Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 08/17/2026

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Environmental Policy Board (EPB) Meeting Date: 08/17/2026 Primary Strategic Plan Initiative: Information 5. 1. Title: Consider the Natural Resources Aspects of a Proposed Residential Subdivision Located South of the Intersection of Erkium Street and 177th Avenue (Project No. 26-106); Case of Sundance Woods, LLC Purpose/Background: The City has received a Land Use Application from Sundance Woods, LLC (the "Applicant") for a proposed Major Plat subdivision of the properties known as 17400 and 17650 Erkium Street (the "Subject Property"). The proposed subdivision would create fifteen (15) residential lots, although the existing home at 17400 Erkium Street will remain, meaning the subdivision will result in fourteen (14) new homes. The Subject Property is located in the Rural Residential zoning district and is guided as Rural Developing in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Additionally, the parcel currently addressed as 17400 Erkium Street is also within the Scenic River Protection Overlay District, which includes additional standards. Time Frame/Observations/Alternatives: Project Overview The Subject Property is approximately 61 acres in size, which includes the existing road easement and platted right-of-way (very southern portion of the Erkium Street corridor). The proposed subdivision will create 15 residential lots (again, the existing home at 17400 Erkium Street will remain, so 14 new homes). The Rural Residential District requires a minimum lot size of 2.5 acres and a minimum lot width of 200 feet (100 feet if on the bulb of a cul-de-sac). Additionally, the southern 20 acres or so are within the Scenic River Protection Overlay District. This overlay district includes additional bulk standards that will apply to only those lots within it. There is significant topography, wetlands, and floodplain across the Subject Property and thus, the Applicant is proposing a custom grading/building approach on many of the lots. Natural Resources Inventory and Minnesota Land Cover Classification System The Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS) identifies five (5) land cover types, including Upland Forest, Wetland Forest, Urban with Vegetative Cover, Wetland Shrubland, and Planted or Cultivated Vegetation on the Subject Property, with Upland Forest covering the largest area. Additionally, the City's Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) does identify a native plant community of Oak Forest (mesic subtype) on the Subject Property. A portion of this native plant community is rated as exceptional, while another portion is rated as high (see attached exhibit). These designations indicate that there was either little or no evidence of past disturbance, or that the site had largely recovered from the effects of past disturbance when the analysis was done in the mid-2000s. Due to the quality of the mesic oak forest, the Applicant is proposing to custom grade most lots, which will help limit the impact on this quality native plant community Wetlands and Floodplains There are multiple wetlands across the Subject Property, primarily adjacent to Trott Brook. However, there are a couple of smaller, isolated wetlands as well. The City's Functional Assessment of Wetlands, which was completed in the mid-2000s, classifies these wetland areas as high quality. There is a small area of wetland impact of 6,700 square feet to accommodate the construction of Erkium Street, which is subject to review and approval by the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization. Aside from that, there will be no other impacts on existing wetlands.