Agenda - Council Work Session - 08/13/2013

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A20 13 -9b Staff Report July 9, 2013 Page 6 of 9 There are trails proposed throughout the development that will be paved, making key connections to the existing trail system in the property surrounding the subdivision, particularly in the Anoka Nature Preserve and within the library parcel to the east, A portion of the site is located with the Ruin River Wild and Scenic area. Anoka City Code requires that any development located within this area preserve at least 50% of the existing tree crown cover. Tree crown cover is the ratio between the amounts of land shaded by the vertical projection of the branches and foliage area of standing trees and is usually demonstrated in a percentage, The plans show that the tree canopy coverage may be reduced by 18% which is less than the maximum of 50% allowed by city ordinance. A tree planting plan has been provided showing four trees and ten shrubs for each individual lot as required by City ordinance. This would equate to 176 trees planted on the entire site. City Code requires that trees larger than eight caliper inches measured 4.5 feet above the ground need to be replaced at a 1:1 ratio. The trees being replanted exceed the number of trees being removed. Additional landscaping will be planted along County Road 116 to provide screening and mitigate noise from County Road 116. The residential subdivision also includes a proposal to mitigate erosion on the riverbank that is being undermined along the Rum River west of the subdivision. Photos of the current condition are included in the packet. The role of the Planning Commission is to review the regulatory authority of this proposal. The area is owned by the City of Anoka and has a conservation easement over the property. The Anoka Conservation District is responsible to oversee the conservation easement documents and management plan to review that all improvements within the easement are consistent with the conservation values. In general, the easement is intended to provide a public benefit by protection of natural habitat of fish, wildlife and plants; protection of the water quality of the Rum River; preserving the open and natural character of the protected property for low -impact recreation and scenic enjoyment by the general public within the property and from the Rum River; and protection of natural habitat for wildlife and plants, both terrestrial and aquatic. The complete proposal includes stabilizing the toe (bottom of the slope where land meets the water), removing the vegetation on the bluff, replanting with native plant species that will screen views from the river, and regrading the bank to create a middle tier trail and easier access to the toe in the future. The two tiers will be graded at a 3:1 slope with the trail in the middle of the slope on the shelf. See illustration included in the packet. On May 20th, the Conservation District Board met and approved moving forward with a river bank plan and directed the District Manager to work with the Developer to come up with a design that is consistent with the conservation values and design a tier trail approach to stabilize the bank. From the toe of the Rum River, the lst tier would be a 3:1 slope and then it would flatten out like a shelf where a trail would be located. The 2nd tier would be a 3:1 slope and then would flatten to the private single family lots. The discussion of the Conservation District Board focused on stabilizing the toe and protecting the water quality of the river which is a priority of the Conservation District. The timing of the development and the opportunity to partner with the Developer now for funding, design, and Iabor are key components to the discussion of this project. The riverbank restoration is a partnership with the Anoka County Conservation District, Developer, Minnesota DNR, City of