Agenda - Council - 08/09/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COMMENTS & RESPONSES AnoRa Conservation Di~tric~ 16015 Central Ave. NE # 103 Ham Lake, MN 55304 Ph (763) 434-2030 Fax (763) 434-2094 AnokaNaturalResources,corn City of Ramsey Attn: Amy Geisler 15153 Nowthen Blvd. NW Ramsey, MN 55303 Subject: Environmmtal Assessment Worksheet (EAW) Brookfield Addition, City of Ramsey, Minnesota. 55303 Dear Ms. Geisler, The Anoka Conservation D/strict (ACD) has reviewed the EAW dated 6/15/2005. The following are the numbered sections corresponding with the EAW document, followed by our concerns and issues that we would like addressed. Thc Anoka Conservation District worked with the City of Ramsey in 2002 and 2003 to identify important natural resources and greenways within the city. After an inventory and analysis of the city, it was clear that the Trott Brook corridor was an essential natural resource in the City of Ramsey. At the time, there was an effort to establish a continuous trail along the corridor. The concept plan included with the EAW does not show a ~rail within the development. [ strongly suggest an alternative design that includes a trail along the forested edge of the Trott Brook Corridor. This trail can act as barrier between the new homes and the forest. The open space from the trail to the stream should be protected by a conservation easement. This could be done if the developer and the city cluster homes on the remainder of the site, protecting the forested edge of Trott Brook and the natural resource values of the site. 11. Fish, Wildlife and Ecologically Sensitive Resources The proposed development is located in a wildlife corridor connecting other wildlife corridors and habitat types. Nearby resources including Trott Brook, Lake Itasca Park and Trail, Rum River Boy Scout Camp, Rum River Central Regional Park and various city parcels along the Trott Brook corridor. The Trott Brook corridor connects public and private open space in the west to the Rum River and Rum River Central Regional Park. This habitat corridor is an important natural resource and its value is predicated on the sum of its parts, including the northem edge of this parcel. The homes along Trott Brook have the potential for significant impacts on the resources during development and as backyards expand to the wetland edge. In addit/on, the EAW states that some species will ttuive in the wooded preserves maintained on the site; however, on the conceptual layout it does not show any such preserve. The layout of the proposed development does not allow for connected wildlife habitat.