VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. - The fate of a forest that stands next to the Vadnais Heights Academy for Sciences and Agriculture high school remains uncertain.
As a part of the City of Vadnais Heights Comprehensive Plan, the parcel of land that sits next to the academy could potentially be developed into a low-density residential area. The plan was drafted after research and receiving community input from May 2017 to May 2018.
On June 4, the Vadnais Heights City Council met for a meeting to discuss their progress on the finalization of the "2040 Comprehensive Plan." When council members discussed the fate of the parcel, Mayor Bob Fletcher motioned to have the parcel next to AFSA turn into parklands. The motion did not pass, with a vote of 2-3.
Students and faculty from AFSA also attended the meeting. During the public hearing period of the meeting, the students and teachers from the academy explained why the parcel was so important to their education. The students said several teachers like to hold classes outside in the wooded area to allow students to have first-hand experience getting in touch with nature.
Jaxon Lane is one of those students. Lane is currently a junior and says he wants to do conservation work in the future. He also says the wooded area next to the academy is where he learned to identify so many different plants.
"On the last day of school, I remember coming out here and counting all the mature oak trees that you see," Lane said. "We can measure trees, measure the circumference of trees to identify the age. We can track animal tracks, identify plants."
Despite the school's frequent use of the property, the school does not own the parcel. It currently belongs to the city of Vadnais Heights and is categorized as "Public, Institutional and Utility." If the city follows through on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the parcel would be used as a low-density residential area.
"At current time we have three council members who are interested in selling this park and making it a housing development," Mayor Bob Fletcher said. "This is really a part of Vadnais' identity. I mean where do you stop if you sell that part?"
With the 2040 Comprehensive Plan currently under review from surrounding cities, students like Jaxon are working to spread awareness in the time that they have left.
"Every other school I've been to, we don't utilize woodlands like this," Lane said. "It's something really rare."
"It gives a chance for inner city kids to explore the outdoors without having to drive 25 miles," Mayor Fletcher said. "As you walk through there you'll see it's true nature at its best."
KARE 11 has reached out to all three of the council members who have voted against the motion to turn the parcel into parklands.
Councilman Terry Nyblom said, "30 percent of total land area in Vadnais Heights is park or open area. The reality is cost of government keeps increasing while working families' income stays stagnant. To that end, it's in the best interest of all our city property tax payers to put this parcel of property back on the property tax rolls."
Nyblom clarified an alternative plan for AFSA students in the future.
"This parcel of land has not been rezoned. If 10-20 years down the road this parcel is sold, I'd encourage the school to work with the St. Paul Water Depart. to use their 20-30 acres of undeveloped wooded land directly across the street from the school for educational purposes. Any future trail could also go through Water Dept land on the north side of road."