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3) 4) 5) 6) Comment iT he proposed alignment will affect a Type 4 Wetland. Responsei It is true that the roadway will impact a protected wetland. However, when neces~ [the City has constructed roadways through wetlands. Most notable is the recently ~mpleted segment of 153rd Avenue between County Road #5 and Ramsey Boulo~a: which the staff feels was done in an environmentally acceptable manner. We have r,ee red positive comments from citizens on the wetland mitigation elements of the projae~, '1 ~ie City acknowledges wetlands as a valuable resource and is committed to both minirn[zing and mitigating any impacts to them. Vehicle access along the wetland will also afford ~he P,'ublic an opportunity to enjoy their beauty. Commentj ~At the December 10, 1991 meeting a resident stated that the adjacent wetland was a I~abitiat for the Blanding turtle, which is a "threatened" species. Responsel Discussion with the Department of Natural Resources office dealing with threatehed hnd endangered species indicated that numerous sightings of Blanding turtles have ~ert;';:mcorded in the Ramsey area, including one sighting within the general proxirmty of the grOp~sed project. Blanding turtles are common within the Anoka sand plain area since t~ei~fhabitat consists of shallow wetland with emergent vegetation. They tend to remainlin II~e wetland except for nesting to lay eggs, which they prefer to do in sandy soils as close ~ the wetland as possible. Discussion with DNR personnel indicated the Depaxt~eht~, ~ ~- policy on such projects' ~s' to address each project having a potential impact on a case by~ c~e basis. Some potential provisions to address the impact on the Blanding turtle may irtelade a) recreating similar wetland in another location, b) limiting construction aefivfti[~s id a period when the turtles are not nesting, and c) installing fencing to keep the turtles Separate from the roadway. Commenti It was pointed out that a portion of the roadway will necessitate the taking of parkland. Respotise~r :~A small portion of the project located soUth the Section 21 Half Section Line was deiticated as parkland as a portion of the Greenland Hills Plat. All of the dedicated parkland dlcept perhaps a strip fronting along Armstrong Boulevard no greater than 100 feet wi& i~in actuality wetland. Comment[ It was pointed out that the land parcel between Armstrong Blvd. and the proposed street (currently owned by Mr. Wayne Knutson) would have double frontage on two rn~ov:roadways. Since the land is zoned residential, the value of the land would be decreaged. ResponSe: ;It is reasonable to conclude that the referenced property would become less desir~a~leii~sidential property. The fact that the property would have direct access to both a nort~sofit~'h and east/west arterial street would increase its potential value if it were to be rezon~ for ;commercial use. Recommendation: Alternative 2 cteate~ a functioning mst/west arterial which terminates at Armstrong Boulevard. As development p,~oc~eds, traffic having origins or destinations west of Armstrong Boulevard wishing to travel eastward ~o City Hall, the elementary school, clinicS and future developments in this vicinity will n,~e~ to travel excessive distance, make additional tums and be subject to safety hazards of ustn g.~strong Boulevard or travel over non-arterial residential streets to avoid the use of Armstrong l~loulevard. I recommend against pursuing this alternative.