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I <br /> <br />,I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> i <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> i <br />I <br /> <br />Mr. Gorham noted Ithat item IV.B.I.a., which requires a sketch plan showing location, species, size <br />and condition of ali stands of significant trees, would be a tremendous burden (cost-wise) on some <br />plats and he questibned whether this will be money spent wisely. He believes this will be totally <br />unmanageable. : <br /> <br />Mr. Bacon stressed that stands of trees are to be identified. <br /> <br />Mr. Boos reference~ the River Bluffs subdivision's voluntary compliance with tree preservation, and <br />it's plat was reviewdd as an example displaying tree identification. <br /> <br />Mr. Peck commented that one could be dealing with a two-acre lot which is all woods, making <br />identification extremely difficult and costly. <br /> <br />Councilmember zimmerman stated that you need to know what trees have to go at the development <br />stage once you hav~ people out there moving earth, or it gets very costly to the home builder when <br />additional trees hay4 to be taken out for utilities, etc. <br /> <br />Mr. Gorham commented that the City of Andover requires that the boulevards be clear cut, however he <br />finds this measure ektreme. <br />Councilmember Zi~merman commented that when Anoka Electric Cooperative comes in and wants <br />more trees down, it %lows up the process considerably. <br /> <br />Mr. Bacon stated he!feels the policy is designed to provide fiexibility. <br /> <br />Mr. Gorham commented that once this becomes an ordinance and present staff members are eventually <br />replaced, there coul~i be new interpretations made. He reaffirmed that he thinks marking the trees will <br />be costly, and althc~gh a developer tries to preserve trees he also tries to spend money wisely. He <br />added that those de~elopers not smart enough to realize the significance of trees aren't going to be <br />around long. Mr. ~rham stated, that as a builder, he can see the merit of having a stricter policy due <br />to all the people vis~ting the site in order to build the home. The builder needs to protect the trees from <br />people who don't sde their worth. However, as a developer, more flexibility is needed so they don't <br />have to put a strict, ~pecific plan in place. The only people setting foot on the property are the grading <br />people--and they respect what the developer wants to protect--and the engineer. A developer doesn't <br />want a huge process! to change the plan when needed. <br /> <br />Mr. Bacon stated it would be more sensible to identify trees at the developer stage when you're dealing <br />with a larger numbe~, since an individual lot wouldn't show the total impact on the region. <br /> <br />Mr. Gotham stated ~at thc fencing would be more important at the building stage. <br /> <br />Mr. Peck inquired ~hether the City is going to get involved with telling where on the lot one can build. <br /> <br />Mr. Boos declared that is certainly not the intent. He viewed such as a taking. <br /> <br />Mr. Bacon stated thee point is that if you lose more trees than necessary, the City is looking for their <br />partial replacement. <br /> <br />Tony Emmerich, Daveloper, remarked that if the City makes the ordinance too stringent, the developer <br />is most likely to go tn and clear cut the whole place before the preliminary plat stage. He stressed the <br />need to develop an gdinance that is user friendly. <br /> <br />Mr. Gotham confirrsed that if he, as a developer, feels there is going to be a problem, he will err in the <br />negative so he doesd.'t have to deal with it later. <br /> <br /> T~ee Conservation Policy Workshop/February 21, 1995 <br /> Page 3 of 5 <br /> <br /> <br />