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

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COMMENTS & RESPONSES Sweetbay Ridge EAW Comments July 14, 2005 Page 2 Protection of the forest buffer along Trott Brook is important for the area's wildlife, the species diversity of Trott Brook and water quality. This buffer and the floodplain should be covered by a conservation easement to ensure the integrity of this habitat is maintained in perpetuity. Impacts to the rmtural resources on site can and should be reduced by concentrating homes on the more disturbed areas of the site. By shifting homes away from the northern edge where forested and wetland habitat exist the connectivity of the site is maintained. 12. Physical Impacts on Water Resources: As seen in similar developments, it is common practice for homeowners to el~im as much back yard as possible and keep it manicured up to and beyond the wetland edge. The use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides will no doubt have an overall negative impact on the wetland ecology. Adequate wetland buffers of native vegetation should be established and maintained around all existing and created wetlands and storm water ponds. Buffers should be protected by a conservation easement to maintain their integrity. 13. Water Use As more users are added to the municipal water supply system greater potential for depleting local deep aquifers exists. The municipal system does not return used water to the aquifer, but rather discharges treated wastewater to the Mississippi where it is lost from local aquifers. The city should consider the cumulative impacts associated with this net loss of water before proceeding with similar service expansion. 17. Water Quality: surface water runoff The EAW states there are no anticipated adverse impacts on receiving waters with the proposed development. Due to an increase in impervious surface and land use alteration, I do think there is an adverse impact on receiving waters because of the proposed development. Increased runoffvolumes to receiving waters like the Rum River and Trott Brook, threaten the natural state of these waters including increas~ in water level fluctuation, degraded wetland habitats, decreased water quality, increase stream bank/ditch erosion or changes in wetland hydrology. Impacts on surface waters should be further reduced with the use of low impact development practices, including rain gardens throughout the site that provide infiltration and habitat. 29. C umulative Impacts: As acknowledged in the EAW the proposed development does have cumulative impacts. Some of the cumulative impacts associated with this proposed development have been mentioned earlier, they include stormwater runoff, habitat fragmentation and habitat degradation. These cumulative impacts can be mitigated by alternative site d~sign that allows for habitat connectivity and natural stormwater infiltration, yet allowing for the same number of housing units.