Welcome, Friends of Fredrick-Miller Spring & Riley Creek!

Preserve the Health of Fredrick-Miller Spring, Riley Creek & Our Neighborhoods

Recent Updates - Visit the New Site:

http://springvalleyfriends.org/

VOLUNTEER

Call/Text/Email

612-562-8070

connect@fredrickmillerspringfriends.org

CLICK, WATCH & LISTEN - Public Testimony in Eden Prairie - 05/04/21 and previous City Council and Planning Commission meetings.

EXPLORE, LEARN & SHARE - Community Gatherings, Stories & Prayers - join the journey and the conversation with Friends at the Spring!

HIGHLIGHTS

WATER PROTECTION

CULTURAL
HERITAGE

CRITICAL HABITAT & BIODIVERSITY

SCIENCE & PUBLIC HEALTH

LAND ACKNOWLEDGE
MENT

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

LAND, NATURE & TREATY RIGHTS

FAMILY & COMMUNITY RELATIONS

PAST ENGAGEMENT

Update, 5/17/21: CALL TO ACTION - PUBLIC RESPONSE - City of Eden Prairie Denies EAW Petition - Appeal in Process

Hello Supporters:

We hope you are enjoying the weekend. Since there was no consideration of the environmental impact data or proposal to acquire the land, our only path forward is to appeal the City’s decision to deny the environment assessment. This is done by filing a declaratory judgment action in district court. The estimated cost for this process is $15k. Please consider donating to our Go Fund Me campaign (if you haven’t already): https://www.gofundme.com/f/fredrickmiller-spring-friends-lawyer-fund Any amount helps!

In the meantime, please feel free to provide the City Council with comments. Here are a few ways to share your feedback:

A few take-aways from the city council meeting:

  • The Mayor allowed Pulte 40 minutes to present information and only 2 minutes for everyone else

  • There was no consideration or review given to the information provided by experts, like Professor Alexander

  • No consideration given to the multiple alternatives presented to acquire the land. For example, a legacy fund bill

  • The Mayor completely missed the point of the petition for a study. The environmental review is about the Biodiversity and understanding the long-term cumulative effects

  • In the April 29th Sun Sailor, the Mayor publicly announced that he planned to vote no on the study. This was prior to the 5/4 meeting and distribution of the 1600 page staff report containing all the updated information and study details. How do you make a sound decision without all of the data?

-Spring Friends, Organizers

Call to Action!

TODAY: Contact Eden Prairie Mayor & City Council

WATCH: Eden Prairie City Council meeting 5/4/21

Update, 4/24/21: Citizen's Petition for Environmental Study - Accepted & Approved - by Minnesota Environmental Quality Board

We have good news to share! Our citizen's petition for an environmental study was accepted and approved by the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board! We had enough evidence to show there could be significant environmental impacts with this project. That said, it is not finalized yet. The request for the study now goes to the City of Eden Prairie for their approval.

We are writing to urge you to contact the mayor and city council to request they approve our request for an environment study. This will help ensure the proper steps are taken to protect this unique area. Pulte has also been notified of the study request and we are sure they are leaning on the City to vote no to the study.

Please call and simply state to please vote in favor of the environmental study, we need the study to determine the impacts and effects of this proposed project.

CALL AND EMAIL EDEN PRAIRIE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL

ATTEND COUNCIL MEETINGS 4/20/21 and 5/4/21

Preserve-the-Frederick-Miller-Spring-Our-Neighborhoods-Planning-Commission-Presentation-3-22-2021 (1).pdf

Mayor Ron Case, and the city's position, is that the “... Fredrick-Miller Spring will not be impacted.” Yet, the Mayor sourced outdated material in reference to this claim. In addition, several city planning commissioners, voted nay to the development; due to an incomplete environmental impact study.


A proper updated ecological, hydrological, geological, and watershed evaluation needs to be conducted to truly assess the specific impact of the Noble Hill Development.

Contact: Eden Prairie City Council

Mayor Ron Case

952-949-8593 - rcase@edenprairie.org

Council Member Mark Freiberg

612-581-7504 - mfreiberg@edenprairie.org

Council Member PG Narayanan

952-393-3100 - pgnarayanan@edenprairie.org

Council Member Kathy Nelson

952-941-6613 - knelson@edenprairie.org

Council Member Lisa Toomey

952-388-8827 - LToomey@edenprairie.org

To send an email to all members of the City Council

address it: AllCouncil@edenprairie.org


April 2, 2021

Water Advocate Vigil at Spring Aims to Delay Noble Hill Development Approval-Eden Prairie, MN

Water advocates organized through the Friends of Fredrick-Miller Springs gather to hold vigil at the Spring in the wake of a threat of development. www.frederickmillerspringfriends.org

The Friends of Fredrick-Miller Springs intend to delay the rezoning initiative by the City of Eden Prairie City Council, which entitles Pulte Homes, a company who has a controversial track record with violations of the Clean Water Act and consumer complaints. The Eden Prairie City Council will vote on the Noble Hill development plans May 4, 2021.

Mayor Ron Case, and the city's position, is that the “... Fredrick-Miller Spring will not be impacted.” Yet, the Mayor sourced outdated material in reference to this claim. In addition, several city planning commissioners, voted nay to the development; due to an incomplete environmental impact study. A proper updated ecological, hydrological, geological, and watershed evaluation needs to be conducted. to truly ass,ss the specific impact of the Noble Hill Development.

The F-M Spring is located in the biodiverse and ecologically sensitive Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District. The Friend’s and fellow water advocates are concerned about groundwater contamination of which the Spring is safe to drink, but has been exposed to nitrates from a nearby land-fill. The Riley Creek is susceptible to poor stormwater management, and Pulte has had to pay settlements due to sloppy stormwater management design and installment. Wild-life and biodiversity are also at risk: as up to 5 endangered have been identified as possibly living within the habitat; and upwards of 500 trees are destined to be cut down out of the fragile ecosystem along Spring Road.

Fredrick-Miller Springs is recognized as a landmark, and thousands of MN citizens, collect the untreated water as a preferred water source. The Friend’s recognize the relevance of the historical landmark of the Spring, as well historical trauma as detailed in the Land Acknowledgement of Eden-Prairie: that there is “... a painful history of unfair treaties, genocidal policies and forced removal of Indigenous people from their homeland.”

More Information

The community is concerned about the impact to wildlife, endangered plant species, soil erosion, traffic patterns and the water quality of the Frederick Miller Spring area.

A development company wants to build 50 housing units on the beautiful 28-acre wooded meadowland shown in the aerial above. These lands are a tied to Fredrick-Miller Spring as well as Riley Creek, cherished by many Eden Prairie residents and neighbors. Replacing 455 trees and much of the meadows with houses, streets and other impervious surfaces could result in a severe decline in the quantity and quality of spring water. Replacing 455 trees and much of the meadows with houses, streets and other impervious surfaces could result in a severe decline in the quantity and quality of spring water. It is for these reasons, as well concerns about increased traffic and wildlife loss, that we ask you to sign this petition urging the Eden Prairie City Council to withhold the rezoning needed to build the 50 homes until threats to our woodlands, wildlife and waters are resolved.

Sign AND SHARE the Petition: please go to this website https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/252W8RR and sign our petition to deny rezoning


Attend AND SHARE Call to Action - Tues, 5/4/21 7PM - Eden Prairie City Council final hearing - https://fb.me/e/4dWUu9Qv6

Join in person or virtually on the evening of Tuesday, May 4th. Prior to the meeting we will also ask you to phone or email City Council members urging that they deny rezoning for this uniquely important site. https://fb.me/e/4dWUu9Qv6

Contact: Eden Prairie City Council

Mayor Ron Case

952-949-8593 - rcase@edenprairie.org

Council Member Mark Freiberg

612-581-7504 - mfreiberg@edenprairie.org

Council Member PG Narayanan

952-393-3100 - pgnarayanan@edenprairie.org

Council Member Kathy Nelson

952-941-6613 - knelson@edenprairie.org

Council Member Lisa Toomey

952-388-8827 - LToomey@edenprairie.org

To send an email to all members of the City Council

address it: AllCouncil@edenprairie.org


Attend: Show of Support

Eden Prairie City Council Meeting

Date:

05/04/2021 7:00 p.m.

Location:

City Center - Council Chambers

8080 Mitchell Road

Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344

City Council meetings are televised live and rebroadcast several times each week on EPTV, the City's cable government access channel.

Livestream Options

edenprairie.org/CityTV

facebook.com/CityOfEdenPrairie


Send Email to City: Beth Novak-Krebs (Senior Planner for the Planning Commission) suggested that nearby residents write a letter of concern to the commission regarding the project. Letters should be submitted no later than 3/15 to the following email address: bnovakkrebs@edenprairie.org

Links to Spring Stewardship

About the Spring
Noble Hill Updates
Contact Friends

Sign the Petition!

Please visit the site to sign a petition - and share the link below with those who are interested!


  1. Visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/252W8RR

  2. Sign

  3. Share

Contact your Council Members

Submit Letters of Concern addressing the Commission to Senior Planner -Beth Novak-Krebs - https://www.edenprairie.org/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/341/669

Contact - Eden Prairie City Council

  • Mayor Ron Case

  • 952-949-8593

  • Council Member Mark Freiberg

  • 612-581-7504

  • Council Member PG Narayanan

  • 952-393-3100

  • Council Member Kathy Nelson

  • 952-941-6613

  • Council Member Lisa Toomey

  • 952-388-8827

  • To send an email to all members of the City Council address it: AllCouncil@edenprairie.org

Planning Commission Members

  • Michael DeSanctis

  • Ed Farr – Vice Chair

  • William Gooding

  • Ann Higgins

  • John Kirk

  • Rachel Markos

  • Carole Mette

  • Andrew Pieper – Chair

The City staff liaison for the Planning Commission is Julie Klima.

Share your Story

Join neighbors and friends of the spring online - stay connected and share your stories of the spring!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/frederickmillerspringfriends

Visit the Spring

Follow Noble Hill Updates

03.22.2021

Eden Prairie Planning Commission Meeting - WATCH - https://eden-prairie.granicus.com/player/clip/1560?view_id=3&redirect=true&fbclid=IwAR2PRrCVLyhXsuyMpqxgspmij6xxZswVB_uTR09B8yEJPKQW2oFiShOgsvY

03.25.2021

FROM: Richard Klein regarding the 5:3 vote in favor of up-zoning & a final hearing on May 4th >>

The Eden Prairie Planning Commission voted 5 to 3 to recommend up-zoning the Noble Hill project site from 2 houses to 50. Thank you to the 60 people who attended the meeting, we will need more help and support on the next step!

The Eden Prairie City Council will hold a final hearing on the evening of Tuesday, May 4th. If we want to prevent Riley Creek from further decline and reduce risk to Fredrick-Miller Spring, we will need to demonstrate a large number of the community members treasure both resources.

The City Council is the final decision-maker and May 4th is our last chance. Please plan on attending the May 4th hearing in-person or at least virtually. Prior to the meeting we will also ask you to phone or email City Council members urging that they deny rezoning for this uniquely important site.

In the meantime, please continue to share the petition – thank you!

If you have any questions or would like to get more involved, please contact:

· Sue Bennett scbennett1957@gmail.com

· Rebecca rlprochaska@gmail.com

Here is a link to a presentation shared at the planning commission with details/talking points: https://wp.me/aaUd8q-1E7.

City Council members: https://www.edenprairie.org/city-government/city-council

-------------------------------

Richard Klein

Community & Environmental Defense Services

24 Greenshire Lane

Owings Mills, Maryland 21117