Agenda - Planning Commission - 04/07/2005

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Preliminary Plat and Site Plan Review Shade Tree Cottages April 1, 2005 Page 5 of 6 17. 18. 19. canopy cover. There are also roughly 600 trees that are to be preserved throughout the entire site. The combination of the plantings and existing trees satisfies the landscaping requirements. The sizes and species both meet the requirements of City Code. However, a larger'mix of species should be incorporated into the plan. The Ramsey Tree Book should-be referenced to determine acceptable/preferred species. An emphasis should be placed on species that are native to this area. 20. Tree Preservation. There are over 600 trees that are to be preserved throughout the construction process consisting mostly of aspen, red cedar, bur oak and red oak. Furthermore, Lots 32-35 are to be custom graded, which will provide an opportunity to preserve additional trees. Tree save fencing is required around ali trees or groups of trees to be preserved. The fencing shall include, at a minimum, the entire area beneath the tree canopy, which is known as the critical root zone. No construction activity-whatsoever may occur within these areas. Moreover, no construction shall begin until this fencing has been installed and approved by the City. Finally, any clearing involving oak trees cannot occur between April 15 and July 15 to protect against oak wilt. If oak trees exist on or adjacent to the development area, a plan must be submitted outlining the actions that will be taken to protect those trees from oak wilt. 102 Ground Cover/Irrigation. City Code requires all areas otherwise not improved to be established with sod. Staff is assuming that the development will comply with this requirement. An irrigation system will need to be provided throughout the development where sodded and landscaped areas are established. The proposed irrigation system will need to be reviewed by the City Engineer. The irrigation system will. need a dedicated service(s) that must be shown on the utility plan. Sidewalks. A sidewalk is required along one side of all through streets and must be shown adjacen.[ .to Potassium Street. Trail Development. The city requires construction of trails adjacent to state, county and MSA routes. Nowthen boulevard is a county highway. A trail must be constructed along Nowthen boulevard. The requirement is to place the edge of the pavement 2 feet away from the property line. The preferred location is on the development side of the property line within a trail easement. Where this is not practical the trail can be placed in the right of way with the edge of pavement 2 feet from the right-of-way. The trail must be extended to the nearest streets, 157Ih Lane north of the site and the northern extension of Old Nowthen Boulevard South of the site. Detailed plans for the trail construction are required as part of final plat submittal. A public trail in an easement along the edge of the wetland through the development and connection to the intersections noted above would be considered if the topography of the county right-of-way precludes construction. Boardwalks would be required to cross the wetlands. The current trail development fees are $550 per unit, the fees for this development will be $23,100. The portion of the trail constructed outside the plat is can be used for credit against the trail development fees required for the plat. A looped trail is shown in the southwest corner of the site adjacent to Nowthen Boulvard. The trail shown exceeds the maxhnum slope in several locations. Additional detail on this trail must be supplied.