STOPPING THE PUB from building in the neighborhood [13 November 2006, Charlie Leck] HPPS, Ltd., a Minnesota corporation wants to build a large pub (8,000 square feet) and a massive sports complex on the NE corner of Copeland Road and County Road 6.  It would be practically diagonally across from our property. Naturally, we and most of our neighbors are against this development in our neighborhood. We are taking the battle to our local planning commission and the city council.	LATEST NEWS ABOUT PUB WANT TO JOIN THE STOP THE PUB MOVEMENT? [Send an email to 'No Pub in the Neighborhood' to get on the list!]
We've headed off the first attempt by this corporation to pass a silly amendment to our zoning code through the Planning Commission. It's attempt was defeated by a 5 to 0 vote.  The corporation has made it clear, however, that it plans to rework its strategy and come back to the Planning Commission again, with a new approach. We'll have to stay attentive and see what they try next. It takes a lots of 'balls' (if you'll forgive me for using such a vernacular expression) to disguise the project, the way they have, as a recreational/open spaces development. They would consider the pub itself as only an "ancillary, supporting facility."  In fact, the head of the corporation has said to us, a group of neighbors in the area: "The pub is the engine that drives the project." On top of all that, he wants to put four houses in the northeastern edge of the project.  That would clearly violate current code that calls for 40 acres per house.  He would like to use the 47+ acres of sports fields and the land that the pub sits on in the calculation of land for the houses -- sort of a cluster housing concept; however, our zoning code also forbids cluster housing in this part of the city. Sounds like an easy effort for us to stop this development, doesn't it.  Sorry! Unbelievably, the city's planning consultant recommended the passage of a zoning amendment that would make it possible. We've gathered well over 300 signatures from people opposing the construction and/or operation of a tavern in our neighborhood. Those will be presented to the City when necessary in our continuing effort to stop the corporation that wants to do this to our community.. We'll keep you up to date here about new developments.. READ THE COMMENTS CHARLIE MADE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION or READ CHARLIE'S ESSAY: "My Town Holds Surprises!" or VISIT THE INDEPENDENCE, MINNESOTA WEB SITE   If you want to be involved in the fight against this project, just email nopub@frontiernet.net Some details about the Pub... Would use approximately 68 acres and would include 8,000 square foot pub on two levels 9 Natural turf sports fields for things like soccer, rugby, lacrosse 1 Field Turf field for the above Two ponds for hockey, curling and skating Lawn bowling and croquet green A formal walled garden 4 restroom/shelter gazebos 1 open shelter, restroom and concession pavilion Maintenance shed Parking for approximately 275 cars Approximately 20 of the 68 acres would be used for 4 housing lots overlooking Fox Lake [RETURN TO NEWS AT SHEEPY HOLLOW & NATIVE OAKS FARM]
Copyright 1998   Native Oaks Farm Web Site Design & Maintenance by Charles H. Leck Associates         pc comments Comments by Charles Leck to the City of Independence Planning Commissions (November 13, 2006)   My name is Charles Leck, 15 Copeland Road… Mister Chairman, Commissioners… good evening! Thank you for allowing a number of us to address you.  Out of respect for the enormous amount of time you contribute to our community, I am going to be as efficient and as brief as possible. Last week you received copies of petitions opposing this proposed zoning amendment.  Those petitions were signed by over 240 residents of our community. Tonight we presented an additional number of signatures from other people who are also opposed that brings that number well over 260. I would like to tell you how we went about getting these signatures.  A group of us in the southwestern corner of the community had been alerted to the developing plan to build a large commercial complex  including 9 to 10 sports fields and skating ponds and a large drinking establishment in our neighborhood.  It would include parking for nearly 200 cars and a maintenance building and shelter gazebos and a concession pavilion and night-lights and also a housing development. So, we’ve been attentive and watching for actions that might come before you.  It was only a few weeks ago that we first saw the language of this proposed amendment  -- an amendment for a recreational area and open spaces that disguises this big commercial complex.  After seeing how egregious this amendment is, we realized we did not have a great deal of time to alert neighbors to this grave development. So, we divided the city into quadrants and decided to concentrate almost exclusively on our southwest quadrant.  I’ve designated this southwest quadrant on this map for you.  We began talking to neighbors about this possible commercial complex and about the proposed amendment.  We hoped to present you with a few dozen signed petitions opposing the amendment.  Well, most of the neighbors we talked to expressed their concerned and freely signed.  And then, you know how these things happen, neighbors began talking to neighbors and the half-dozen of us who started this thing found ourselves running all over town to pick up signatures of other people who are opposed. And as you can see by this map, the green representing the property or residences of people who signed these petitions, neighbors spread this concern far out of our own quadrant, as people began to realize that this very broad and all-inclusive code could also affect their neighborhoods in the future.  Though we gave no direct attention to other quadrants of the community, you can see how opposition just kept drifting outward anyway. Everyday – every, single day – we continue to get telephone calls or email messages from someone else who wants to sign up.  Most of these people express their own individual and personal opinions about why it is a foolish and dangerous amendment.  However, the clear, leading complaint about this proposal is that it is not in keeping with the city’s current comprehensive plan and is far too complicated as law. It will throw this section of the zoning law open to wild and questionable interpretation.  One of the tenants of good planning is to have excellent, clear, concise, manageable and enforceable zoning code.  This amendment is none of those. Can you imagine having always to make determinations about the meaning of “other recreation facilities” or “facilities complementing these activities” or “other amenities supporting these facilities.”  Your planner says this request “..should be addressed on its merits, and not on the specific future application that may result…”  That’s all well and good, but I only ask you to imagine those future applications and how you will have to be constantly trying to figure out what this language means in relation to those specific applications.  Please, I agree, consider this amendment request on it merits.  This request has no merit.  It is extremely poor law! To adopt this amendment and make it part of our code is to invite many problems for the future of our community. On behalf of over 275 residents of the City of Independence, whose names we have shared with you – a number that could be far larger if we had more time to talk to residents – I implore you not to recommend the passage of this amendment. Thank you! RETURN TO NO PUB STORY   pub01 NEW DEVELOPMENT on PUB IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD (5 January 2006) PLANNING COMMISSION WILL HEAR ON FEBRUARY 5 A newly formed Minnesota Corporation (registered December 12, 2006) has requested a zoning amendment and a public hearing will take place before the city Planning Commission on Monday, February 5th at 7:30 P.M. to act on the request.  The Minnesota Polo Club, a limited liability corporation, has asked that the words "and polo grounds" be added in the recreational land section. It's an obvious ruse!  It's the simple, but carefully planned, movement of a pawn in a game of chess that will lead to the attack, later on, of the rooks and bishops. The NO PUB IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD group is contending that such language in not necessary since horse activities have always be recognized as permissible activities in the agricultural district of our town.  The more language that is added to our zoning codes the more cluttered they become and the more open to questionable interpretations. The city's Planning Commission should not recommend this change to the City Council. Thank you! RETURN TO NO PUB STORY

[12 December 2005] This lovely little note came from the nice person who bought the yearly, Native Windsong, from us.

"Happy Holidays to you and yours.... Windsong is doing very well in her new home. She is learning new things each week, making new Hackney friends, and growing.  She brings a smile to everyone's face and is a true princess. Thank you for all the wonderful training you put into her early life. It shines through and makes her continued training so much easier.... We are so pleased with her and look to many more years of fun with her." (12/21/05)       A photo of Native Windsong just a few days after her birth in the Spring of 2005. Standing watch over her is the big momma, Native Laughing Lucy.     [RETURN TO NEWS AT SHEEPY HOLLOW & NATIVE OAKS FARM]

The best honey you'll ever buy comes from Ames Farm, just down the road from Sheepy Hollow at Native Oaks Farm.  It's served by the finest restaurants in Minnesota and you should know about it. Did you see the wonderful story about this honey producer in the City Pages? [Read story!]
Wow! That was a terrific article. You can find Ames Farm at the Minneapolis Farmers Market.  Some of their hives are on our farm and we're proud of that. Visit Ames Farm on the World Wide Web. We hope to have some samples of their honey at our both at the Mid-Town Market on Saturdays. his will give you a great opportunity to try it out. I think you'll be convinced, as we are, that this is the best honey available. We just tried some of the 2005 production results and they were really outstanding. Because Ames Farm was so generous to us this year, a number of our lucky neighbors and friends received jars of Ames Honey for Christmas this year.

Thanks to St. Boni Motorsports for sponsoring our web page! Be sure to visit their interesting web site!

VISITORS THIS YEAR As of November 24, 2008 more than 8 6 7 7 visitors have come to this web page in this calendar year (2008) Through all of 2007 we had just under 5,000 visitors to this page. Now, through four months of 2008 we have already surpassed 2,000 visitors and we are just entering our busy season for this web page. We look to go up to nearly 10,000 visitors this year. Our heaviest activity is during the warm weather period when we are regularly displaying at the Mid-Town Farmers Market. We have a tracking program that shows us where visitors go and it reveals that most visitor end up on our recipe pages. Charlie's Blog which used to be a part of this web page is now a separate web site gets nearly1,500 visits each month 4,921 visitors came to our web site in 2007 and than is far more than double the number who came in 2006 None of this makes us a particularly busy web site, but we remind ourselves that the site is designed and maintained primarily for our friends, family and customers. It appears to be a good service for them and we continue to get good comments. If you'd like to comment, send us an email. Thanks for visiting! And thanks to St. Boni Motorsports is in Saint Bonifacius, Minnesota (9 miles straight west of Excelsior on Highway 7)

Thanks to St. Boni Motorsports for sponsoring our web page! Be sure to visit their interesting web site!
Our web page is made possible by St Boni Motorsports This wonderful little operation is just down the road from Native Oaks Farm and Sheepy Hollow Be sure -- absolutely certain -- to visit their web site Thanks for visiting! St. Boni Motorsports is in Saint Bonifacius, Minnesota (9 miles straight west of Excelsior on Highway 7)