Wilder Land + Water Legacy Program

Washington County Public Works Planning Director, Jan Lucke, (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-lucke-01a8111a/), is another esteemed friend, natural resource advocate, and strategic ally, of our Square Lake Association. One of her project management roles for Washington County that directly intersects with our Square Lake interests relates to the Wilder Land and Water Legacy Program (WLWLP), as previously presented in my March 5 “Square Lake Master Plan” Blog post update. Jan recently updated me on the status of the WLWLP negotiations. 

As one of the largest and most ecologically significant remaining unprotected natural areas in the metropolitan area, the Wilder Land and Water Legacy Program (WLWLP) is an extraordinarily important project for all, and deserves full transparency, creative collaboration, and proactive strategic discussion.

Here is Jan’s comprehensive update:

• “Washington County partners with landowners and organizations to purchase land or interests in land to keep them in their natural condition.

• The County began land protection efforts with the launch of its Purchase of Development Rights Program in 2000, after receiving a grant from the State of Minnesota to preserve corridors of green space in the county.

• After passage of a $20 million voter-approved bond referendum in 2006, for the preservation of water quality, woodlands and other natural areas, the program was rebranded the Washington County Land and Water Legacy Program.

• The County and partners completed 40 projects on almost 1,200 acres in the first 20 years.

• For every $1 invested by the County in these land acquisitions, approximately $2 are invested by partners. $24 million in partnership funds and $12 million in County taxpayer funds have been invested in protecting the highest quality land and water.

• Wilder is interested in selling their remaining land in May Township to organizations that are committed to protecting it, and approached Washington County as a potential partner through the Washington County Land and Water Legacy Program. 

• The Washington County Board deemed Wilder Forest a good fit for the Land and Water Legacy Program and expressed interest in purchasing units where no other buyer could be found.

• Washington County has been working with Wilder and other potential buyers, including the Minnesota Land Trust and the Science Museum on a potential sale, which would include Unit 1 as a county-owned conservation area with a conservation easement held by the Minnesota Land Trust and Unit 2 as an expansion of Square Lake Regional Park. See Square Lake Concept Map.

• In July 2021, May Township passed a moratorium on all changes in use within its conservancy district that encompasses Wilder Forest. The moratorium is attached, and effectively put the sale of the Wilder property to the Science Museum and Washington County on hold. See Town of May Ordinance 2021-04.

• Washington County has continued to meet with Wilder, MLT and the Science Museum over the summer on issues related to lot lines, title work and appraisals, as these are complicated and time-consuming matters that need to be worked out if the sale were to proceed, however, Washington County will not continue with the purchase under the moratorium.

Additionally, Jan kindly updated me on 13 prior questions I previously raised, which I share below for those interested:

1) I understand that “Wilder is driving the conversation,” not Washington County, but that Washington County possesses a key influential seat at the negotiation table.

No change. Wilder is trying to assemble a partnership of conservation-minded buyers to divide and sell their land.

2) I understand that Washington County is primarily interested in picking-up affordable “left-over” parcel(s) that other parties do not acquire.

No change. The Wilder property is too large for a single buyer.  Wilder has been focused on creating a partnership that includes multiple buyers that share the same conservation values.  If there was a non-profit or private buyer with strong conservation values for all the units for sale, Washington County would step out and focus our limited Land and Water Legacy Program dollars elsewhere.  Our current proposal to acquire Unit 1 as a conservation area and Unit 2 as an expansion of Square Lake Regional Park in the absence of other expressed buyers that match Wilder’s conservation interests.

3) I’m relieved to hear Washington County doesn’t want the Wilder property developed, and is commendably committed to Wilder property protection and preservation.

No change.  Wilder is a great match for the intent expressed by the voters in the Land and Water Legacy Program referendum due to its rich plant and animal diversity and untouched lakes. It is rare and precious, and deserving of protection. 

4) The Science Museum has expressed interest in acquisition of selected parcel(s).

No change.  The Science Museum’s interest makes it possible for The Food Program to continue its operations as the The Food Program cannot afford to purchase the land.  The Science Museum also plans to run its own limited programming, similar to programs previous run by the Warner Nature Center.

5) I was surprised to hear that River Grove charter school has expressed renewed interest in acquisition of selected parcel(s).

There  might be a change here.  I haven’t heard anything about River Grove buying the land since we last spoke.  You would need to confirm with the school, but I think the plan is for Wilder to continue to hold that land and lease to the school.

6) Manitou Fund has recently (this past Friday) expressed interest in acquisition of selected parcel(s). We speculated that there may be a common-interest connection between River Grove and Manitou, as River Grove to the best of our knowledge, has claimed it does not possess the funds to acquire the Wilder property it currently leases.

Change. Manitou is no longer a buyer/partner in the sale of Wilder’s remaining land. 

7) You indicated Washington County has been in discussions with Wilder for the past five years to “pick-up left-over” parcels.

No change. There have been several attempts to sell Wilder to various partners that will continue to protect it.   Washington County was a partner in some of these previous attempts, all of which have failed.

8) You indicated the Square Lake Association has not yet been offered a seat at the table by Washington County because you are not driving the discussions, and Washington County’s ongoing role in the expanded WLWLP is not clearly known.

No change.  Washington County is a potential buyer. Wilder and now May Township are driving.  If one or both do not want Washington County involved, we will withdraw.

9) You indicated that the map of the parcels in June’s attached PowerPoint, presented at the River Grove Town Board meeting, is still generally accurate, except for a change made at your meeting last Friday in which the land “east of Mays Lake” was taken off  Washington County’s acquisition ledger, if I understood correctly.

Change. The lines on the map continue to be tweaked, and the area east of Mays Lake is back in Unit 1, the area Washington County proposes to acquire as a conservation area.   Attached is the latest map; it is still very similar to PowerPoint from last spring.

10) You underscored that whatever property Washington County may acquire will be preserved under a conservation easement. Usage will consist of “low impact hiking trails,” protect plants and animals, and not be focused on picnic areas, camping areas, lake usage, and boats.

No change.  This will be detailed in the conservation easement, which will protect the land in perpetuity.  We can share the proposed easement with you if the moratorium is lifted and we move forward.

11) Importantly, you noted that “the Square Lake Master Plan is not tied to the larger deal”. My understanding is that you have secured the assurance of Wilder that the parcel adjacent to the Lake, as  referenced in the Master Plan, will not be connected to the expanded WLWLP initiative, despite the connecting tunnel under Ostlund Trail.

No change.  Wilder has expressed interest in selling Unit 2 to Washington County to expand Square Lake Regional Park regardless of what happens with the remaining area of Wilder Forest.  If the Washington County conservation area (Unit 1) were to move forward, it would have a separate small parking area to access the low impact trails independent of the regional park.  All that said, everything is on hold due to the moratorium.  Wilder has signed the purchase agreement, but Washington County has not signed and will not sign unless the moratorium is lifted.

12) I noted how impressed I’ve been with the expertise, professionalism, commitment, intelligence, empathy, leadership skills, and strategic planning experience of May Township consultants Nate Sparks  https://www.nacplanning.com/about; David Snyder https://www.johnsonturner.com/our-team/dave-snyder/; and Mark Erichson https://www.wsbeng.com/leadership/mark-erichson/. I strongly recommend that you contact Nate this week to update him on your and June’s interactions with Wilder. You’ll be similarly impressed with Nate’s considerable expertise and acumen. He’s a world-class planning pro.

I have had two meetings with the May Township consultants you named in the last month and we are meeting again on Friday, September 17.

13) Finally, thanks for agreeing to suggest to Wilder that they form a Citizens Advisory Committee and that they consider inviting to participate:

a) Marine resident and attorney Mary Cullen (mary@thecullengrp.com);

b) Square Lake resident and adjacent homeowner Ted Nesse (tnesse@nesse.org);

c) May Township Supervisor John Adams (jwadamant2731@gmail.com);

d) Square Lake President and Square Lake Park Master Plan TAC Member Scott Alexander (alexa017@umn.edu);

e) May Township Planner Nate Sparks (nsparks@nacplanning.com); and

f) Square Lake Association VP, former Square Lake Association President, former May Township Planning Commissioner, Board of Supervisor member, and Square Lake Park Master Plan TAC Member (jim.seidl@legalresearch.com).

I did pass this along, but I don’t believe Wilder is interested in a Citizens Advisory Committee for the sale of their private land. However, I think Wilder is always willing to talk with anyone who has questions about what they are trying to accomplish. I heard Wilder recently met with May Township consultants, as did the Science Museum in a separate meeting. Washington County was not invited to these meetings.

Our special thanks to Jan for this informative and important update. We will continue to monitor these developments, and inform the Association as Wilder’s plans evolve.