Agenda - Council - 07/22/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 1 of 2 Patrick Trudgeon From; Sent: To: Cc: Phil Dommer [PDommer@bdghtkeys.com] Friday, July 18, 2003 10:06 AM Patrick Trudgeon Jim Norman Subject: Town Center Gardens Trees Pat - Please pass this email along to the City Council in your report. I will add to this email with graphics at the hearing on the 22nd. Tree Preservation at Town Center Gardens BrightKEYS staff has worked clos.ely with Chris Anderson from the City of Ramsey during the last two weeks. I believe our work has been very fruitful. With Mr. Anderson's guidance, we have been able to put in place a positive tree preservation plan. This plan has three elements, as follows: 1. Tree Elimination. The vast majority of the site is overrun by Siberian Elm. This is species which is on the DNR's undesirable list. They have choked many of the better trees we do have at the site. As part of our pla.n we will eliminate thi's species from areas we are going to save and keep it from being reintroduced in our new planting areas. Request: We are asking that the Council recognize that we will want to immediately clear these trees from our site so we can delineate and protect the trees we desire to save, (point # 3). 2, Tree Transplantation. A fair number of desirable trees are Iocate'd on the southeast corner of the site where the two existing homes are. We will stage our grading and demolition to preserve those trees until we have the balance of the site mass graded. We can then move the trees back onto the previously cleared areas and re-establish these mature trees in prime locations. This is a process we have experience in. We use a process to mound and consistently water the trees after transplantation. In 2002, our company transplanted approximately 250 trees and to date all have survived. Request: Similar .to Town Center, we request that we can immediately begin mass grading, (with Proper permits and controls in place), so we can use the short construction season we have left. This worthwhile task of grading and staging transplantation, then grading again adds about three weeks to our process. To stay on [rack we need to begin immediately if we are to re-use the trees. 3. Tree Preservation. Mr. Anderson has identified several areas of trees that he felt were significant. By altering our plans this week, we have been able to save ALL of the trees Mr. Anderson identified, with one exception - that near the traffic circle. We propose to eliminate the traffic circle and have reviewed this with Engineering. It is also Engineerin. g's desire to see this occur in the interest of saving the large Cottonwood near the pond and eliminate the maintenance issues of the traffic circle. Request: We request to submit our Final Plat without the entry traffic circle so we can save the largest CottonwoOd on the site. Our garden element and trail adjacent to the wetland would remain. At the hearing I will review this plan in detail. Thank you for your consideration. -286- 7/18/2003