Minutes - Council - 02/12/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Sara gtroman, 14546 ICrypton Street NW, Ramsey, ~tated that there have been many references made about the City's Comprehensive Plan and there is a lot of language developed to the importance of the preservation of natural resources. The development that is before the Council affects those natural resources in the City. She commended the City for doing a limited environmental worksheet, but she had some concerns because the limited assessment does not address cumulative impacts of the development with other developments going on in the City. Her other concern with the limited environmental worksheet that was completed is that the conclusion was based on certain assumptions, which included a tree preservation plan being in place and the amount of runoff that would occur from the development. She requested that a comprehensive assessment be done and that the City agree to complete the biological survey for Blanding Turtles as recommended in the environmental review. Councihnember Hendriksen inquired as to what the City's obligation is to preserve the Blandings Turtles ability to nest. Ms. Stroman replied that the City is required to preserve the lives of the turtles and there are mitigation measures that would be followed if they were found in the vicinity of the development. She also wanted to point out that when the letter was initially sent to the City by the EQB it outlined that the City had 30 working days to respond to the petition, but the development proposal was withdrawn. The next time the residents heard anything regarding the development was December 21, 2001, was when a notice was sent to them informing them that the Planning Commission would be addressing the development, which was well beyond the 30 days. The importance of that was that the residents had 30 days to challenge the City's determination and if it had been addressed within the first 30 days it would not have held up the developer on that issue. Mayor Gamec reviewed the findings of fact relating to the EAW and stated that in his opinion he did not feel that the EAW was necessary. Councilmember Kurak inquired if it was possible to complete a study on the Blandings Turtle. Principal Planner Trudgeon noted that the Planning Commission recommended that a biological survey be done on the Blandings Turtle, which Mr. Black agreed with. He reviewed the biological survey process. Councilmember Anderson recommended amending the last "whereas" to read: "Whereas, in correspondence dated August 14, 2001, Pro Source Technologies, Inc. recommended that a limited biological sutwey be conducted to determine the existence of Blandings turtles on the subject property." Councihnember Hendriksen inquired as to what the purpose was for completing the EAW. Principal Planner Trudgeon explained that the EAW is essentially the same as the biological survey. City Council/February 12, 2002 Page 18 of 33