -0500

Good! This is exactly the kind of kick in the rear that many people need around here! I hope this includes lawn maintenance too. It's amazing how many lazy people live in this town. I walk my dog downtown Chaska on a regular basis and these types of things sure take away from what is otherwise a beautiful area.

No way! There may be 26

Greg Boe — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:30:41 -0500

No way! There may be 26 other cities 'out there' with municipal courses that are rated higher (according to Golfweek Magazine, anyway), but that is likely their only positive attribute. Chaska, on the other hand, is simply loaded with positives! Remember, there is always plenty to do in Chaska!

So does Golfweek's No. 27

Mark Olson — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:08:24 -0500

So does Golfweek's No. 27 Chaska Town Course ranking drag down Chaska's No. 8 "Best Places to Live" ranking in Money Magazine?

I recall bringing a Golf

Greg Boe — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:40:43 -0500

I recall bringing a Golf Digest ratings team member (my brother) here to play the Town Course just a few years after it opened - he liked it!

At first I thought the

TimCraig — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:48:26 -0500

At first I thought the merger of the chambers was a good idea. Now I think it's a GREAT idea. When government and a newspaper both come out against a business decision you know you have a winner.
Congratulations!
Tim Craig

It's time for a change at

Henry — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:27:22 -0500

It's time for a change at City Hall.

The chamber is attempting to do what is best for their businesses and the customers of their businesses. While businesses must tolerate government thinking, it is refreshing to see a group of people willing and wanting to work with neighboring communities to make the area stronger. The Chamber is exhibiting openness and teamwork.

Bisiness leaders create eoncomic vitaility which results in more jobs, they provide services based on customer needs, they compete to make a profit while improving efficiencies and they listen to their customers.

Government believes government is good and more government is even better.

The Chamber should boldly continue to step into the 21st century and ignore the small minded council members.

My favorite thing is being

shelleyb — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:02:12 -0500

My favorite thing is being able to just walk or bike to anything. You have restaurants, movies, the library, trails - the downtown area is really the jewel of this city. It's what makes us still a charming smalltown city and not just another suburban vanilla - need- to- ride- everywhere- mess.

I couldn't agree with you

shelleyb — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:58:18 -0500

I couldn't agree with you more. Hardee's, Red Lobster...Kohls?? What's next an ugly eye-sore like Walmart? Why are we trying so desperately to become just another suburb? It can't be anything other than greed. There is no foresight or city planning. It's just money. That seems to be the only consideration, not enhancing or preserving our charm. We certainly aren't going to keep that charm that makes us a #1 city by putting in more cookie cutter businesses, not to mention the poor planning with hwy 212 - 41 and what I see as a looming cloud over us with a new bridge. We're just cutting into our historical area and creating more suburban run of the mill developments.

It's extremely disappointing. I've been here 15 years and had always hoped we'd preserve the downtown area to keep our small town charm - not build 4 lane hwys around the area and possibly a bigger, busier bridge.

The city planners are a huge disappointment.

Impacts to Jackson Heights

krystalklein — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:03:51 -0500

Impacts to Jackson Heights Manufactured Home park would be much more severe than the EIS states. The entire park will be closed if an central route is chosen due to the loss of critical infrastructure and financial impacts to the business. That is 62 lots and 40 families, not 18.

Also, the demographic information in the EIS is outdated and incorrect. In August 2007, All Parks Alliance for Change, the state-wide tenants union for manufactured homeowners, conducted a door-to-door survey in Jackson Heights. 95% of residents described themselves as Latino. This is striking, considering that only 6% of the population in MnDOT's study area identified as Latino.

The average combined annual household income at Jackson Heights is almost half what the EIS states. It is between $20,000 and $29,999, not $40,625.

Also notable is that fact that 72% of Jackson Heights employees work in the Shakopee or Chaska.

The lot rent at Jackson Heights is $375 a month and 71% of residents own their homes outright. Is there anywhere else in Shakopee or Chaska where a family can own a home for $375 a month? Is it even possible to rent a one-bedroom apartment at that rate?

Jackson Heights represent one of the few truly affordable unsubsidized housing opportunities in the area. Current relocation laws will not replace this level of affordability. The lives of these 40 families (with an approximate total of 68 children) will be changed forever if a central route is chosen.

Thank you for reading.
Krystal Klein, All Parks Alliance for Change
krystal.apac@gmail.com

I'm on edge about this. I

mnarch04 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:58:40 -0500

I'm on edge about this. I can see how it would be a great addition to Chaska and give jobs to people but I'm more concerned about traffic. The stretch from Hundermark/41 and down past Engler Blvd / 41 is a traffic nightmare. You add another 7000 cars to the area and Chaska will be so congested wiht traffic. We already got 5 schools within a few miles from each other and Chan highschool is coming up real fast. You add those and this new proposed school and the new 312....you got a real headache. I miss quite old Chaska.

I like the idea about Kellys

mnarch04 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:49:51 -0500

I like the idea about Kellys expanding alot except im not a fan for the Snyders drug being there. Split the new building into two smaller tenants.....Maybe a Starbucks even though Chaska has there fair share of coffee shops. Just my 2 cents.

Land of the NIMBY's (Not In

Carroll — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:41:03 -0500

Land of the NIMBY's (Not In My BackYard), but then again maybe they have a few good points.

It does seem from what I've read that they a cramming too much stuff into one small site, thinking about their ultimate site plan.

Maybe they could be the first to join the proposed Metropolitan Learning Center that was written up in last weeks edition.

This will be a great

FIKI333 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:32:23 -0500

This will be a great addition to Chaska! I reside in the adjacent Clover Ridge neighborhood. It will attract learners of all ages, not just party adolescents, to continue their education for personal and professional growth. Additionally it will add jobs, income, taxes and shoppers to the Chaska area. This is a real win-win arrangement for everyone in Chaska.
Frank Quale

Here comes Chico State

Tom Schardin — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:16:01 -0500

Here comes Chico State University, otherwise known as the party college of the U.S. Watch out.

Well, I wouldn't go that far. Chico State is in California and I doubt EdCampus is going to produce the next Animal House or even anything close to St. Cloud State or even St. Thomas.

So Chaska residents shouldn't worry too much about, what I think looks like a good thing for the city.

This is a bad idea. I've

abickford — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:19:42 -0500

This is a bad idea. I've lived in college towns and the atmosphere it creates. One of the best joys of living in Chaska is no college, now it's going to change, and not for the better. Outside of town or further away the better.