West metro briefs: Eden Prairie expected to opt out of 'granny pods' for seniors

The legislation, passed in May, allows for tiny portable houses on residential properties intended as temporary dwellings — often called "granny pods" — for people with health care needs who need to be close to a caregiver.

The City Council is expected to approve the opt-out ordinance on Tuesday.

Eden Prairie city code doesn't permit temporary dwellings, and city leaders said in a memo that there are other tools in place for transitional housing for seniors in the west metro suburb.

If the city opts out as expected, it will join other metro area cities such as Burnsville and Lakeville that already have made that decision. Cities have until Sept. 1 to opt out, otherwise they will be required to start issuing permits.

Kelly Smith

Residents are invited to a presentation July 27 by city, state and federal officials on the former Reilly creosote site, one of the first federally designated Superfund sites.

Reilly Industries operated a creosote plant in St. Louis Park from 1917 to 1972 on an 80-acre site near the intersection of Louisiana Avenue and Hwy. 7. Since its closing, the site has been the focus of intensive cleanup efforts.

The event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Municipal Service Center, 7305 Oxford St. Registration is encouraged; go to ow.ly/Ek4w3023PWK.

John Reinan

The public is invited to an open house Tuesday on plans for a proposed bikeway along Cedar Lake Road between Hwy. 169 and the Sabes Jewish Community Center.

St. Louis Park and Hennepin County are preparing a feasibility study to guide design recommendations when the bikeway would be built in 2019 and 2020.

The open house will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at St. Louis Park Middle School, 2025 Texas Av. S. Those unable to attend may contact Chris Iverson, the project's transportation engineer, at 952-924-2669 or civerson@stlouispark.org.

Minnehaha Creek Watershed District officials say that a record number of volunteers are expected July 24 for its 10th annual creek cleanup.

This year, volunteers will pick up trash along the entire 22-mile creek, which runs from Grays Bay Dam at Lake Minnetonka to Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis. Cleanup locations will be in Minnetonka, St. Louis Park and Lake Hiawatha Park in Minneapolis. The goal is to collect four tons of trash.

All volunteers will receive a free breakfast, T-shirt, water bottle, trash bags, gloves and barbecue lunch at Lake Hiawatha Park. Volunteers who are 21 and older will get a free beer.

Last year's event drew 1,600 volunteers.

The event is sponsored by the watershed district, Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company's "Canoes for a Cause" campaign, the Freshwater Society, Metro Blooms and Target.

Kelly Smith

Nine sites in the city of Anoka on the National Register of Historic Places are getting interpretive historical markers, which will be dedicated July 22 at the Woodbury House, one of the properties being recognized.

The city's National Register sites are the Anoka Post Office, 300 E. Main St.; the Anoka-Champlin Mississippi River Bridge; Colonial Hall, 1900 3rd Av. S., and Masonic Lodge #30, 1908 3rd Av. S.; Jackson Hotel, 214 Jackson St.; Kline Sanitarium, 1500 S. Ferry Road; Shaw-Hammons House, 302 Fremont St.; Ticknor House, 1625 3rd Av. S.; Windego Park Auditorium, 1830 Ferry St.; and Woodbury House, 1632 Ferry St. S.

The markers were funded with a $10,000 grant from the state's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, through the Minnesota Historical Society.

The dedication event will begin at 3 p.m. at the Woodbury House, followed by self-guided walking tours of each of the nine sites from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. A social hour will be held at Billy's Bar & Grill (the former Jackson Hotel) from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The public is invited; for more information, go to www.ci.anoka.mn.us or contact Anoka associate planner Clark Palmer at cpalmer@ci.anoka.mn.us/.