Questions reactions to Noble Hill development

The protesting and negative reactions to the Noble Hill development are so curious to me.

Like many couples in the Twin Cities looking to buy their forever home and carve out a future for their family, the Standal’s purchased the property in debate with thoughts of it being a wonderful place to raise their children and their animals, possible income off the land, and a financial investment for their family.  The Standal’s have been loving stewards of their land for 44 years with the hearts of true environmentalists, years of hard work, and sums of money spent on taxes and city upgrades more than a few times over the years.

Now they have reached that time in their story when their property will pay them back monetarily and provide them with the financial investment they had counted on to fund their retirement, pay for health care costs as they age, and help their children and grandchildren financially.

Isn’t that goal what most of us who buy a home or property when we’re young and starting out hope to achieve?  I don’t have any figures but I can’t imagine that there are too many people who would have the financial freedom to donate their real estate to a city for the enjoyment of that city’s residents instead of needing the money from the sale of that property to finance the goals stated above.

The debate can’t be about a need for conservation areas in our city.  Eden Prairie is home to over 1,000 acres of protected green spaces and 200 miles of multi-use trails.  We have 37 parks and 15 conservation areas – one of which is 147 acres and just a stone’s throw from the Standal’s.  And the debate can’t be about Miller Spring which is already owned by the city and is fed from the land across the road west of Standal’s.  So curious.

I am happy that the Eden Prairie City Council did the right thing and voted unanimously to honor the Standal’s goal-oriented plan and let them complete their sweet journey peacefully.

Lori Olson

Eden Prairie, MN