Agenda - Council - 10/14/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASS CONSIDER MODIFICATION OF TREE PRESERVATION PLAN FOR VILLAGE OF SUNFISH LAKE By: Steven Jankowski, City Engineer Background: A tree preservation plan was approved along with other documents associated with the preliminary and final plat approvals for the Village of Sunfish Lake. During the course of construction it became evident that several areas within the approved tree preservation area were incompatible with the final grading plan. Apparently, this was due to changes in street widths and alignments Without corresponding changes in the tree preservation limits. The developer met with City Council in a work session on September 9, 2003 to discuss this issue. A copy of the City Council work session topic report and the minutes of this meeting are attached to this case. Also attached is a memo fi'om Loucks Associates detailing background from the developers perspective and summarizing the developers request. Observation: Area A Area B The tree preservation fence now in place is not correctly staked. Staff has verified that the approved tree preservation area is several feet eastward of the tree preservation fence. The correct tree preservation line will be identified by new fence. In addition the develope~:s request allows for the possibility that grading activity may extend past this line, and suggests that City staffbe allowed to authorize grading beyond this limit on a case by case basis. Based upon the revised back of building pad elevations supplied by the developer in his memo, all the lots, excepting Lot 4, should be able to drain directly eastward into the low area without further disturbance of the tree preservation area. It appears to Staffthat that Lot 4 can be drained into the low area by grading shallow swales from the back of the building pad to the northeast and southeast. This grading should be able to be accomplished without the removal of any vegetation other than what would be classified as brush. Area B consists of a stand of oak trees located in the northeast coruer of the site. The southerly edge of the preserved trees coincides with the northerly edge of the building pad for Lot 5. A seven-foot high retaining wall needs to be placed north of the building pad site. It doesn't appear that tree impacts to this stand can be avoided without the elimination of Lot 5. The developer proposes to construct the retaining wall 6 feet north of the north wall of the Lot 5 building and proposes planting an additional 3" deciduous tree for each existing tree removed.