Agenda - Planning Commission - 05/01/2003

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34 Items 1-8 do contain a Mitigation Element Item 9 Mitigation element. Assuring the compatibility of development witttin Ramsey as growth occurs is the primary goal of the comprehensive planning process. Item 27 contains discussion of plan compatibility for a number of other planning documents that cover land in and adjacent to the RTC site. Continued planning efforts will assure that non-compatible uses do not occur as the RTC site develops. As stated above, BNSF is currently working to address a contamination problem in the southeast comer of the site. Prior to any earth-moving activity in this area, the developer must notify BNSF, MPCA and the City to make sure that clean-up has progressed such that additional problems will not be caused. Many of the nearby environmental resources shown in Figure 9.2 can actually be enhanced by the development of the RTC site. There is an intent to link regional, County and City trails through the site, as well as establishing a drainage corridor that could potentially increase habitat and allow movement of wildlife between Lake Itasca and the Mississippi River. Every attempt will be made to incorporate habitat suitable for this to occur. Item 10 Mitigation Element. The only issue related to cover type to emerge during this review is the alteration of wetlands, which is discussed in the mitigation element under Item 12. A complete discussion of loss of cover types with respect to fish, wildlife and ecologically sensitive resources follows in Item 11. Item 11 Mitigation Element. Natural Communities: Item 12 of this report addresses wetland mitigation fully. Mitigation for loss of forest/woodland can be accomplished though additional tree planting within some areas of the site listed in Table 10.1 as containing grassland communities. Additional forest/woodland planting can be incorporated into planting plans for the infiltration/wetland system extending south from the RTC site to the Mississippi River. The edges of the wetlands and infiltration areas could be established as an oak savanna/woodland natural community. Wildlife Habitat: Several strategies are proposed to mitigate impacts to wildlife. TBese include: 1). Establish Greenwa¥ Corridor Though the Site. A proposed greenway corridor is shown in Figures 6.1, 12.5 and 12.6. The corridor will incorporate a system of wetland treatment ponds, infiltration ponds and constructed wetlands. Areas of the corridor up to the 100-year flood elevation will be planted to a mixture of native short grasses and forbs. Although this corridor will not extend though the site completely, it will provide an opportunity for some species (those more tolerant of human presence, noise, etc.) to use natural areas within the site, and to move to and from larger tracks of habitat connected to the site. D-2- I I I ! I I I I I I I I I I I ! i