School Board Approves Three Site Concepts for St. Croix Meadows Site

At its May 8 meeting at , the Board of Education approved three concept site plans to put a secondary school on the St. Croix Meadows dog track property.

All of the site plans designate about 10 acres of the land on the northwest corner of the lot (near the intersection of Carmichael Road and Mayer Road) to be sold for commercial or city use. 

The plans show general areas where certain aspects of the school could be situated. Superintendent Mary Bowen-Eggebraaten stressed that nothing has yet been decided and that a full community-engagement process will take place before anything is decided upon.

The motion to approve the conceptual site plans was approved 5-1, with newly elected board member Sandy Gehrke dissenting. Dan Tjornehoj was absent. 

--- 

Grades 8-9 Site Concept

• School building zone
• Future school building zones
• Parking
• Future parking
• Practice fields (general)
• Baseball field (practice)
• Future baseball field (competition)
• Softball field (practice)
• Future softball field (competition)
• Future football/soccer field (competition)
• Tennis courts (8)
• Areas for wetlands, stormwater management, outdoor environmental educational area

 ---

Three-Year Site Concept

• School building zone
• Future school building zone
• Parking
• General practice fields (2)
• Future general practice field
• Baseball field (practice)
• Baseball field (competition)
• Softball field (practice)
• Softball field (competition)
• Football/soccer field with track (competition)
• Concessions/storage area
• Tennis courts (12)
• Areas for wetlands, stormwater management, outdoor environmental educational area

 ---

Four-Year Site Concept

• School building zone
• Parking
• General practice fields (3)
• Baseball field (practice)
• Baseball field (competition)
• Softball field (practice)
• Softball field (competition)
• Football/soccer field with track (competition)
• Concessions/storage area
• Tennis courts (12)
• Areas for wetlands, stormwater management, outdoor environmental educational area

---

Tracy Habisch-Ahlin, Hudson School District communications specialist, sent the following statement to Patch after the meeting:

This evening the Hudson Board of Education viewed the attached three St. Croix Meadows site conceptual maps for a 4 year high school, 3 year high and a grade 8-9 secondary school. These conceptual maps will be presented to the City of Hudson for re-zoning consideration and for use during the district’s community engagement process to determine the configuration of the secondary school and what to include in a future construction referendum. The 4 yr. high school concept map provides a look at how the property may be used to accommodate up to 2,500 students and the associated staff. The map shows a building zone that would include classrooms and learning space as defined by curriculum/programming; common areas; an auditorium (this will be decided by the community during the community engagement process, but is included here for site planning purposes); multi-station gymnasium (size to be determined by the community); and competition size pool (again to be determined by the community). The building zone is represented by a rectangle and in all likelihood would have a far different design shape that would include some green spaces. Other areas on the site are clearly marked.

To date, the Hudson Planning Commission and the Hudson City Council have not made a re-zoning decision. At the Planning Commission’s April 12 meeting, members of the commission requested the district provide them with additional information about how the St. Croix Meadows site will be used and submit financial and site comparisons of other potential school sites that the district did not choose (UU property, County property – corner of Carmichael and Vine, and a new site identified by the Planning Commission in Troy Township). The district requested an additional 30 days to respond. The district continues to gather financial comparison data for the Planning Commission and the City Council.  If you are interested in viewing the Planning Commission April 12th meeting click on this link - http://www.riverchannel.org/streaming/citycouncil/

Planning Commission and City Council members have expressed concern over the lost tax revenue on the St. Croix Meadows site if it is rezoned to public use. Currently the City of Hudson receives about $25,000/yr in tax revenue from the site. In an effort to recognize this loss and to work collaboratively with the City, the Hudson School District administration recommended to the Board of Education that approximately 10 acres be sold to the City or a commercial buyer. The City is in need of both Public Works and Public Safety space, this may be a piece of property that could be used by the City. An alternative would be for a commercial buyer to purchase the acres for a use that is compatible with a secondary school.

Your questions and comments are welcome!