Agenda - Planning Commission - 10/06/2005

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with 25-foot front yard setbacks. A variance to the front yard setback requirement will be submitted to the October meeting of the Board of Adjustment. Ms. Frolik advised the wetlands have been delineated and are proposed to be encumbered with drainage and utility easements. The preliminary plat also reflects that the proposed road design will require filling .74 acres of wetlands, which requires a permit. The Lower Rum River Water Management Organization (LRRWMO) is responsible for the administration of the Wetland Conservation Act. The grading and drainage plan will also have to be reviewed and approved by the LRRWMO. Although the City's pending wetland buffer ordinance has.not yet been adopted, the plans include a voluntary wetland buffer ranging in width from 5 to 25 feet. She advised because more than 80 acres of agricultural, native prairie, forest, or naturally vegetated land is being converted to residential use, an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) was required. The draft EAW was completed and City Council released the draft for the 30-day public comment period. The public comment period ended on July 20, 2005. On August 9th the City Council reviewed the comments to the EAW and determined that an Environmental Impact Statement was not warranted. She advised it is staff's opinion that the existing wetland along the north, boundary of the plat serves as an. adequate transition between Sweet Bay Ridge and the rural sized lots to the north. It is also staff's opinion that the proposed Conservation Easement and Outlot B along the south plat boundary line is an adequate transition between the urban lots and the rural sized lots to the south. The east/west leg of Outlot B may be a temporary buffer with the adjacent lot to the south. If Traprock Street is a through street at some point, and if the trail aligmnent is an east/west diagonal through the plat, then this east/west leg of Outlot B is proposed to be converted to a building site. If the east/west diagonal trail aligmnent through the plat is not feasible, then the trail must run along the south pi'operty line of the plat and the east/west leg of Outlot B should be converted to a conservation easement. Ms. Frolik indicated per comments received during sketch plan review, the plat has been designed to include a significant trail link between Central Park and Elmcrest Park. The preferred trail aligmnent is an east/west diagonal through the plat. The developer is pursuing DNR approval of this alignment. If DNR denies this trail alignment, then the developer is prepared to dedicate a trail along the south boundary of the propertY, which will also provide a wetland and forest experience. The developer is also required to install a trail parallel to Variolite Street that will go as far south as Alpine Drive NW. She advised a tree inventory and preservation plan has been submitted. The plan indicates that a portion of the lots will be custom graded, which should allow for a greater number of significant trees to be preserved. The Planning Commission conducted the public hearing regarding the preliminary plat on August 8, 2005. The future extension of Traprock Street into Traprock Commons and the alternate trail alignment along the south boundary of the property were the main topics of discussion. The Park and Recreation Commission met on August 11 th tO review Sweet Bay Ridge for the second time. They directed staff to investigate the possibility of acquiring land for park dedication purposes, but not within the boundaries of the plat. The Park Commission is looking for additional land for Central Park on the parcel Oakwood owns just east of Central Park. It is staff's position that the City does not have authority to require land for park dedication purposes that is not within the boundaries of the property being platted. She advised the Planning Commission recommended preliminary plat approval with the condition that there be some minimum level of redevelopment that occurs in Traprock Commons to the south before Traprock P32 City Council / August 23, 2005 Page 16 of 28