This is a photo of Birch Island Woods. Birch Island Woods is a City-owned conservation area on the north side of Eden Prairie. It is a largely undeveloped natural area.
This is Birch Island Road. It runs along the south edge of Birch Island Woods. Some portions of the road have a standard look with standard curb and gutter. But other portions of the road are more primitive, like the part shown in this photo.
This is what is happening on the south side of Birch Island Road, directly across the road from Birch Island Woods. It is a small residential subdivision development. It will be a through street connecting on to Birch Island Woods. The orange snow fence is to protect the trees during land grading.
This development is making some Eden Prairie citizens nervous because it may signal the start of more development in the vicinity of Birch Island Woods. The City owns some of the land around Birch Island Woods, but not all of it. Some of it, including the Picha Farm, is in private hands. There are citizens advocating for the preservation of the private land around Birch Island Woods. There are citizens advocating for the free-market development of the privately-owned land.
It’s a difficult situation for the City, but we will need to step into this fray, I fear, within the next twelve months. Until then, we wait.
