Agenda - Public Works Committee - 02/20/2024

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With that in mind, a Zoning Amendment will be required. The following Zoning Districts will be required for this project. The Subject Property is also located in the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA), a designation of the State of Minnesota. Said rules were recently updated. The project generally conforms with the updated rules. The City will need to revise its Critical Area Ordinance as part of this project. Due to the fact that the project is located within the MRCCA and includes a quality continuous canopy coverage forest, Staff has asked the Developer to fill out an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW), although it will not need to go through the full EAW Process as it does not meet the minimum threshold for Mandatory EAW (250 units). The City Council does have the discretion to require full EAW review. Additionally, the public could petition for EAW review. This creates a process administered by the State of Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB). In summary, Staff believes the data is important and relevant and should therefore complete the standard worksheet; however, full EQB Review is not required in this instance. Tree Preservation A significant amount of discussion has centered on preserving portions of the existing forestry cover. The canopy coverage of this forest is high -quality. While the understory has had some disturbance due to previous grazing by farm animals, the Planning Commission, Environmental Policy Board and City Council have agreed that the quality of the ecological area is worth attempting to protect portions thereof. Through discussions, the Developer is proposing to convey fee title of approximately 7 acres along the back side of Bowers Drive for purposes of tree preservation. Staff recommends that this is contingent upon the City successfully securing a third -party funding source intended for natural resource protection. This funding and implementation plan will continue to be discussed with Preliminary Plat. Pnhlic Park The proposed project includes a 1 acre public park. The Park and Recreation Commission is supportive of this general approach. There are limited recreation areas in this area including for existing residents in the Bowers Drive Neighborhood and Alpaca Estates Neighborhood closer to Armstrong Boulevard. Eventually, the area of the east of the Subject Property is anticipated to develop as single-family residential as well. The Park and Recreation Commission feel a public park in this area is warranted. In addition, this park is anticipated to be a nature -based park intended to preserve existing trees on the site with a tree fort theme. Riverdale Drive The project will require the extension of Riverdale Drive, a collector road serving multiple neighborhoods and business districts. The Riverdale Drive Extension is part of the long term plans to improve safety and mobility of Highway 10/169 regardless of future development. Additional detail is known since previous review. Staff will continue to work with the Developer on final design with potential construction in 2021. Additional detail on the funding approach is included in the attached Policy Framework. Staff has been working with multiple residents on refining the final layout. Staff believes that the City, Developer and Property Owner are closer to a compromise with additional refinements to be made. Access to Highway 10