City Council approval is being requested to enter into a three-way Memorandum Of Understanding between the City of Chaska, City of Chanhassen, and the Carver Trails Group to create off-road, single-track, multi-use trails within right-of-way (ROW) property along Highway 212 across from Pioneer Ridge Middle School (see Attachment 1). This property/project site has three landowners which includes the City of Chaska, City of Chanhassen, and MnDOT.

The City of Chaska will hold a Limited Use Permit with MnDOT authorizing the operation of the trail.
The Chaska City Council at their April 15, 2019 meeting adopted Resolution 2019-38 approving the City of Chaska to obtain a limited use permit from MnDOT for such trails on their property. MnDOT LUP #1017-0037 was approved by MnDOT’s Commissioner of Transportation on August 19, 2019 and issued to the City of Chaska with an expiration of May 1, 2029 that includes an option to renew. The City of Chaska obtained the necessary work permit from MnDOT (#US-19-87912) on October 9, 2019 for the Carver Trails Group to build the trails on their property.

Carver County owns some of the ROW property on this project site within the City of Chanhassen and is conveying such real property to the City of Chanhassen (see separate agreement on tonight's consent agenda).

Carver County also owns property on this project site within the City of Chaska and is conveying such real property to the City of Chaska. The City of Chaska has already approved this land conveyance and the three-way Memorandum of Understanding.

The Carver Trails Group, a local non-profit group, will manage volunteers to build and maintain such trails utilizing established sustainability and best practices defined by the International Mountain Biking Association.

Tim Vossberg, who lives in Chaska and helps coach the Chaska/Chanhassen Mountain Bike Club Team, contacted the city in early 2018 about building local off-road trails for the safety and benefit of both the club team and the public. Tim shared his extensive experience and passion in mountain biking that includes past involvement on the Minnesota Off-Road Cyclist’s (MORC) board which is a non-profit volunteer organization that promotes responsible riding and has worked with many metro cities to establish and maintain mountain biking trails.

Tim informed city staff that he had contacted MnDOT regarding right-of-way land along Highway 212 and learned that a Limited Use Permit (LUP) can be obtained to build mountain bike trails; however, MnDOT requires a governmental agency to obtain such LUP. Tim, along with other coaches, had presented their request to the Carver County Park Board and it was determined by their board that either Chanhassen or Chaska become the planning authority. Tim’s group then presented to Chanhassen’s Park Board of which they were in support of the project but determined that Chaska should obtain the LUP given the majority of proposed trails and the primary trail entrance will fall within the City of Chaska limits.

Shortly thereafter, the City of Chaska was informed by MnDOT that some of the right-of-way area that was being requested in the LUP had been turned over to Carver County. This new information required the City of Chaska to obtain a LUP from Carver County to utilize their right-of-way as part of this project, thus the need for two (2) resolutions to support two (2) LUPs.

While working with Carver County to obtain such LUP, the county determined it was in their best interest to convey the property they owned within the project site to the respective cities of Chaska and Chanhassen for such property located within each city’s limits. The Carver County Board of Commissioners approved county staff’s recommendation to convey the property to the cities, of which respective city staff and attorneys worked with Carver County’s staff and attorney to develop the necessary agreements for approval.

The proposed site for the trails is predominately prairie grass with rolling hills and minimal trees making it beginner friendly. It is estimated that approximately three to four miles of trails can be built which will provide a great practice facility for the Chaska/Chanhassen Area Mountain Bike Club Team. Mountain biking is a growing activity as evidenced by the 100+ kids participating on the club team this past season. Additionally, Carver County recently helped the 112 School District obtain a fleet of 40 mountain bikes through a grant, thus this site will provide PE teachers an option for their students to ride on off-road trails. Lastly, the trails will be available for the general public to enjoy. The trails will be multi-use nature trails that can also be used for running/hiking, along with snow shoeing and fat tire biking in the winter.

This project is community driven and is supported by Eastern Carver County Schools, Carver County, MnDOT, the cities of Chaska and Chanhassen, and Carver Trails. The City of Chaska and Carver Trails will manage the project. The City of Chanhassen is a partner by allowing the trails to be located on ROW being transferred from Carver County to the City of Chanhassen.

“The City Council adopts a resolution to execute a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Chaska, City of Chanhassen, and Carver Trails regarding the operation of a mountain bike trail on city right-of-way.”