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

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COMMENTS & RESPONSES Comlnelltor : Comment Date : Richard Biske, Natural Resources Planner Anoka Conservation District July 14, 2005 Thm~k you Ibr your response regarding the Brookfield Addition Environmental Assessment Worksheet. ri'he (~'ily will require that a trail be constructed on the north side of Brookfield Addition, along the forestt:d edge ofTrott Brook. The City is also negotiating for a conservation easement for the entire northern boundary of the plat. With the combination of the conservation easement and the trail (which will be at the southern boundary of the easement, which will help delineate the easement boundary), the City is addressing the conservation concerns raised in your comments. Item 11. Fish, Wildlife and Ecologically Sensitive Resources The forested buffer areas and floodplain areas along Trott Brook will be protected by a conservation easement with the trail at the southern boundary of the easement. This will help keep the wildlife habitat corridor system intact. Item 12. Physical Impacts on Water Resources Thc City is in the process of drafting a wetland buffer ordinance, which will apply to all new development. Even though this ordinance is not yet in place, the City has asked the developer to consider options [or including a buffer around all existing and created wetlands. The conservation easement proposed for Trott Brook will provide sufficient buffering for wetlands in the northern portion of the plat. The City has asked the developer to consider additional buffering for the wetlands in the southern portion of thc plat. Buffers will be marked with appropriate signage to discourage mowing and change of grade. Wetlands and ponds will be placed entirely in drainage and utility easements which will be conveyed to the City upon recording of the plat. Item 13. Water Use The City will look for opportunities to incorporate low impact development features to help recharge the groundwater table. In addition, the City is exploring options for acquiring future additional water supply fi'om surface waters, which will reduce additional demand on the aquifer. Item t7. Water Quality: Surface Water Runoff The City will look for opportunities to incorporate low impact development features, such as rain gardens, [o help reduce runoff volume and treat runoff. Item 29. Cumulative Impacts Cumulative impacts will be mitigated by a trail along the forested edge of Trott Brook, which will help delineate the edge of the conservation easement over the forested buffer areas and floodplain areas. As described in Item 12, wetland vegetation buffers, covered by a conservation easement or drainage and utility easements, will provide habitat and pollutant filtering. All of these methods will help mitigate the cumulative impacts of development on the City of Ramsey.