[mou] Acacia Cemetery area (Dakota County) endagered by development

[Bruce M. White]

Acacia Park Cemetery and its surroundings in Dakota County, located on a 
landform known as Pilot Knob, is often mentioned for sightings of rare 
and interesting birds. According to the cemetery itself "The Audubon 
Society recognized Acacia Park for its bird sanctuary which attracts 
thousands of birds each year."

That status would be jeopardized by a current development proposal to 
place 156 units of high and medium density housing on the twenty five 
acres of land directly north and east of the developed portion of the 
cemetery, including most of the land north of Acacia Boulevard and east 
of Pilot Knob Road. This includes seventeen acres of open space owned 
and used by the cemetery since the 1930s. This area is also mentioned in 
reports of bird sitings. What would be the effect of this project on 
bird populations and on the experience of those who enjoy visiting the 
area?

It is urgent those who have an opinion on the advisability of this 
project submit their comments to the Mendota Heights City Council. Those 
  voicing opinions should provide specifics about why Pilot Knob and 
Acacia are important, including details about bird sightings and 
experiences involving the area. They should also note that the effect of 
the development on bird populations has not been considered by the 
developer and that a full Environmental Impact Statement or EIS should 
be done to examine such effects. Further, is it possible to mitigate 
against these and other adverse effects of the development proposal?

During October the council is accepting comments as part of an 
Environmental Assessment Worksheet comment period that runs until 
October 29, 2003. Comments for the official record should be sent in 
writing before October 29, 2003, to: Cari Lindberg, City Administrator, 
1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118, 651-452-1850 Fax 
651-442-8940. E-mails can be sent to caril@mendota-heights.com.

In addition to being an area known for its bird population, Pilot Knob 
is also important as a traditional cultural area for the Dakota people, 
as a geographical landmark of importance to the Fort Snelling landscape, 
and for its associations with the Treaty of 1851, the crucial treaty 
whereby the U.S. government obtained title to all of southern Minnesota. 
For more on these aspects of Pilot Knob read the following piece put out 
by the Pilot Knob Preservation Association. For additional information 
please contact me, Bruce White, at white067@tc.umn.edu.


Save Pilot Knob

Pilot Knob is the most historic site in Mendota Heights, a place of 
statewide and national importance. It should be preserved for present 
and future generations. The City of Mendota Heights web site describes 
it as “unusual in its broad scope of historical significance.” The 
historical and cultural integrity of Pilot Knob will be lost forever 
under the current plan to build 157 town homes on the north slope of the 
hill.

Significance:
The Dakota call it Oheyawahi, ‘a hill much visited’; for Indian People, 
the hill served as burial, meeting, and ceremonial space; it remains a 
sacred site.
Pilot Knob overlooks the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota 
Rivers, a uniquely historic area. The Dakota people call this location 
Mdote Minisota and think of it as the center of the world.
The Treaty of 1851, a nationally-important event whereby Dakota people 
ceded 35,000,000 acres in southern Minnesota and surrounding states to 
the United States, took place on the slopes of Pilot Knob.
The hill figures prominently in Minnesota’s landscape. Located opposite 
Fort Snelling, Pilot Knob was often mentioned by early traders, 
soldiers, and travelers, for its prominence, its use as a landmark, and 
its view. The view of undeveloped Pilot Knob is important to the Fort 
Snelling Historic Landmark District.
Pilot Knob is a beautiful natural area, part of the larger 
Minnesota-Mississippi Valley ecosystem. It is known for its many bird 
species.

Current Proposal:
A proposal to build 157 town homes on 25 acres of Pilot Knob is pending 
before the Mendota Heights City Council. The developer and the city 
council have completed an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) which 
supports the cultural and historical importance of the site. The 
developer has offered to devote about one acre out of 25 to “ceremonial 
space” and an overlook.

What You Can Do:
The public has until October 29 to submit written comments about the 
construction of town homes on Pilot Knob and about whether to do a full 
investigation or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The city council 
must address each comment. Under EAW rules, comments should discuss the 
accuracy and completeness of the EAW, reversibility and mitigation of 
potential impacts, and reasons for a full EIS. You should explain why 
you think the effect of the development on this important natural, 
cultural, and historical resource should be studied more carefully. Are 
a ceremonial space and an overlook in the midst of a dense housing 
development adequate to address the effect of the development of this 
historic area?

Copies of the EAW are available from: Linda Shipton at the City of 
Mendota Heights, 651-452-1850.

Comments for the official record should be sent in writing before 
October 29, 2003, to: Cari Lindberg, City Administrator, 1101 Victoria 
Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118, 651-452-1850 Fax 651-442-8940. E-mails 
can be sent to caril@mendota-heights.com.

For More Information, contact: The Pilot Knob Preservation Association, 
P.O. Box 50823, Mendota, MN 55150-0823, James Rogers at 651-962-5662, or 
Bruce White, 651-310-0601 (white067@tc.umn.edu)